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 Bathurst, accounting for 57.6% (175 people). This share was higher than Bathurst Regional (A) (52.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 85+ year olds, which increased by 95 people and 21.7 percentage points.

Section overview

Need for assistance with core activities by age

Bathurst - Persons (Usual residence)

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

Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Bathurst, with comparison markers for Bathurst Regional (A).

Bathurst

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

0-4

2021 count

7

2021 rate

2.2%

Change from 2016

+1.3pp

5-14

2021 count

26

2021 rate

4.6%

Change from 2016

+0.7pp

15-19

2021 count

17

2021 rate

5.5%

Change from 2016

+2.6pp

20-24

2021 count

20

2021 rate

3.0%

Change from 2016

+1.0pp

25-34

2021 count

36

2021 rate

3.2%

Change from 2016

+0.7pp

35-44

2021 count

34

2021 rate

4.6%

Change from 2016

+1.0pp

45-54

2021 count

37

2021 rate

5.1%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

55-64

2021 count

61

2021 rate

7.0%

Change from 2016

+1.4pp

65-74

2021 count

85

2021 rate

10.9%

Change from 2016

+4.1pp

75-84

2021 count

125

2021 rate

21.4%

Change from 2016

+4.0pp

85+

2021 count

175

2021 rate

57.6%

Change from 2016

+21.7pp

Data table

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

Need for assistance for Bathurst. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Bathurst Regional (A).
Need for assistance for Bathurst. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Bathurst Regional (A).
Category20212016Change
Count%Bathurst Regional (A)%Count%Bathurst Regional (A)%Countpp
0-472.2%1.8%30.9%1.2%+4+1.3pp
5-14264.6%5.6%223.9%3.5%+4+0.7pp
15-19175.5%4.5%132.9%3.9%+4+2.6pp
20-24203.0%3.3%182.0%2.3%+2+1.0pp
25-34363.2%2.7%272.5%2.0%+9+0.7pp
35-44344.6%2.9%253.6%2.8%+9+1.0pp
45-54375.1%4.0%435.3%3.8%-6-0.2pp
55-64617.0%5.4%465.6%5.3%+15+1.4pp
65-748510.9%8.2%446.8%7.2%+41+4.1pp
75-8412521.4%19.4%7017.4%16.0%+55+4.0pp
85+17557.6%52.9%8035.9%37.2%+95+21.7pp
Total6148.8%6.4%3915.6%5.0%+223+3.2pp