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 Regional (A), accounting for 52.9% (556 people). This share was higher than Regional NSW (46.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 85+ year olds, which increased by 224 people and 15.7 percentage points.

Section overview

Need for assistance with core activities by age

Bathurst Regional (A) - Persons (Usual residence)

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

Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot

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

Bathurst Regional (A)

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

0-4

2021 count

45

2021 rate

1.8%

Change from 2016

+0.6pp

5-14

2021 count

320

2021 rate

5.6%

Change from 2016

+2.1pp

15-19

2021 count

130

2021 rate

4.5%

Change from 2016

+0.6pp

20-24

2021 count

96

2021 rate

3.3%

Change from 2016

+1.0pp

25-34

2021 count

151

2021 rate

2.7%

Change from 2016

+0.7pp

35-44

2021 count

148

2021 rate

2.9%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

45-54

2021 count

218

2021 rate

4.0%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

55-64

2021 count

286

2021 rate

5.4%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

65-74

2021 count

369

2021 rate

8.2%

Change from 2016

+1.0pp

75-84

2021 count

491

2021 rate

19.4%

Change from 2016

+3.4pp

85+

2021 count

556

2021 rate

52.9%

Change from 2016

+15.7pp

Data table

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

Need for assistance for Bathurst Regional (A). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
Need for assistance for Bathurst Regional (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
0-4451.8%1.6%311.2%1.3%+14+0.6pp
5-143205.6%5.2%1943.5%3.8%+126+2.1pp
15-191304.5%4.2%1153.9%3.2%+15+0.6pp
20-24963.3%3.4%712.3%2.6%+25+1.0pp
25-341512.7%2.6%1042.0%2.4%+47+0.7pp
35-441482.9%2.8%1382.8%3.0%+10+0.1pp
45-542184.0%4.2%2003.8%4.4%+18+0.2pp
55-642865.4%6.0%2675.3%6.2%+19+0.1pp
65-743698.2%9.1%2787.2%8.7%+91+1.0pp
75-8449119.4%18.9%32316.0%17.8%+168+3.4pp
85+55652.9%46.5%33237.2%43.8%+224+15.7pp
Total2,8076.4%6.8%2,0485.0%6.3%+759+1.4pp