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 Baw Baw (S), accounting for 17% (670 people). This share was lower than Regional Vic. (18.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 194 people and 0.7 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Baw Baw (S) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Baw Baw (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 Baw Baw (S), with comparison markers for Regional Vic..
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
58
2021 rate
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
58
1.7%
+0.3pp
5-14
2021 count
415
2021 rate
5.6%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
415
5.6%
+1.7pp
15-19
2021 count
161
2021 rate
5.0%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
161
5.0%
+1.4pp
20-24
2021 count
103
2021 rate
3.6%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
103
3.6%
+0.5pp
25-34
2021 count
199
2021 rate
2.8%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
199
2.8%
+0.4pp
35-44
2021 count
210
2021 rate
3.2%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
210
3.2%
+0.4pp
45-54
2021 count
277
2021 rate
4.0%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
277
4.0%
+0.1pp
55-64
2021 count
423
2021 rate
5.6%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
423
5.6%
+1.0pp
65-74
2021 count
596
2021 rate
8.4%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
596
8.4%
+0.8pp
75-84
2021 count
670
2021 rate
17.0%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
670
17.0%
+0.7pp
85+
2021 count
649
2021 rate
47.8%
Change from 2016
+5.4pp
649
47.8%
+5.4pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+18
+0.3pp
5-14
+170
+1.7pp
15-19
+52
+1.4pp
20-24
+25
+0.5pp
25-34
+71
+0.4pp
35-44
+58
+0.4pp
45-54
+25
+0.1pp
55-64
+113
+1.0pp
65-74
+162
+0.8pp
75-84
+194
+0.7pp
85+
+177
+5.4pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Baw Baw (S). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 58 | 1.7% | 1.5% | 40 | 1.4% | 1.2% | +18 | +0.3pp |
| 5-14 | 415 | 5.6% | 5.5% | 245 | 3.9% | 3.9% | +170 | +1.7pp |
| 15-19 | 161 | 5.0% | 4.6% | 109 | 3.6% | 3.4% | +52 | +1.4pp |
| 20-24 | 103 | 3.6% | 3.7% | 78 | 3.1% | 2.9% | +25 | +0.5pp |
| 25-34 | 199 | 2.8% | 2.8% | 128 | 2.4% | 2.4% | +71 | +0.4pp |
| 35-44 | 210 | 3.2% | 3.1% | 152 | 2.8% | 3.0% | +58 | +0.4pp |
| 45-54 | 277 | 4.0% | 4.3% | 252 | 3.9% | 4.2% | +25 | +0.1pp |
| 55-64 | 423 | 5.6% | 6.0% | 310 | 4.6% | 5.8% | +113 | +1.0pp |
| 65-74 | 596 | 8.4% | 8.8% | 434 | 7.6% | 8.1% | +162 | +0.8pp |
| 75-84 | 670 | 17.0% | 18.7% | 476 | 16.3% | 17.0% | +194 | +0.7pp |
| 85+ | 649 | 47.8% | 46.4% | 472 | 42.4% | 42.3% | +177 | +5.4pp |
| Total | 3,775 | 6.6% | 6.9% | 2,693 | 5.6% | 6.0% | +1,082 | +1.0pp |