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 Whitehorse (C), accounting for 94.4% (20,420 families). This share was higher than Greater Melbourne (92%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in intact families, which increased by 709 families and 0.4 percentage points.
Section overview
Family blending
Whitehorse (C) - Total couples with children (Enumerated)
This table summarises family blending for Whitehorse (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Melbourne and change since 2016.
Family blending snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Whitehorse (C), with comparison markers for Greater Melbourne.
Intact Family
2021 count
20,420
% of total
94.4%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
20,420
94.4%
+0.4pp
Step family
2021 count
883
% of total
4.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
883
4.1%
0.0pp
Blended family
2021 count
288
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
288
1.3%
-0.4pp
Other couple family
2021 count
38
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
38
0.2%
0.0pp
Chart view
Family blending change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Intact Family
+709
+0.4pp
Step family
+24
0.0pp
Blended family
-66
-0.4pp
Other couple family
0
0.0pp
Data table
Family blending for Whitehorse (C). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | pp | |
| Intact Family | 20,420 | 94.4% | 92.0% | 19,711 | 94.0% | 91.8% | +709 | +0.4pp |
| Step family | 883 | 4.1% | 5.3% | 859 | 4.1% | 5.3% | +24 | 0.0pp |
| Blended family | 288 | 1.3% | 2.4% | 354 | 1.7% | 2.7% | -66 | -0.4pp |
| Other couple family | 38 | 0.2% | 0.2% | 38 | 0.2% | 0.3% | 0 | 0.0pp |
| Total couples with children | 21,628 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 20,963 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +665 | 0.0pp |