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 Canterbury-Bankstown (A), accounting for 32.2% (5,638 people). This share was higher than Greater Sydney (23.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 65-74 year olds, which increased by 898 people and 0.5 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Canterbury-Bankstown (A) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Canterbury-Bankstown (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Sydney and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Canterbury-Bankstown (A), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
306
2021 rate
1.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
306
1.2%
0.0pp
5-14
2021 count
1,588
2021 rate
3.3%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
1,588
3.3%
+0.7pp
15-19
2021 count
587
2021 rate
2.6%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
587
2.6%
+0.5pp
20-24
2021 count
446
2021 rate
1.8%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
446
1.8%
+0.1pp
25-34
2021 count
875
2021 rate
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
875
1.6%
+0.1pp
35-44
2021 count
1,158
2021 rate
2.3%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
1,158
2.3%
-0.2pp
45-54
2021 count
1,775
2021 rate
3.9%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
1,775
3.9%
-1.1pp
55-64
2021 count
3,456
2021 rate
8.2%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
3,456
8.2%
-1.1pp
65-74
2021 count
4,809
2021 rate
16.2%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
4,809
16.2%
+0.5pp
75-84
2021 count
5,638
2021 rate
32.2%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
5,638
32.2%
+0.3pp
85+
2021 count
4,444
2021 rate
53.1%
Change from 2016
-2.2pp
4,444
53.1%
-2.2pp
Chart view
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
+372
+0.7pp
15-19
+134
+0.5pp
20-24
+35
+0.1pp
25-34
+53
+0.1pp
35-44
-24
-0.2pp
45-54
-406
-1.1pp
55-64
+17
-1.1pp
65-74
+898
+0.5pp
75-84
+572
+0.3pp
85+
+304
-2.2pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Canterbury-Bankstown (A). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 306 | 1.2% | 1.3% | 306 | 1.2% | 1.1% | 0 | 0.0pp |
| 5-14 | 1,588 | 3.3% | 3.4% | 1,216 | 2.6% | 2.7% | +372 | +0.7pp |
| 15-19 | 587 | 2.6% | 2.7% | 453 | 2.1% | 2.2% | +134 | +0.5pp |
| 20-24 | 446 | 1.8% | 1.8% | 411 | 1.7% | 1.5% | +35 | +0.1pp |
| 25-34 | 875 | 1.6% | 1.3% | 822 | 1.5% | 1.2% | +53 | +0.1pp |
| 35-44 | 1,158 | 2.3% | 1.6% | 1,182 | 2.5% | 1.8% | -24 | -0.2pp |
| 45-54 | 1,775 | 3.9% | 2.9% | 2,181 | 5.0% | 3.2% | -406 | -1.1pp |
| 55-64 | 3,456 | 8.2% | 5.5% | 3,439 | 9.3% | 5.7% | +17 | -1.1pp |
| 65-74 | 4,809 | 16.2% | 10.5% | 3,911 | 15.7% | 9.9% | +898 | +0.5pp |
| 75-84 | 5,638 | 32.2% | 23.1% | 5,066 | 31.9% | 23.4% | +572 | +0.3pp |
| 85+ | 4,444 | 53.1% | 48.7% | 4,140 | 55.3% | 50.4% | +304 | -2.2pp |
| Total | 25,076 | 6.8% | 5.2% | 23,119 | 6.7% | 4.9% | +1,957 | +0.1pp |