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 Augusta-Margaret River (S), accounting for 44.1% (126 people). This share was higher than Regional WA (42.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 47 people and 3.9 percentage points.

Section overview

Need for assistance with core activities by age

Augusta-Margaret River (S) - Persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises need for assistance for Augusta-Margaret River (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.

Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Augusta-Margaret River (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.

Augusta-Margaret River (S)

Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.

0-4

2021 count

9

2021 rate

0.9%

Change from 2016

+0.6pp

5-14

2021 count

75

2021 rate

3.1%

Change from 2016

+1.1pp

15-19

2021 count

9

2021 rate

1.1%

Change from 2016

-0.7pp

20-24

2021 count

18

2021 rate

3.9%

Change from 2016

+2.5pp

25-34

2021 count

18

2021 rate

1.0%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

35-44

2021 count

31

2021 rate

1.2%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

45-54

2021 count

40

2021 rate

1.6%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

55-64

2021 count

60

2021 rate

2.7%

Change from 2016

-0.4pp

65-74

2021 count

87

2021 rate

4.5%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

75-84

2021 count

109

2021 rate

14.6%

Change from 2016

+3.9pp

85+

2021 count

126

2021 rate

44.1%

Change from 2016

+7.7pp

Data table

Need for assistance for Augusta-Margaret River (S). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.

Need for assistance for Augusta-Margaret River (S). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.
Need for assistance for Augusta-Margaret River (S). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional WA%Count%Regional WA%Countpp
0-490.9%1.0%30.3%0.8%+6+0.6pp
5-14753.1%3.5%422.0%2.3%+33+1.1pp
15-1991.1%3.0%131.8%2.2%-4-0.7pp
20-24183.9%2.4%61.4%1.8%+12+2.5pp
25-34181.0%1.6%211.2%1.3%-3-0.2pp
35-44311.2%1.7%220.9%1.6%+9+0.3pp
45-54401.6%2.7%361.8%2.5%+4-0.2pp
55-64602.7%4.2%593.1%4.2%+1-0.4pp
65-74874.5%7.3%534.2%7.4%+34+0.3pp
75-8410914.6%17.0%6210.7%16.5%+47+3.9pp
85+12644.1%42.6%8236.4%41.4%+44+7.7pp
Total5793.4%4.6%4012.8%3.8%+178+0.6pp