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 Thomastown, accounting for 92.7% (2,178 families). This share was higher than Whittlesea (C) (92.3%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in intact families, which increased by 2,168 families, while its share fell by 7.3 percentage points.
Section overview
Family blending
Thomastown - Total couples with children (Enumerated)
This table summarises family blending for Thomastown in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Whittlesea (C) and change since 2016.
Family blending snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Thomastown, with comparison markers for Whittlesea (C).
Intact Family
2021 count
2,178
% of total
92.7%
Change from 2016
-7.3pp
2,178
92.7%
-7.3pp
Step family
2021 count
112
% of total
4.8%
Change from 2016
+4.8pp
112
4.8%
+4.8pp
Blended family
2021 count
44
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
44
1.9%
+1.9pp
Other couple family
2021 count
12
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
12
0.5%
+0.5pp
Chart view
Family blending change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Intact Family
+2,168
-7.3pp
Step family
+112
+4.8pp
Blended family
+44
+1.9pp
Other couple family
+12
+0.5pp
Data table
Family blending for Thomastown. Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Whittlesea (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Whittlesea (C)% | Count | % | Whittlesea (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Intact Family | 2,178 | 92.7% | 92.3% | 10 | 100.0% | 92.3% | +2,168 | -7.3pp |
| Step family | 112 | 4.8% | 4.9% | 0 | 0.0% | 4.7% | +112 | +4.8pp |
| Blended family | 44 | 1.9% | 2.6% | 0 | 0.0% | 2.8% | +44 | +1.9pp |
| Other couple family | 12 | 0.5% | 0.2% | 0 | 0.0% | 0.2% | +12 | +0.5pp |
| Total couples with children | 2,349 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 10 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +2,339 | 0.0pp |