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, 5-14 year olds was the most common age group among residents who needed assistance with core activities in Ashburton (S), accounting for 1.9% (20 people). This share was lower than Regional WA (3.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 45-54 year olds, which decreased by 11 people.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Ashburton (S) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Ashburton (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Ashburton (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
3
2021 rate
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
3
0.5%
+0.1pp
5-14
2021 count
20
2021 rate
1.9%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
20
1.9%
0.0pp
15-19
2021 count
8
2021 rate
3.1%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
8
3.1%
+1.9pp
20-24
2021 count
5
2021 rate
1.3%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
5
1.3%
+1.3pp
25-34
2021 count
5
2021 rate
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
5
0.3%
+0.1pp
35-44
2021 count
4
2021 rate
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
4
0.3%
+0.1pp
45-54
2021 count
8
2021 rate
0.8%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
8
0.8%
0.0pp
55-64
2021 count
14
2021 rate
1.9%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
14
1.9%
+0.6pp
65-74
2021 count
15
2021 rate
7.5%
Change from 2016
+3.5pp
15
7.5%
+3.5pp
75-84
2021 count
13
2021 rate
24.1%
Change from 2016
+11.2pp
13
24.1%
+11.2pp
85+
2021 count
5
2021 rate
50.0%
Change from 2016
+7.1pp
5
50.0%
+7.1pp
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
0
+0.1pp
5-14
+1
0.0pp
15-19
+5
+1.9pp
20-24
+5
+1.3pp
25-34
-1
+0.1pp
35-44
-2
+0.1pp
45-54
-11
0.0pp
55-64
-4
+0.6pp
65-74
+7
+3.5pp
75-84
+9
+11.2pp
85+
+2
+7.1pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Ashburton (S). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional WA% | Count | % | Regional WA% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 3 | 0.5% | 1.0% | 3 | 0.4% | 0.8% | 0 | +0.1pp |
| 5-14 | 20 | 1.9% | 3.5% | 19 | 1.9% | 2.3% | +1 | 0.0pp |
| 15-19 | 8 | 3.1% | 3.0% | 3 | 1.2% | 2.2% | +5 | +1.9pp |
| 20-24 | 5 | 1.3% | 2.4% | 0 | 0.0% | 1.8% | +5 | +1.3pp |
| 25-34 | 5 | 0.3% | 1.6% | 6 | 0.2% | 1.3% | -1 | +0.1pp |
| 35-44 | 4 | 0.3% | 1.7% | 6 | 0.2% | 1.6% | -2 | +0.1pp |
| 45-54 | 8 | 0.8% | 2.7% | 19 | 0.8% | 2.5% | -11 | 0.0pp |
| 55-64 | 14 | 1.9% | 4.2% | 18 | 1.3% | 4.2% | -4 | +0.6pp |
| 65-74 | 15 | 7.5% | 7.3% | 8 | 4.0% | 7.4% | +7 | +3.5pp |
| 75-84 | 13 | 24.1% | 17.0% | 4 | 12.9% | 16.5% | +9 | +11.2pp |
| 85+ | 5 | 50.0% | 42.6% | 3 | 42.9% | 41.4% | +2 | +7.1pp |
| Total | 89 | 1.2% | 4.6% | 94 | 0.7% | 3.8% | -5 | +0.5pp |