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 Acton (Tas.), accounting for 19.4% (24 people). This share was higher than Burnie (C) (12.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 17 people and 19.2 percentage points.

Section overview

Need for assistance with core activities by age

Acton (Tas.) - Persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises need for assistance for Acton (Tas.) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Burnie (C) and change since 2016.

Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Acton (Tas.), with comparison markers for Burnie (C).

Acton (Tas.)

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

0-4

2021 count

0

2021 rate

0.0%

Change from 2016

-2.8pp

5-14

2021 count

16

2021 rate

8.7%

Change from 2016

+4.8pp

15-19

2021 count

3

2021 rate

3.5%

Change from 2016

-4.1pp

20-24

2021 count

8

2021 rate

7.8%

Change from 2016

+2.5pp

25-34

2021 count

10

2021 rate

4.7%

Change from 2016

-3.9pp

35-44

2021 count

14

2021 rate

8.2%

Change from 2016

-2.3pp

45-54

2021 count

11

2021 rate

6.7%

Change from 2016

-1.3pp

55-64

2021 count

16

2021 rate

10.4%

Change from 2016

-6.4pp

65-74

2021 count

24

2021 rate

19.4%

Change from 2016

+8.0pp

75-84

2021 count

21

2021 rate

25.0%

Change from 2016

+19.2pp

85+

2021 count

4

2021 rate

36.4%

Change from 2016

+0.7pp

Data table

Need for assistance for Acton (Tas.). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Burnie (C).

Need for assistance for Acton (Tas.). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Burnie (C).
Need for assistance for Acton (Tas.). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Burnie (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Burnie (C)%Count%Burnie (C)%Countpp
0-400.0%2.6%32.8%1.1%-3-2.8pp
5-14168.7%6.6%73.9%5.4%+9+4.8pp
15-1933.5%5.9%77.6%3.5%-4-4.1pp
20-2487.8%3.2%65.3%4.4%+2+2.5pp
25-34104.7%3.4%198.6%3.5%-9-3.9pp
35-44148.2%4.0%1610.5%4.7%-2-2.3pp
45-54116.7%6.2%118.0%5.4%0-1.3pp
55-641610.4%7.9%2216.8%8.1%-6-6.4pp
65-742419.4%12.1%1611.4%11.2%+8+8.0pp
75-842125.0%20.5%45.8%18.1%+17+19.2pp
85+436.4%46.0%535.7%44.5%-1+0.7pp
Total1249.0%7.8%1128.3%7.2%+12+0.7pp