Population
Need for assistance
About this topic
Need for assistance measures people who report needing help with self-care, body movement, or communication because of a disability, a long-term health condition, or older age. It is a high-needs indicator rather than a general measure of disability.
This topic is useful for planning accessible facilities, care services, respite, and support for carers. The measure is based on self-report in the Census, so it should be interpreted with care and read alongside unpaid care and other disability-related indicators.
Interpretation notes
- The measure is self-reported and records need for help with core activities, so it is not a complete measure of disability prevalence.
- It applies to all persons and is strongest as an indicator of higher support need when read with unpaid care and ageing data.
Key insight
In 2021, 65-74 year olds was the most common age group among residents who needed assistance with core activities in Alice Springs (T), accounting for 10.4% (177 people). This share was lower than Regional NT (12.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 5-14 year olds, which increased by 40 people and 1 percentage point.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Alice Springs (T) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Alice Springs (T) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NT and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Alice Springs (T), with comparison markers for Regional NT.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
23
2021 rate
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
23
1.2%
+0.1pp
5-14
2021 count
113
2021 rate
3.2%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
113
3.2%
+1.0pp
15-19
2021 count
46
2021 rate
3.1%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
46
3.1%
+0.1pp
20-24
2021 count
28
2021 rate
2.2%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
28
2.2%
+0.7pp
25-34
2021 count
62
2021 rate
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
62
1.3%
+0.4pp
35-44
2021 count
71
2021 rate
1.8%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
71
1.8%
0.0pp
45-54
2021 count
110
2021 rate
3.3%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
110
3.3%
+0.3pp
55-64
2021 count
136
2021 rate
4.5%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
136
4.5%
+0.5pp
65-74
2021 count
177
2021 rate
10.4%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
177
10.4%
-0.5pp
75-84
2021 count
140
2021 rate
23.2%
Change from 2016
-2.4pp
140
23.2%
-2.4pp
85+
2021 count
99
2021 rate
56.3%
Change from 2016
+3.9pp
99
56.3%
+3.9pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+3
+0.1pp
5-14
+40
+1.0pp
15-19
+3
+0.1pp
20-24
+7
+0.7pp
25-34
+22
+0.4pp
35-44
+6
0.0pp
45-54
-3
+0.3pp
55-64
+14
+0.5pp
65-74
+28
-0.5pp
75-84
+14
-2.4pp
85+
+13
+3.9pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Alice Springs (T). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NT.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional NT% | Count | % | Regional NT% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 23 | 1.2% | 0.8% | 20 | 1.1% | 0.6% | +3 | +0.1pp |
| 5-14 | 113 | 3.2% | 2.0% | 73 | 2.2% | 1.4% | +40 | +1.0pp |
| 15-19 | 46 | 3.1% | 1.4% | 43 | 3.0% | 1.5% | +3 | +0.1pp |
| 20-24 | 28 | 2.2% | 1.5% | 21 | 1.5% | 1.0% | +7 | +0.7pp |
| 25-34 | 62 | 1.3% | 0.9% | 40 | 0.9% | 1.1% | +22 | +0.4pp |
| 35-44 | 71 | 1.8% | 1.8% | 65 | 1.8% | 1.8% | +6 | 0.0pp |
| 45-54 | 110 | 3.3% | 3.8% | 113 | 3.0% | 4.0% | -3 | +0.3pp |
| 55-64 | 136 | 4.5% | 6.3% | 122 | 4.0% | 6.1% | +14 | +0.5pp |
| 65-74 | 177 | 10.4% | 12.7% | 149 | 10.9% | 14.0% | +28 | -0.5pp |
| 75-84 | 140 | 23.2% | 26.5% | 126 | 25.6% | 26.4% | +14 | -2.4pp |
| 85+ | 99 | 56.3% | 55.2% | 86 | 52.4% | 49.0% | +13 | +3.9pp |
| Total | 999 | 3.9% | 3.4% | 848 | 3.4% | 3.2% | +151 | +0.5pp |