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 Sunshine West, accounting for 38.1% (471 people). This share was higher than Brimbank (C) (36.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 467 people and 29.9 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Sunshine West - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Sunshine West in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Brimbank (C) and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Sunshine West, with comparison markers for Brimbank (C).
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
15
2021 rate
1.5%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
15
1.5%
+1.5pp
5-14
2021 count
86
2021 rate
4.2%
Change from 2016
+4.2pp
86
4.2%
+4.2pp
15-19
2021 count
30
2021 rate
3.0%
Change from 2016
-7.7pp
30
3.0%
-7.7pp
20-24
2021 count
39
2021 rate
3.2%
Change from 2016
+3.2pp
39
3.2%
+3.2pp
25-34
2021 count
67
2021 rate
2.2%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
67
2.2%
+2.2pp
35-44
2021 count
68
2021 rate
2.6%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
68
2.6%
-1.7pp
45-54
2021 count
100
2021 rate
4.4%
Change from 2016
-3.0pp
100
4.4%
-3.0pp
55-64
2021 count
188
2021 rate
9.5%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
188
9.5%
+0.5pp
65-74
2021 count
315
2021 rate
18.2%
Change from 2016
+9.8pp
315
18.2%
+9.8pp
75-84
2021 count
471
2021 rate
38.1%
Change from 2016
+29.9pp
471
38.1%
+29.9pp
85+
2021 count
255
2021 rate
61.9%
Change from 2016
+61.9pp
255
61.9%
+61.9pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+15
+1.5pp
5-14
+86
+4.2pp
15-19
+27
-7.7pp
20-24
+39
+3.2pp
25-34
+67
+2.2pp
35-44
+65
-1.7pp
45-54
+94
-3.0pp
55-64
+175
+0.5pp
65-74
+301
+9.8pp
75-84
+467
+29.9pp
85+
+255
+61.9pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Sunshine West. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Brimbank (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Brimbank (C)% | Count | % | Brimbank (C)% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 15 | 1.5% | 1.5% | 0 | 0.0% | 1.0% | +15 | +1.5pp |
| 5-14 | 86 | 4.2% | 4.4% | 0 | 0.0% | 2.9% | +86 | +4.2pp |
| 15-19 | 30 | 3.0% | 3.2% | 3 | 10.7% | 2.3% | +27 | -7.7pp |
| 20-24 | 39 | 3.2% | 2.1% | 0 | 0.0% | 1.5% | +39 | +3.2pp |
| 25-34 | 67 | 2.2% | 1.8% | 0 | 0.0% | 1.5% | +67 | +2.2pp |
| 35-44 | 68 | 2.6% | 2.6% | 3 | 4.3% | 2.4% | +65 | -1.7pp |
| 45-54 | 100 | 4.4% | 4.3% | 6 | 7.4% | 4.5% | +94 | -3.0pp |
| 55-64 | 188 | 9.5% | 8.4% | 13 | 9.0% | 8.9% | +175 | +0.5pp |
| 65-74 | 315 | 18.2% | 17.0% | 14 | 8.4% | 15.5% | +301 | +9.8pp |
| 75-84 | 471 | 38.1% | 36.4% | 4 | 8.2% | 35.4% | +467 | +29.9pp |
| 85+ | 255 | 61.9% | 63.3% | 0 | 0.0% | 59.7% | +255 | +61.9pp |
| Total | 1,630 | 8.8% | 7.7% | 50 | 6.7% | 6.4% | +1,580 | +2.1pp |