Households

Family blending

About this topic

Family blending classifies couple families with children according to whether the children are shared by both partners, from a previous relationship, or a mix of both. It applies only to couple families with children, not to all family types or all households.

This topic can help show patterns of repartnering and family complexity within an area. It should be interpreted with household type and households with children, because it is a specialised family-structure measure rather than a summary of all families.

Interpretation notes

  • This derived family view applies only to couple families with children, not all families or all households.
  • It classifies whether children are shared, step, or blended within the couple family, so it should not be compared directly with headline household totals.

Key insight

In 2021, intact families was the most common family type among couple families with children in The Basin (Vic.), accounting for 89.5% (543 families). This share was lower than Knox (C) (91.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in step families, which decreased by 18 families and 3 percentage points.

Section overview

Family blending

The Basin (Vic.) - Total couples with children (Enumerated)

This table summarises family blending for The Basin (Vic.) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Knox (C) and change since 2016.

Family blending snapshot

2021 distribution by category for The Basin (Vic.), with comparison markers for Knox (C).

The Basin (Vic.)
Knox (C)

Intact Family

2021 count

543

% of total

89.5%

Change from 2016

+2.1pp

Step family

2021 count

33

% of total

5.4%

Change from 2016

-3.0pp

Blended family

2021 count

22

% of total

3.6%

Change from 2016

-0.5pp

Other couple family

2021 count

6

% of total

1.0%

Change from 2016

+1.0pp

Data table

Family blending for The Basin (Vic.). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Knox (C).

Family blending for The Basin (Vic.). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Knox (C).
Family blending for The Basin (Vic.). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Knox (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Knox (C)%Count%Knox (C)%Countpp
Intact Family54389.5%91.5%52987.4%90.9%+14+2.1pp
Step family335.4%5.9%518.4%6.0%-18-3.0pp
Blended family223.6%2.4%254.1%2.9%-3-0.5pp
Other couple family61.0%0.2%00.0%0.3%+6+1.0pp
Total couples with children607100.0%100.0%605100.0%100.0%+20.0pp