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 Blue Mountains (C), accounting for 16% (843 people). This share was lower than Greater Sydney (23.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 156 people, while its share fell by 0.7 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Blue Mountains (C) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Blue Mountains (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Sydney and change since 2016.
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Blue Mountains (C), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
62
2021 rate
1.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
62
1.6%
0.0pp
5-14
2021 count
581
2021 rate
6.0%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
581
6.0%
+1.3pp
15-19
2021 count
222
2021 rate
4.8%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
222
4.8%
+1.1pp
20-24
2021 count
150
2021 rate
4.4%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
150
4.4%
+1.7pp
25-34
2021 count
221
2021 rate
3.1%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
221
3.1%
+0.5pp
35-44
2021 count
238
2021 rate
2.5%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
238
2.5%
+0.2pp
45-54
2021 count
334
2021 rate
3.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
334
3.0%
-0.1pp
55-64
2021 count
452
2021 rate
4.0%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
452
4.0%
-0.9pp
65-74
2021 count
680
2021 rate
6.5%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
680
6.5%
-0.1pp
75-84
2021 count
843
2021 rate
16.0%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
843
16.0%
-0.7pp
85+
2021 count
788
2021 rate
44.7%
Change from 2016
-4.8pp
788
44.7%
-4.8pp
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
-5
0.0pp
5-14
+118
+1.3pp
15-19
+46
+1.1pp
20-24
+52
+1.7pp
25-34
+37
+0.5pp
35-44
+12
+0.2pp
45-54
-9
-0.1pp
55-64
-119
-0.9pp
65-74
+69
-0.1pp
75-84
+156
-0.7pp
85+
-19
-4.8pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Blue Mountains (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 | 62 | 1.6% | 1.3% | 67 | 1.6% | 1.1% | -5 | 0.0pp |
| 5-14 | 581 | 6.0% | 3.4% | 463 | 4.7% | 2.7% | +118 | +1.3pp |
| 15-19 | 222 | 4.8% | 2.7% | 176 | 3.7% | 2.2% | +46 | +1.1pp |
| 20-24 | 150 | 4.4% | 1.8% | 98 | 2.7% | 1.5% | +52 | +1.7pp |
| 25-34 | 221 | 3.1% | 1.3% | 184 | 2.6% | 1.2% | +37 | +0.5pp |
| 35-44 | 238 | 2.5% | 1.6% | 226 | 2.3% | 1.8% | +12 | +0.2pp |
| 45-54 | 334 | 3.0% | 2.9% | 343 | 3.1% | 3.2% | -9 | -0.1pp |
| 55-64 | 452 | 4.0% | 5.5% | 571 | 4.9% | 5.7% | -119 | -0.9pp |
| 65-74 | 680 | 6.5% | 10.5% | 611 | 6.6% | 9.9% | +69 | -0.1pp |
| 75-84 | 843 | 16.0% | 23.1% | 687 | 16.7% | 23.4% | +156 | -0.7pp |
| 85+ | 788 | 44.7% | 48.7% | 807 | 49.5% | 50.4% | -19 | -4.8pp |
| Total | 4,568 | 5.8% | 5.2% | 4,228 | 5.5% | 4.9% | +340 | +0.3pp |