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 Cardinia (S), accounting for 20.7% (960 people). This share was lower than Greater Melbourne (24.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 413 people and 3.2 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Cardinia (S) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Cardinia (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Melbourne and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Cardinia (S), with comparison markers for Greater Melbourne.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
150
2021 rate
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
150
1.6%
+0.4pp
5-14
2021 count
924
2021 rate
5.2%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
924
5.2%
+1.1pp
15-19
2021 count
269
2021 rate
3.7%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
269
3.7%
+0.5pp
20-24
2021 count
176
2021 rate
2.5%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
176
2.5%
+0.5pp
25-34
2021 count
315
2021 rate
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
315
1.7%
+0.3pp
35-44
2021 count
345
2021 rate
2.0%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
345
2.0%
-0.2pp
45-54
2021 count
439
2021 rate
3.0%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
439
3.0%
+0.2pp
55-64
2021 count
593
2021 rate
5.1%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
593
5.1%
+0.2pp
65-74
2021 count
816
2021 rate
9.4%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
816
9.4%
+1.4pp
75-84
2021 count
960
2021 rate
20.7%
Change from 2016
+3.2pp
960
20.7%
+3.2pp
85+
2021 count
738
2021 rate
49.4%
Change from 2016
+3.2pp
738
49.4%
+3.2pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+53
+0.4pp
5-14
+352
+1.1pp
15-19
+69
+0.5pp
20-24
+55
+0.5pp
25-34
+117
+0.3pp
35-44
+54
-0.2pp
45-54
+89
+0.2pp
55-64
+119
+0.2pp
65-74
+266
+1.4pp
75-84
+413
+3.2pp
85+
+190
+3.2pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Cardinia (S). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 150 | 1.6% | 1.3% | 97 | 1.2% | 1.1% | +53 | +0.4pp |
| 5-14 | 924 | 5.2% | 3.9% | 572 | 4.1% | 3.0% | +352 | +1.1pp |
| 15-19 | 269 | 3.7% | 3.1% | 200 | 3.2% | 2.2% | +69 | +0.5pp |
| 20-24 | 176 | 2.5% | 2.0% | 121 | 2.0% | 1.5% | +55 | +0.5pp |
| 25-34 | 315 | 1.7% | 1.5% | 198 | 1.4% | 1.2% | +117 | +0.3pp |
| 35-44 | 345 | 2.0% | 1.8% | 291 | 2.2% | 1.9% | +54 | -0.2pp |
| 45-54 | 439 | 3.0% | 3.2% | 350 | 2.8% | 3.2% | +89 | +0.2pp |
| 55-64 | 593 | 5.1% | 5.6% | 474 | 4.9% | 5.5% | +119 | +0.2pp |
| 65-74 | 816 | 9.4% | 10.5% | 550 | 8.0% | 9.5% | +266 | +1.4pp |
| 75-84 | 960 | 20.7% | 24.7% | 547 | 17.5% | 23.2% | +413 | +3.2pp |
| 85+ | 738 | 49.4% | 54.0% | 548 | 46.2% | 49.0% | +190 | +3.2pp |
| Total | 5,730 | 4.8% | 5.5% | 3,952 | 4.2% | 4.9% | +1,778 | +0.6pp |