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 McDowall, accounting for 60.2% (50 people). This share was higher than Brisbane (C) (51.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 85+ year olds, which increased by 33 people and 36.9 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
McDowall - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for McDowall in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Brisbane (C) and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for McDowall, with comparison markers for Brisbane (C).
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
8
2021 rate
1.6%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
8
1.6%
-0.3pp
5-14
2021 count
32
2021 rate
3.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
32
3.0%
-0.1pp
15-19
2021 count
18
2021 rate
3.7%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
18
3.7%
+0.8pp
20-24
2021 count
17
2021 rate
3.5%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
17
3.5%
+1.9pp
25-34
2021 count
15
2021 rate
1.9%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
15
1.9%
-0.2pp
35-44
2021 count
17
2021 rate
1.5%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
17
1.5%
-0.5pp
45-54
2021 count
27
2021 rate
2.5%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
27
2.5%
+0.9pp
55-64
2021 count
17
2021 rate
1.9%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
17
1.9%
-0.2pp
65-74
2021 count
40
2021 rate
5.7%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
40
5.7%
-0.4pp
75-84
2021 count
49
2021 rate
14.3%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
49
14.3%
-1.9pp
85+
2021 count
50
2021 rate
60.2%
Change from 2016
+36.9pp
50
60.2%
+36.9pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
-1
-0.3pp
5-14
0
-0.1pp
15-19
+3
+0.8pp
20-24
+9
+1.9pp
25-34
-2
-0.2pp
35-44
-3
-0.5pp
45-54
+10
+0.9pp
55-64
-2
-0.2pp
65-74
+1
-0.4pp
75-84
+5
-1.9pp
85+
+33
+36.9pp
Data table
Need for assistance for McDowall. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Brisbane (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Brisbane (C)% | Count | % | Brisbane (C)% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 8 | 1.6% | 1.3% | 9 | 1.9% | 1.0% | -1 | -0.3pp |
| 5-14 | 32 | 3.0% | 3.6% | 32 | 3.1% | 2.7% | 0 | -0.1pp |
| 15-19 | 18 | 3.7% | 2.7% | 15 | 2.9% | 2.0% | +3 | +0.8pp |
| 20-24 | 17 | 3.5% | 1.8% | 8 | 1.6% | 1.3% | +9 | +1.9pp |
| 25-34 | 15 | 1.9% | 1.4% | 17 | 2.1% | 1.1% | -2 | -0.2pp |
| 35-44 | 17 | 1.5% | 1.7% | 20 | 2.0% | 1.7% | -3 | -0.5pp |
| 45-54 | 27 | 2.5% | 2.6% | 17 | 1.6% | 2.6% | +10 | +0.9pp |
| 55-64 | 17 | 1.9% | 4.5% | 19 | 2.1% | 4.4% | -2 | -0.2pp |
| 65-74 | 40 | 5.7% | 8.6% | 39 | 6.1% | 7.9% | +1 | -0.4pp |
| 75-84 | 49 | 14.3% | 21.3% | 44 | 16.2% | 20.4% | +5 | -1.9pp |
| 85+ | 50 | 60.2% | 51.4% | 17 | 23.3% | 47.1% | +33 | +36.9pp |
| Total | 289 | 3.8% | 4.6% | 238 | 3.3% | 4.0% | +51 | +0.5pp |