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 Melville (C), accounting for 87.8% (11,867 families). This share was higher than Greater Perth (82.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in step families, which increased by 699 families and 4.9 percentage points.
Section overview
Family blending
Melville (C) - Total couples with children (Enumerated)
This table summarises family blending for Melville (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Perth and change since 2016.
Family blending snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Melville (C), with comparison markers for Greater Perth.
Intact Family
2021 count
11,867
% of total
87.8%
Change from 2016
-4.7pp
11,867
87.8%
-4.7pp
Step family
2021 count
1,363
% of total
10.1%
Change from 2016
+4.9pp
1,363
10.1%
+4.9pp
Blended family
2021 count
270
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
270
2.0%
0.0pp
Other couple family
2021 count
25
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
25
0.2%
-0.1pp
Chart view
Family blending change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Intact Family
+94
-4.7pp
Step family
+699
+4.9pp
Blended family
+10
0.0pp
Other couple family
-11
-0.1pp
Data table
Family blending for Melville (C). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Perth.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Perth% | Count | % | Greater Perth% | Count | pp | |
| Intact Family | 11,867 | 87.8% | 82.9% | 11,773 | 92.5% | 89.4% | +94 | -4.7pp |
| Step family | 1,363 | 10.1% | 13.1% | 664 | 5.2% | 6.5% | +699 | +4.9pp |
| Blended family | 270 | 2.0% | 3.5% | 260 | 2.0% | 3.6% | +10 | 0.0pp |
| Other couple family | 25 | 0.2% | 0.5% | 36 | 0.3% | 0.4% | -11 | -0.1pp |
| Total couples with children | 13,519 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 12,725 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +794 | 0.0pp |