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 change

Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.

2016
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.

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.
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.
Category20212016Change
Count%Greater Sydney%Count%Greater Sydney%Countpp
0-43061.2%1.3%3061.2%1.1%00.0pp
5-141,5883.3%3.4%1,2162.6%2.7%+372+0.7pp
15-195872.6%2.7%4532.1%2.2%+134+0.5pp
20-244461.8%1.8%4111.7%1.5%+35+0.1pp
25-348751.6%1.3%8221.5%1.2%+53+0.1pp
35-441,1582.3%1.6%1,1822.5%1.8%-24-0.2pp
45-541,7753.9%2.9%2,1815.0%3.2%-406-1.1pp
55-643,4568.2%5.5%3,4399.3%5.7%+17-1.1pp
65-744,80916.2%10.5%3,91115.7%9.9%+898+0.5pp
75-845,63832.2%23.1%5,06631.9%23.4%+572+0.3pp
85+4,44453.1%48.7%4,14055.3%50.4%+304-2.2pp
Total25,0766.8%5.2%23,1196.7%4.9%+1,957+0.1pp