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 Byron (A), accounting for 47.9% (280 people). This share was higher than Regional NSW (46.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 65-74 year olds, which increased by 84 people and 0.5 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Byron (A) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Byron (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Byron (A), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
15
2021 rate
0.9%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
15
0.9%
-0.1pp
5-14
2021 count
102
2021 rate
2.5%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
102
2.5%
+0.6pp
15-19
2021 count
64
2021 rate
3.8%
Change from 2016
+2.3pp
64
3.8%
+2.3pp
20-24
2021 count
25
2021 rate
1.7%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
25
1.7%
-1.0pp
25-34
2021 count
81
2021 rate
1.7%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
81
1.7%
0.0pp
35-44
2021 count
74
2021 rate
1.4%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
74
1.4%
-0.4pp
45-54
2021 count
118
2021 rate
2.3%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
118
2.3%
-0.6pp
55-64
2021 count
215
2021 rate
4.1%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
215
4.1%
-0.7pp
65-74
2021 count
274
2021 rate
6.1%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
274
6.1%
+0.5pp
75-84
2021 count
242
2021 rate
14.8%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
242
14.8%
-1.4pp
85+
2021 count
280
2021 rate
47.9%
Change from 2016
+2.5pp
280
47.9%
+2.5pp
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
0
-0.1pp
5-14
+32
+0.6pp
15-19
+40
+2.3pp
20-24
-7
-1.0pp
25-34
+25
0.0pp
35-44
-4
-0.4pp
45-54
-23
-0.6pp
55-64
-48
-0.7pp
65-74
+84
+0.5pp
75-84
+36
-1.4pp
85+
-32
+2.5pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Byron (A). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 15 | 0.9% | 1.6% | 15 | 1.0% | 1.3% | 0 | -0.1pp |
| 5-14 | 102 | 2.5% | 5.2% | 70 | 1.9% | 3.8% | +32 | +0.6pp |
| 15-19 | 64 | 3.8% | 4.2% | 24 | 1.5% | 3.2% | +40 | +2.3pp |
| 20-24 | 25 | 1.7% | 3.4% | 32 | 2.7% | 2.6% | -7 | -1.0pp |
| 25-34 | 81 | 1.7% | 2.6% | 56 | 1.7% | 2.4% | +25 | 0.0pp |
| 35-44 | 74 | 1.4% | 2.8% | 78 | 1.8% | 3.0% | -4 | -0.4pp |
| 45-54 | 118 | 2.3% | 4.2% | 141 | 2.9% | 4.4% | -23 | -0.6pp |
| 55-64 | 215 | 4.1% | 6.0% | 263 | 4.8% | 6.2% | -48 | -0.7pp |
| 65-74 | 274 | 6.1% | 9.1% | 190 | 5.6% | 8.7% | +84 | +0.5pp |
| 75-84 | 242 | 14.8% | 18.9% | 206 | 16.2% | 17.8% | +36 | -1.4pp |
| 85+ | 280 | 47.9% | 46.5% | 312 | 45.4% | 43.8% | -32 | +2.5pp |
| Total | 1,490 | 4.1% | 6.8% | 1,384 | 4.4% | 6.3% | +106 | -0.3pp |