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 Blacktown, accounting for 32.8% (678 people). This share was higher than Blacktown (C) (30.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 645 people and 11.9 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Blacktown - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Blacktown in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Blacktown (C) and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Blacktown, with comparison markers for Blacktown (C).
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
48
2021 rate
1.3%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
48
1.3%
+1.3pp
5-14
2021 count
235
2021 rate
3.8%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
235
3.8%
+1.8pp
15-19
2021 count
75
2021 rate
2.9%
Change from 2016
+2.9pp
75
2.9%
+2.9pp
20-24
2021 count
91
2021 rate
2.2%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
91
2.2%
+2.2pp
25-34
2021 count
114
2021 rate
1.2%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
114
1.2%
-0.7pp
35-44
2021 count
141
2021 rate
1.7%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
141
1.7%
-0.3pp
45-54
2021 count
259
2021 rate
4.6%
Change from 2016
+2.4pp
259
4.6%
+2.4pp
55-64
2021 count
377
2021 rate
7.6%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
377
7.6%
+1.0pp
65-74
2021 count
529
2021 rate
15.3%
Change from 2016
+7.7pp
529
15.3%
+7.7pp
75-84
2021 count
678
2021 rate
32.8%
Change from 2016
+11.9pp
678
32.8%
+11.9pp
85+
2021 count
562
2021 rate
58.5%
Change from 2016
+30.6pp
562
58.5%
+30.6pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+48
+1.3pp
5-14
+231
+1.8pp
15-19
+75
+2.9pp
20-24
+91
+2.2pp
25-34
+111
-0.7pp
35-44
+137
-0.3pp
45-54
+253
+2.4pp
55-64
+359
+1.0pp
65-74
+511
+7.7pp
75-84
+645
+11.9pp
85+
+545
+30.6pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Blacktown. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Blacktown (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Blacktown (C)% | Count | % | Blacktown (C)% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 48 | 1.3% | 1.5% | 0 | 0.0% | 1.4% | +48 | +1.3pp |
| 5-14 | 235 | 3.8% | 3.8% | 4 | 2.0% | 3.4% | +231 | +1.8pp |
| 15-19 | 75 | 2.9% | 3.2% | 0 | 0.0% | 2.7% | +75 | +2.9pp |
| 20-24 | 91 | 2.2% | 2.2% | 0 | 0.0% | 2.1% | +91 | +2.2pp |
| 25-34 | 114 | 1.2% | 1.6% | 3 | 1.9% | 1.5% | +111 | -0.7pp |
| 35-44 | 141 | 1.7% | 1.7% | 4 | 2.0% | 2.0% | +137 | -0.3pp |
| 45-54 | 259 | 4.6% | 3.7% | 6 | 2.2% | 4.3% | +253 | +2.4pp |
| 55-64 | 377 | 7.6% | 7.2% | 18 | 6.6% | 7.5% | +359 | +1.0pp |
| 65-74 | 529 | 15.3% | 14.6% | 18 | 7.6% | 14.0% | +511 | +7.7pp |
| 75-84 | 678 | 32.8% | 30.9% | 33 | 20.9% | 29.0% | +645 | +11.9pp |
| 85+ | 562 | 58.5% | 59.5% | 17 | 27.9% | 59.7% | +545 | +30.6pp |
| Total | 3,109 | 6.1% | 5.3% | 110 | 6.0% | 5.1% | +2,999 | +0.1pp |