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 Boroondara (C), accounting for 53% (2,628 people). This share was lower than Greater Melbourne (54%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 327 people.

Section overview

Need for assistance with core activities by age

Boroondara (C) - Persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises need for assistance for Boroondara (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Melbourne and change since 2016.

Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Boroondara (C), with comparison markers for Greater Melbourne.

Boroondara (C)

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

0-4

2021 count

68

2021 rate

1.0%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

5-14

2021 count

450

2021 rate

2.2%

Change from 2016

+0.4pp

15-19

2021 count

182

2021 rate

1.5%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

20-24

2021 count

178

2021 rate

1.4%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

25-34

2021 count

279

2021 rate

1.3%

Change from 2016

+0.5pp

35-44

2021 count

218

2021 rate

1.1%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

45-54

2021 count

366

2021 rate

1.5%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

55-64

2021 count

530

2021 rate

2.6%

Change from 2016

+0.4pp

65-74

2021 count

864

2021 rate

5.4%

Change from 2016

+0.4pp

75-84

2021 count

1,754

2021 rate

17.8%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

85+

2021 count

2,628

2021 rate

53.0%

Change from 2016

+4.7pp

Data table

Need for assistance for Boroondara (C). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.

Need for assistance for Boroondara (C). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
Need for assistance for Boroondara (C). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
Category20212016Change
Count%Greater Melbourne%Count%Greater Melbourne%Countpp
0-4681.0%1.3%630.8%1.1%+5+0.2pp
5-144502.2%3.9%3811.8%3.0%+69+0.4pp
15-191821.5%3.1%1631.4%2.2%+19+0.1pp
20-241781.4%2.0%1431.1%1.5%+35+0.3pp
25-342791.3%1.5%1890.8%1.2%+90+0.5pp
35-442181.1%1.8%2381.1%1.9%-200.0pp
45-543661.5%3.2%3591.5%3.2%+70.0pp
55-645302.6%5.6%4232.2%5.5%+107+0.4pp
65-748645.4%10.5%7005.0%9.5%+164+0.4pp
75-841,75417.8%24.7%1,42717.8%23.2%+3270.0pp
85+2,62853.0%54.0%2,33248.3%49.0%+296+4.7pp
Total7,5164.5%5.5%6,4063.8%4.9%+1,110+0.7pp