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 Casey (C), accounting for 27.8% (3,258 people). This share was higher than Greater Melbourne (24.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 65-74 year olds, which increased by 1,064 people and 2 percentage points.

Section overview

Need for assistance with core activities by age

Casey (C) - Persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises need for assistance for Casey (C) 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 Casey (C), with comparison markers for Greater Melbourne.

Casey (C)

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

0-4

2021 count

388

2021 rate

1.4%

Change from 2016

+0.4pp

5-14

2021 count

2,124

2021 rate

3.8%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

15-19

2021 count

764

2021 rate

3.3%

Change from 2016

+0.4pp

20-24

2021 count

606

2021 rate

2.5%

Change from 2016

+0.5pp

25-34

2021 count

965

2021 rate

1.7%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

35-44

2021 count

1,142

2021 rate

2.0%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

45-54

2021 count

1,774

2021 rate

3.9%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

55-64

2021 count

2,522

2021 rate

7.0%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

65-74

2021 count

3,136

2021 rate

13.3%

Change from 2016

+2.0pp

75-84

2021 count

3,258

2021 rate

27.8%

Change from 2016

+2.8pp

85+

2021 count

2,320

2021 rate

55.1%

Change from 2016

+2.8pp

Data table

Need for assistance for Casey (C). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.

Need for assistance for Casey (C). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
Need for assistance for Casey (C). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
Category20212016Change
Count%Greater Melbourne%Count%Greater Melbourne%Countpp
0-43881.4%1.3%2491.0%1.1%+139+0.4pp
5-142,1243.8%3.9%1,5483.5%3.0%+576+0.3pp
15-197643.3%3.1%6092.9%2.2%+155+0.4pp
20-246062.5%2.0%4122.0%1.5%+194+0.5pp
25-349651.7%1.5%7131.6%1.2%+252+0.1pp
35-441,1422.0%1.8%9982.2%1.9%+144-0.2pp
45-541,7743.9%3.2%1,4803.7%3.2%+294+0.2pp
55-642,5227.0%5.6%2,0256.7%5.5%+497+0.3pp
65-743,13613.3%10.5%2,07211.3%9.5%+1,064+2.0pp
75-843,25827.8%24.7%2,23425.0%23.2%+1,024+2.8pp
85+2,32055.1%54.0%1,80552.3%49.0%+515+2.8pp
Total18,9945.2%5.5%14,1444.7%4.9%+4,850+0.5pp