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, 85+ year olds was the most common age group among residents who needed assistance with core activities in Ararat (RC), accounting for 49.6% (184 people). This share was higher than Regional Vic. (46.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 85+ year olds, which increased by 67 people and 17 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Ararat (RC) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Ararat (RC) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Vic. and change since 2016.
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Ararat (RC), with comparison markers for Regional Vic..
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
5
2021 rate
0.9%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
5
0.9%
-0.7pp
5-14
2021 count
59
2021 rate
4.8%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
59
4.8%
+1.7pp
15-19
2021 count
30
2021 rate
5.4%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
30
5.4%
+1.6pp
20-24
2021 count
19
2021 rate
3.4%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
19
3.4%
-0.7pp
25-34
2021 count
45
2021 rate
3.1%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
45
3.1%
+1.0pp
35-44
2021 count
41
2021 rate
3.1%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
41
3.1%
-0.2pp
45-54
2021 count
75
2021 rate
4.9%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
75
4.9%
+0.3pp
55-64
2021 count
135
2021 rate
7.7%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
135
7.7%
+0.2pp
65-74
2021 count
151
2021 rate
9.2%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
151
9.2%
+0.3pp
75-84
2021 count
170
2021 rate
18.6%
Change from 2016
+3.7pp
170
18.6%
+3.7pp
85+
2021 count
184
2021 rate
49.6%
Change from 2016
+17.0pp
184
49.6%
+17.0pp
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
-4
-0.7pp
5-14
+20
+1.7pp
15-19
+7
+1.6pp
20-24
-3
-0.7pp
25-34
+19
+1.0pp
35-44
-4
-0.2pp
45-54
+1
+0.3pp
55-64
+2
+0.2pp
65-74
+19
+0.3pp
75-84
+45
+3.7pp
85+
+67
+17.0pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Ararat (RC). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 5 | 0.9% | 1.5% | 9 | 1.6% | 1.2% | -4 | -0.7pp |
| 5-14 | 59 | 4.8% | 5.5% | 39 | 3.1% | 3.9% | +20 | +1.7pp |
| 15-19 | 30 | 5.4% | 4.6% | 23 | 3.8% | 3.4% | +7 | +1.6pp |
| 20-24 | 19 | 3.4% | 3.7% | 22 | 4.1% | 2.9% | -3 | -0.7pp |
| 25-34 | 45 | 3.1% | 2.8% | 26 | 2.1% | 2.4% | +19 | +1.0pp |
| 35-44 | 41 | 3.1% | 3.1% | 45 | 3.3% | 3.0% | -4 | -0.2pp |
| 45-54 | 75 | 4.9% | 4.3% | 74 | 4.6% | 4.2% | +1 | +0.3pp |
| 55-64 | 135 | 7.7% | 6.0% | 133 | 7.5% | 5.8% | +2 | +0.2pp |
| 65-74 | 151 | 9.2% | 8.8% | 132 | 8.9% | 8.1% | +19 | +0.3pp |
| 75-84 | 170 | 18.6% | 18.7% | 125 | 14.9% | 17.0% | +45 | +3.7pp |
| 85+ | 184 | 49.6% | 46.4% | 117 | 32.6% | 42.3% | +67 | +17.0pp |
| Total | 922 | 7.8% | 6.9% | 751 | 6.5% | 6.0% | +171 | +1.3pp |