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 Cairns (R), accounting for 22.2% (1,662 people). This share was higher than Regional Qld (20.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 543 people and 1.1 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Cairns (R) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Cairns (R) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Qld and change since 2016.
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Cairns (R), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
125
2021 rate
1.4%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
125
1.4%
+0.5pp
5-14
2021 count
934
2021 rate
4.1%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
934
4.1%
+1.0pp
15-19
2021 count
330
2021 rate
3.2%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
330
3.2%
+0.8pp
20-24
2021 count
239
2021 rate
2.6%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
239
2.6%
+0.8pp
25-34
2021 count
402
2021 rate
1.8%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
402
1.8%
+0.1pp
35-44
2021 count
521
2021 rate
2.3%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
521
2.3%
+0.2pp
45-54
2021 count
803
2021 rate
3.4%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
803
3.4%
+0.1pp
55-64
2021 count
1,137
2021 rate
5.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
1,137
5.4%
0.0pp
65-74
2021 count
1,589
2021 rate
10.0%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
1,589
10.0%
+1.1pp
75-84
2021 count
1,662
2021 rate
22.2%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
1,662
22.2%
+1.1pp
85+
2021 count
1,226
2021 rate
49.9%
Change from 2016
+3.5pp
1,226
49.9%
+3.5pp
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+28
+0.5pp
5-14
+265
+1.0pp
15-19
+92
+0.8pp
20-24
+70
+0.8pp
25-34
+44
+0.1pp
35-44
+38
+0.2pp
45-54
+58
+0.1pp
55-64
+114
0.0pp
65-74
+466
+1.1pp
75-84
+543
+1.1pp
85+
+307
+3.5pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Cairns (R). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 125 | 1.4% | 1.5% | 97 | 0.9% | 1.2% | +28 | +0.5pp |
| 5-14 | 934 | 4.1% | 5.0% | 669 | 3.1% | 3.5% | +265 | +1.0pp |
| 15-19 | 330 | 3.2% | 4.0% | 238 | 2.4% | 2.9% | +92 | +0.8pp |
| 20-24 | 239 | 2.6% | 2.8% | 169 | 1.8% | 2.2% | +70 | +0.8pp |
| 25-34 | 402 | 1.8% | 2.1% | 358 | 1.7% | 1.9% | +44 | +0.1pp |
| 35-44 | 521 | 2.3% | 2.5% | 483 | 2.1% | 2.5% | +38 | +0.2pp |
| 45-54 | 803 | 3.4% | 3.8% | 745 | 3.3% | 3.8% | +58 | +0.1pp |
| 55-64 | 1,137 | 5.4% | 6.0% | 1,023 | 5.4% | 6.0% | +114 | 0.0pp |
| 65-74 | 1,589 | 10.0% | 9.6% | 1,123 | 8.9% | 9.1% | +466 | +1.1pp |
| 75-84 | 1,662 | 22.2% | 20.4% | 1,119 | 21.1% | 19.3% | +543 | +1.1pp |
| 85+ | 1,226 | 49.9% | 47.7% | 919 | 46.4% | 46.7% | +307 | +3.5pp |
| Total | 8,963 | 5.4% | 6.3% | 6,940 | 4.4% | 5.5% | +2,023 | +1.0pp |