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, 55-64 year olds was the most common age group among residents who needed assistance with core activities in Heidelberg West, accounting for 15.6% (96 people). This share was higher than Banyule (C) (4.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 55-64 year olds, which increased by 96 people and 15.6 percentage points.

Section overview

Need for assistance with core activities by age

Heidelberg West - Persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises need for assistance for Heidelberg West in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Banyule (C) and change since 2016.

Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Heidelberg West, with comparison markers for Banyule (C).

Heidelberg West

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

0-4

2021 count

5

2021 rate

1.4%

Change from 2016

+1.4pp

5-14

2021 count

18

2021 rate

3.3%

Change from 2016

+3.3pp

15-19

2021 count

10

2021 rate

3.6%

Change from 2016

+3.6pp

20-24

2021 count

10

2021 rate

2.5%

Change from 2016

+2.5pp

25-34

2021 count

40

2021 rate

3.8%

Change from 2016

+3.8pp

35-44

2021 count

23

2021 rate

3.2%

Change from 2016

+3.2pp

45-54

2021 count

43

2021 rate

7.4%

Change from 2016

+7.4pp

55-64

2021 count

96

2021 rate

15.6%

Change from 2016

+15.6pp

65-74

2021 count

75

2021 rate

17.6%

Change from 2016

+17.6pp

75-84

2021 count

69

2021 rate

33.2%

Change from 2016

+33.2pp

85+

2021 count

53

2021 rate

62.4%

Change from 2016

+62.4pp

Data table

Need for assistance for Heidelberg West. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Banyule (C).

Need for assistance for Heidelberg West. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Banyule (C).
Need for assistance for Heidelberg West. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Banyule (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Banyule (C)%Count%Banyule (C)%Countpp
0-451.4%1.0%00.0%1.2%+5+1.4pp
5-14183.3%3.7%00.0%3.0%+18+3.3pp
15-19103.6%3.6%00.0%2.5%+10+3.6pp
20-24102.5%2.2%00.0%1.8%+10+2.5pp
25-34403.8%2.1%00.0%1.6%+40+3.8pp
35-44233.2%1.8%00.0%1.9%+23+3.2pp
45-54437.4%3.0%00.0%3.1%+43+7.4pp
55-649615.6%4.9%00.0%4.3%+96+15.6pp
65-747517.6%8.3%00.0%7.1%+75+17.6pp
75-846933.2%20.6%00.0%18.9%+69+33.2pp
85+5362.4%54.2%00.0%45.7%+53+62.4pp
Total4538.6%5.9%32.1%5.0%+450+6.5pp