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, 65-74 year olds was the most common age group among residents who needed assistance with core activities in Blacktown (C), accounting for 14.6% (3,944 people). This share was higher than Greater Sydney (10.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 1,039 people and 1.9 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Blacktown (C) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Blacktown (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Sydney and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Blacktown (C), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
455
2021 rate
1.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
455
1.5%
+0.1pp
5-14
2021 count
2,296
2021 rate
3.8%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
2,296
3.8%
+0.4pp
15-19
2021 count
786
2021 rate
3.2%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
786
3.2%
+0.5pp
20-24
2021 count
586
2021 rate
2.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
586
2.2%
+0.1pp
25-34
2021 count
951
2021 rate
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
951
1.6%
+0.1pp
35-44
2021 count
1,129
2021 rate
1.7%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
1,129
1.7%
-0.3pp
45-54
2021 count
1,747
2021 rate
3.7%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
1,747
3.7%
-0.6pp
55-64
2021 count
2,730
2021 rate
7.2%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
2,730
7.2%
-0.3pp
65-74
2021 count
3,944
2021 rate
14.6%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
3,944
14.6%
+0.6pp
75-84
2021 count
3,846
2021 rate
30.9%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
3,846
30.9%
+1.9pp
85+
2021 count
2,559
2021 rate
59.5%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
2,559
59.5%
-0.2pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+84
+0.1pp
5-14
+611
+0.4pp
15-19
+157
+0.5pp
20-24
+113
+0.1pp
25-34
+146
+0.1pp
35-44
+84
-0.3pp
45-54
-69
-0.6pp
55-64
+204
-0.3pp
65-74
+937
+0.6pp
75-84
+1,039
+1.9pp
85+
+438
-0.2pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Blacktown (C). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 455 | 1.5% | 1.3% | 371 | 1.4% | 1.1% | +84 | +0.1pp |
| 5-14 | 2,296 | 3.8% | 3.4% | 1,685 | 3.4% | 2.7% | +611 | +0.4pp |
| 15-19 | 786 | 3.2% | 2.7% | 629 | 2.7% | 2.2% | +157 | +0.5pp |
| 20-24 | 586 | 2.2% | 1.8% | 473 | 2.1% | 1.5% | +113 | +0.1pp |
| 25-34 | 951 | 1.6% | 1.3% | 805 | 1.5% | 1.2% | +146 | +0.1pp |
| 35-44 | 1,129 | 1.7% | 1.6% | 1,045 | 2.0% | 1.8% | +84 | -0.3pp |
| 45-54 | 1,747 | 3.7% | 2.9% | 1,816 | 4.3% | 3.2% | -69 | -0.6pp |
| 55-64 | 2,730 | 7.2% | 5.5% | 2,526 | 7.5% | 5.7% | +204 | -0.3pp |
| 65-74 | 3,944 | 14.6% | 10.5% | 3,007 | 14.0% | 9.9% | +937 | +0.6pp |
| 75-84 | 3,846 | 30.9% | 23.1% | 2,807 | 29.0% | 23.4% | +1,039 | +1.9pp |
| 85+ | 2,559 | 59.5% | 48.7% | 2,121 | 59.7% | 50.4% | +438 | -0.2pp |
| Total | 21,032 | 5.3% | 5.2% | 17,276 | 5.1% | 4.9% | +3,756 | +0.2pp |