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 Bridgewater (Tas.), accounting for 18.6% (88 people). This share was higher than Brighton (M) (14.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 5-14 year olds, which increased by 40 people and 4.5 percentage points.

Section overview

Need for assistance with core activities by age

Bridgewater (Tas.) - Persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises need for assistance for Bridgewater (Tas.) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Brighton (M) and change since 2016.

Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Bridgewater (Tas.), with comparison markers for Brighton (M).

Bridgewater (Tas.)

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

0-4

2021 count

3

2021 rate

0.9%

Change from 2016

-0.6pp

5-14

2021 count

75

2021 rate

9.4%

Change from 2016

+4.5pp

15-19

2021 count

17

2021 rate

5.6%

Change from 2016

-0.9pp

20-24

2021 count

22

2021 rate

6.4%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

25-34

2021 count

35

2021 rate

5.1%

Change from 2016

+0.6pp

35-44

2021 count

32

2021 rate

6.4%

Change from 2016

+0.4pp

45-54

2021 count

55

2021 rate

10.7%

Change from 2016

-1.8pp

55-64

2021 count

74

2021 rate

16.6%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

65-74

2021 count

88

2021 rate

18.6%

Change from 2016

+3.0pp

75-84

2021 count

42

2021 rate

26.4%

Change from 2016

-6.4pp

85+

2021 count

10

2021 rate

32.3%

Change from 2016

-13.5pp

Data table

Need for assistance for Bridgewater (Tas.). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Brighton (M).

Need for assistance for Bridgewater (Tas.). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Brighton (M).
Need for assistance for Bridgewater (Tas.). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Brighton (M).
Category20212016Change
Count%Brighton (M)%Count%Brighton (M)%Countpp
0-430.9%2.5%51.5%1.4%-2-0.6pp
5-14759.4%7.7%354.9%4.4%+40+4.5pp
15-19175.6%5.5%206.5%4.0%-3-0.9pp
20-24226.4%3.8%176.4%3.6%+50.0pp
25-34355.1%2.9%204.5%2.4%+15+0.6pp
35-44326.4%4.1%286.0%3.5%+4+0.4pp
45-545510.7%6.4%5412.5%7.7%+1-1.8pp
55-647416.6%9.8%8416.4%10.4%-10+0.2pp
65-748818.6%14.1%6315.6%14.6%+25+3.0pp
75-844226.4%25.4%4032.8%24.3%+2-6.4pp
85+1032.3%51.7%1145.8%56.3%-1-13.5pp
Total46410.1%7.6%3709.1%6.7%+94+1.0pp