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, 75-84 year olds was the most common age group among residents who needed assistance with core activities in Bass Coast (S), accounting for 17% (619 people). This share was lower than Regional Vic. (18.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 191 people and 1 percentage point.

Section overview

Need for assistance with core activities by age

Bass Coast (S) - Persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises need for assistance for Bass Coast (S) 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 Bass Coast (S), with comparison markers for Regional Vic..

Bass Coast (S)

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

0-4

2021 count

31

2021 rate

1.7%

Change from 2016

+0.9pp

5-14

2021 count

177

2021 rate

4.1%

Change from 2016

+1.1pp

15-19

2021 count

88

2021 rate

4.8%

Change from 2016

+1.6pp

20-24

2021 count

49

2021 rate

3.4%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

25-34

2021 count

116

2021 rate

3.2%

Change from 2016

+0.6pp

35-44

2021 count

122

2021 rate

2.9%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

45-54

2021 count

214

2021 rate

4.4%

Change from 2016

-0.7pp

55-64

2021 count

368

2021 rate

5.5%

Change from 2016

-0.3pp

65-74

2021 count

555

2021 rate

7.7%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

75-84

2021 count

619

2021 rate

17.0%

Change from 2016

+1.0pp

85+

2021 count

563

2021 rate

46.2%

Change from 2016

+8.2pp

Data table

Need for assistance for Bass Coast (S). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..

Need for assistance for Bass Coast (S). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..
Need for assistance for Bass Coast (S). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional Vic.%Count%Regional Vic.%Countpp
0-4311.7%1.5%130.8%1.2%+18+0.9pp
5-141774.1%5.5%1103.0%3.9%+67+1.1pp
15-19884.8%4.6%503.2%3.4%+38+1.6pp
20-24493.4%3.7%353.1%2.9%+14+0.3pp
25-341163.2%2.8%752.6%2.4%+41+0.6pp
35-441222.9%3.1%932.8%3.0%+29+0.1pp
45-542144.4%4.3%2175.1%4.2%-3-0.7pp
55-643685.5%6.0%3035.8%5.8%+65-0.3pp
65-745557.7%8.8%3977.5%8.1%+158+0.2pp
75-8461917.0%18.7%42816.0%17.0%+191+1.0pp
85+56346.2%46.4%43438.0%42.3%+129+8.2pp
Total2,9017.1%6.9%2,1536.6%6.0%+748+0.5pp