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 Southern Midlands (M), accounting for 79.8% (591 families). This share was lower than Regional Tas. (83.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in blended family, which increased by 35 families and 4.2 percentage points.
Section overview
Family blending
Southern Midlands (M) - Total couples with children (Enumerated)
This table summarises family blending for Southern Midlands (M) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Tas. and change since 2016.
Family blending snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Southern Midlands (M), with comparison markers for Regional Tas..
Intact Family
2021 count
591
% of total
79.8%
Change from 2016
-3.4pp
591
79.8%
-3.4pp
Step family
2021 count
74
% of total
10.0%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
74
10.0%
+0.2pp
Blended family
2021 count
67
% of total
9.0%
Change from 2016
+4.2pp
67
9.0%
+4.2pp
Other couple family
2021 count
5
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
5
0.7%
-0.2pp
Chart view
Family blending change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Intact Family
+32
-3.4pp
Step family
+8
+0.2pp
Blended family
+35
+4.2pp
Other couple family
-1
-0.2pp
Data table
Family blending for Southern Midlands (M). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Tas..
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Tas.% | Count | % | Regional Tas.% | Count | pp | |
| Intact Family | 591 | 79.8% | 83.9% | 559 | 83.2% | 84.5% | +32 | -3.4pp |
| Step family | 74 | 10.0% | 9.3% | 66 | 9.8% | 9.0% | +8 | +0.2pp |
| Blended family | 67 | 9.0% | 6.0% | 32 | 4.8% | 5.8% | +35 | +4.2pp |
| Other couple family | 5 | 0.7% | 0.8% | 6 | 0.9% | 0.7% | -1 | -0.2pp |
| Total couples with children | 741 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 672 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +69 | 0.0pp |