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 Brimbank (C), accounting for 36.4% (3,535 people). This share was higher than Greater Melbourne (24.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 755 people and 1 percentage point.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Brimbank (C) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Brimbank (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 Brimbank (C), with comparison markers for Greater Melbourne.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
161
2021 rate
1.5%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
161
1.5%
+0.5pp
5-14
2021 count
1,003
2021 rate
4.4%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
1,003
4.4%
+1.5pp
15-19
2021 count
355
2021 rate
3.2%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
355
3.2%
+0.9pp
20-24
2021 count
283
2021 rate
2.1%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
283
2.1%
+0.6pp
25-34
2021 count
552
2021 rate
1.8%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
552
1.8%
+0.3pp
35-44
2021 count
683
2021 rate
2.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
683
2.6%
+0.2pp
45-54
2021 count
1,045
2021 rate
4.3%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
1,045
4.3%
-0.2pp
55-64
2021 count
1,931
2021 rate
8.4%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
1,931
8.4%
-0.5pp
65-74
2021 count
3,113
2021 rate
17.0%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
3,113
17.0%
+1.5pp
75-84
2021 count
3,535
2021 rate
36.4%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
3,535
36.4%
+1.0pp
85+
2021 count
2,321
2021 rate
63.3%
Change from 2016
+3.6pp
2,321
63.3%
+3.6pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+27
+0.5pp
5-14
+339
+1.5pp
15-19
+79
+0.9pp
20-24
+56
+0.6pp
25-34
+72
+0.3pp
35-44
+42
+0.2pp
45-54
-85
-0.2pp
55-64
-47
-0.5pp
65-74
+696
+1.5pp
75-84
+755
+1.0pp
85+
+573
+3.6pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Brimbank (C). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 161 | 1.5% | 1.3% | 134 | 1.0% | 1.1% | +27 | +0.5pp |
| 5-14 | 1,003 | 4.4% | 3.9% | 664 | 2.9% | 3.0% | +339 | +1.5pp |
| 15-19 | 355 | 3.2% | 3.1% | 276 | 2.3% | 2.2% | +79 | +0.9pp |
| 20-24 | 283 | 2.1% | 2.0% | 227 | 1.5% | 1.5% | +56 | +0.6pp |
| 25-34 | 552 | 1.8% | 1.5% | 480 | 1.5% | 1.2% | +72 | +0.3pp |
| 35-44 | 683 | 2.6% | 1.8% | 641 | 2.4% | 1.9% | +42 | +0.2pp |
| 45-54 | 1,045 | 4.3% | 3.2% | 1,130 | 4.5% | 3.2% | -85 | -0.2pp |
| 55-64 | 1,931 | 8.4% | 5.6% | 1,978 | 8.9% | 5.5% | -47 | -0.5pp |
| 65-74 | 3,113 | 17.0% | 10.5% | 2,417 | 15.5% | 9.5% | +696 | +1.5pp |
| 75-84 | 3,535 | 36.4% | 24.7% | 2,780 | 35.4% | 23.2% | +755 | +1.0pp |
| 85+ | 2,321 | 63.3% | 54.0% | 1,748 | 59.7% | 49.0% | +573 | +3.6pp |
| Total | 14,975 | 7.7% | 5.5% | 12,471 | 6.4% | 4.9% | +2,504 | +1.3pp |