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 White Rock (Cairns - Qld), accounting for 30.4% (77 people). This share was higher than Cairns (R) (22.2%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 65-74 year olds, which increased by 18 people and 1.6 percentage points.

Section overview

Need for assistance with core activities by age

White Rock (Cairns - Qld) - Persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises need for assistance for White Rock (Cairns - Qld) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Cairns (R) and change since 2016.

Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot

2021 distribution by category for White Rock (Cairns - Qld), with comparison markers for Cairns (R).

White Rock (Cairns - Qld)

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

0-4

2021 count

8

2021 rate

2.3%

Change from 2016

+1.5pp

5-14

2021 count

33

2021 rate

4.5%

Change from 2016

+1.6pp

15-19

2021 count

8

2021 rate

2.6%

Change from 2016

-1.4pp

20-24

2021 count

4

2021 rate

1.4%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

25-34

2021 count

8

2021 rate

1.2%

Change from 2016

-1.3pp

35-44

2021 count

26

2021 rate

4.0%

Change from 2016

+1.0pp

45-54

2021 count

34

2021 rate

5.6%

Change from 2016

+1.8pp

55-64

2021 count

47

2021 rate

9.1%

Change from 2016

+0.8pp

65-74

2021 count

68

2021 rate

14.0%

Change from 2016

+1.6pp

75-84

2021 count

77

2021 rate

30.4%

Change from 2016

-6.4pp

85+

2021 count

63

2021 rate

65.6%

Change from 2016

-8.5pp

Data table

Need for assistance for White Rock (Cairns - Qld). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Cairns (R).

Need for assistance for White Rock (Cairns - Qld). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Cairns (R).
Need for assistance for White Rock (Cairns - Qld). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Cairns (R).
Category20212016Change
Count%Cairns (R)%Count%Cairns (R)%Countpp
0-482.3%1.4%30.8%0.9%+5+1.5pp
5-14334.5%4.1%202.9%3.1%+13+1.6pp
15-1982.6%3.2%124.0%2.4%-4-1.4pp
20-2441.4%2.6%31.1%1.8%+1+0.3pp
25-3481.2%1.8%162.5%1.7%-8-1.3pp
35-44264.0%2.3%193.0%2.1%+7+1.0pp
45-54345.6%3.4%223.8%3.3%+12+1.8pp
55-64479.1%5.4%448.3%5.4%+3+0.8pp
65-746814.0%10.0%5012.4%8.9%+18+1.6pp
75-847730.4%22.2%6336.8%21.1%+14-6.4pp
85+6365.6%49.9%8074.1%46.4%-17-8.5pp
Total3767.6%5.4%3437.3%4.4%+33+0.3pp