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 Balranald (A), accounting for 66% (31 people). This share was higher than Regional NSW (46.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 85+ year olds, which increased by 15 people and 20.3 percentage points.

Section overview

Need for assistance with core activities by age

Balranald (A) - Persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises need for assistance for Balranald (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.

Need for assistance with core activities by age change

Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.

2016
2021

0-4

0

0.0pp

5-14

-2

-0.5pp

15-19

-1

-0.4pp

20-24

0

0.0pp

25-34

+1

+0.2pp

35-44

+1

+1.3pp

45-54

-3

-1.0pp

55-64

+6

+2.2pp

65-74

+3

-1.3pp

75-84

+1

+3.3pp

85+

+15

+20.3pp

Data table

Need for assistance for Balranald (A). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.

Need for assistance for Balranald (A). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
Need for assistance for Balranald (A). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional NSW%Count%Regional NSW%Countpp
0-400.0%1.6%00.0%1.3%00.0pp
5-1441.3%5.2%61.8%3.8%-2-0.5pp
15-1932.6%4.2%43.0%3.2%-1-0.4pp
20-2400.0%3.4%00.0%2.6%00.0pp
25-3441.5%2.6%31.3%2.4%+1+0.2pp
35-4494.2%2.8%82.9%3.0%+1+1.3pp
45-54103.5%4.2%134.5%4.4%-3-1.0pp
55-64175.1%6.0%112.9%6.2%+6+2.2pp
65-74196.6%9.1%167.9%8.7%+3-1.3pp
75-842723.1%18.9%2619.8%17.8%+1+3.3pp
85+3166.0%46.5%1645.7%43.8%+15+20.3pp
Total1245.6%6.8%994.3%6.3%+25+1.3pp