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 Ballarat (C), accounting for 49.1% (1,413 people). This share was higher than Regional Vic. (46.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 65-74 year olds, which increased by 392 people and 1.7 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Ballarat (C) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Ballarat (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Vic. and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Ballarat (C), with comparison markers for Regional Vic..
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
130
2021 rate
2.0%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
130
2.0%
+0.8pp
5-14
2021 count
883
2021 rate
6.0%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
883
6.0%
+1.8pp
15-19
2021 count
358
2021 rate
5.2%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
358
5.2%
+1.2pp
20-24
2021 count
308
2021 rate
4.3%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
308
4.3%
+1.6pp
25-34
2021 count
494
2021 rate
3.2%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
494
3.2%
+0.8pp
35-44
2021 count
494
2021 rate
3.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
494
3.5%
+0.1pp
45-54
2021 count
700
2021 rate
5.1%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
700
5.1%
+0.2pp
55-64
2021 count
932
2021 rate
7.0%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
932
7.0%
+0.2pp
65-74
2021 count
1,260
2021 rate
10.6%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
1,260
10.6%
+1.7pp
75-84
2021 count
1,407
2021 rate
20.9%
Change from 2016
+2.1pp
1,407
20.9%
+2.1pp
85+
2021 count
1,413
2021 rate
49.1%
Change from 2016
+3.7pp
1,413
49.1%
+3.7pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+50
+0.8pp
5-14
+339
+1.8pp
15-19
+96
+1.2pp
20-24
+106
+1.6pp
25-34
+182
+0.8pp
35-44
+72
+0.1pp
45-54
+66
+0.2pp
55-64
+110
+0.2pp
65-74
+392
+1.7pp
75-84
+385
+2.1pp
85+
+319
+3.7pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Ballarat (C). 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 | 130 | 2.0% | 1.5% | 80 | 1.2% | 1.2% | +50 | +0.8pp |
| 5-14 | 883 | 6.0% | 5.5% | 544 | 4.2% | 3.9% | +339 | +1.8pp |
| 15-19 | 358 | 5.2% | 4.6% | 262 | 4.0% | 3.4% | +96 | +1.2pp |
| 20-24 | 308 | 4.3% | 3.7% | 202 | 2.7% | 2.9% | +106 | +1.6pp |
| 25-34 | 494 | 3.2% | 2.8% | 312 | 2.4% | 2.4% | +182 | +0.8pp |
| 35-44 | 494 | 3.5% | 3.1% | 422 | 3.4% | 3.0% | +72 | +0.1pp |
| 45-54 | 700 | 5.1% | 4.3% | 634 | 4.9% | 4.2% | +66 | +0.2pp |
| 55-64 | 932 | 7.0% | 6.0% | 822 | 6.8% | 5.8% | +110 | +0.2pp |
| 65-74 | 1,260 | 10.6% | 8.8% | 868 | 8.9% | 8.1% | +392 | +1.7pp |
| 75-84 | 1,407 | 20.9% | 18.7% | 1,022 | 18.8% | 17.0% | +385 | +2.1pp |
| 85+ | 1,413 | 49.1% | 46.4% | 1,094 | 45.4% | 42.3% | +319 | +3.7pp |
| Total | 8,382 | 7.4% | 6.9% | 6,263 | 6.2% | 6.0% | +2,119 | +1.2pp |