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 Mooroobool, accounting for 29.1% (102 people). This share was higher than Cairns (R) (22.2%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 85+ year olds, which increased by 101 people and 58.7 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Mooroobool - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Mooroobool in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Cairns (R) and change since 2016.
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Mooroobool, with comparison markers for Cairns (R).
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
7
2021 rate
1.9%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
7
1.9%
+1.9pp
5-14
2021 count
42
2021 rate
4.4%
Change from 2016
+4.4pp
42
4.4%
+4.4pp
15-19
2021 count
20
2021 rate
4.1%
Change from 2016
+4.1pp
20
4.1%
+4.1pp
20-24
2021 count
8
2021 rate
2.1%
Change from 2016
+2.1pp
8
2.1%
+2.1pp
25-34
2021 count
25
2021 rate
3.2%
Change from 2016
-6.5pp
25
3.2%
-6.5pp
35-44
2021 count
40
2021 rate
4.4%
Change from 2016
+4.4pp
40
4.4%
+4.4pp
45-54
2021 count
47
2021 rate
4.7%
Change from 2016
-13.2pp
47
4.7%
-13.2pp
55-64
2021 count
62
2021 rate
6.4%
Change from 2016
-6.7pp
62
6.4%
-6.7pp
65-74
2021 count
94
2021 rate
13.0%
Change from 2016
-2.4pp
94
13.0%
-2.4pp
75-84
2021 count
102
2021 rate
29.1%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
102
29.1%
-0.3pp
85+
2021 count
101
2021 rate
58.7%
Change from 2016
+58.7pp
101
58.7%
+58.7pp
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+7
+1.9pp
5-14
+42
+4.4pp
15-19
+20
+4.1pp
20-24
+8
+2.1pp
25-34
+22
-6.5pp
35-44
+40
+4.4pp
45-54
+33
-13.2pp
55-64
+48
-6.7pp
65-74
+86
-2.4pp
75-84
+97
-0.3pp
85+
+101
+58.7pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Mooroobool. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Cairns (R).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Cairns (R)% | Count | % | Cairns (R)% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 7 | 1.9% | 1.4% | 0 | 0.0% | 0.9% | +7 | +1.9pp |
| 5-14 | 42 | 4.4% | 4.1% | 0 | 0.0% | 3.1% | +42 | +4.4pp |
| 15-19 | 20 | 4.1% | 3.2% | 0 | 0.0% | 2.4% | +20 | +4.1pp |
| 20-24 | 8 | 2.1% | 2.6% | 0 | 0.0% | 1.8% | +8 | +2.1pp |
| 25-34 | 25 | 3.2% | 1.8% | 3 | 9.7% | 1.7% | +22 | -6.5pp |
| 35-44 | 40 | 4.4% | 2.3% | 0 | 0.0% | 2.1% | +40 | +4.4pp |
| 45-54 | 47 | 4.7% | 3.4% | 14 | 17.9% | 3.3% | +33 | -13.2pp |
| 55-64 | 62 | 6.4% | 5.4% | 14 | 13.1% | 5.4% | +48 | -6.7pp |
| 65-74 | 94 | 13.0% | 10.0% | 8 | 15.4% | 8.9% | +86 | -2.4pp |
| 75-84 | 102 | 29.1% | 22.2% | 5 | 29.4% | 21.1% | +97 | -0.3pp |
| 85+ | 101 | 58.7% | 49.9% | 0 | 0.0% | 46.4% | +101 | +58.7pp |
| Total | 544 | 7.6% | 5.4% | 49 | 11.3% | 4.4% | +495 | -3.7pp |