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 Palm Cove, accounting for 17.9% (33 people). This share was lower than Cairns (R) (22.2%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 33 people and 17.9 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Palm Cove - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Palm Cove 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 Palm Cove, with comparison markers for Cairns (R).
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
0
2021 rate
0.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
0
0.0%
0.0pp
5-14
2021 count
10
2021 rate
4.8%
Change from 2016
+4.8pp
10
4.8%
+4.8pp
15-19
2021 count
0
2021 rate
0.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
0
0.0%
0.0pp
20-24
2021 count
0
2021 rate
0.0%
Change from 2016
-30.0pp
0
0.0%
-30.0pp
25-34
2021 count
4
2021 rate
2.2%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
4
2.2%
+2.2pp
35-44
2021 count
7
2021 rate
2.6%
Change from 2016
-7.7pp
7
2.6%
-7.7pp
45-54
2021 count
15
2021 rate
3.7%
Change from 2016
-8.4pp
15
3.7%
-8.4pp
55-64
2021 count
20
2021 rate
4.0%
Change from 2016
+4.0pp
20
4.0%
+4.0pp
65-74
2021 count
32
2021 rate
6.8%
Change from 2016
-8.2pp
32
6.8%
-8.2pp
75-84
2021 count
33
2021 rate
17.9%
Change from 2016
+17.9pp
33
17.9%
+17.9pp
85+
2021 count
6
2021 rate
27.3%
Change from 2016
+27.3pp
6
27.3%
+27.3pp
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
0
0.0pp
5-14
+10
+4.8pp
15-19
0
0.0pp
20-24
-3
-30.0pp
25-34
+4
+2.2pp
35-44
+4
-7.7pp
45-54
+11
-8.4pp
55-64
+20
+4.0pp
65-74
+29
-8.2pp
75-84
+33
+17.9pp
85+
+6
+27.3pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Palm Cove. 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 | 0 | 0.0% | 1.4% | 0 | 0.0% | 0.9% | 0 | 0.0pp |
| 5-14 | 10 | 4.8% | 4.1% | 0 | 0.0% | 3.1% | +10 | +4.8pp |
| 15-19 | 0 | 0.0% | 3.2% | 0 | 0.0% | 2.4% | 0 | 0.0pp |
| 20-24 | 0 | 0.0% | 2.6% | 3 | 30.0% | 1.8% | -3 | -30.0pp |
| 25-34 | 4 | 2.2% | 1.8% | 0 | 0.0% | 1.7% | +4 | +2.2pp |
| 35-44 | 7 | 2.6% | 2.3% | 3 | 10.3% | 2.1% | +4 | -7.7pp |
| 45-54 | 15 | 3.7% | 3.4% | 4 | 12.1% | 3.3% | +11 | -8.4pp |
| 55-64 | 20 | 4.0% | 5.4% | 0 | 0.0% | 5.4% | +20 | +4.0pp |
| 65-74 | 32 | 6.8% | 10.0% | 3 | 15.0% | 8.9% | +29 | -8.2pp |
| 75-84 | 33 | 17.9% | 22.2% | 0 | 0.0% | 21.1% | +33 | +17.9pp |
| 85+ | 6 | 27.3% | 49.9% | 0 | 0.0% | 46.4% | +6 | +27.3pp |
| Total | 122 | 5.0% | 5.4% | 20 | 10.3% | 4.4% | +102 | -5.3pp |