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 Central Coast (C) (NSW), accounting for 18.7% (4,803 people). This share was lower than Greater Sydney (23.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 5-14 year olds, which increased by 935 people and 2 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Central Coast (C) (NSW) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Central Coast (C) (NSW) 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 Central Coast (C) (NSW), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
350
2021 rate
1.8%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
350
1.8%
+0.1pp
5-14
2021 count
2,745
2021 rate
6.4%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
2,745
6.4%
+2.0pp
15-19
2021 count
957
2021 rate
4.7%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
957
4.7%
+1.1pp
20-24
2021 count
670
2021 rate
3.6%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
670
3.6%
+0.5pp
25-34
2021 count
1,048
2021 rate
2.7%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
1,048
2.7%
+0.2pp
35-44
2021 count
1,171
2021 rate
2.8%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
1,171
2.8%
0.0pp
45-54
2021 count
1,654
2021 rate
3.7%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
1,654
3.7%
-0.4pp
55-64
2021 count
2,754
2021 rate
6.1%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
2,754
6.1%
+0.1pp
65-74
2021 count
3,725
2021 rate
9.2%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
3,725
9.2%
+0.4pp
75-84
2021 count
4,803
2021 rate
18.7%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
4,803
18.7%
+0.8pp
85+
2021 count
4,483
2021 rate
42.5%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
4,483
42.5%
+1.4pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+17
+0.1pp
5-14
+935
+2.0pp
15-19
+244
+1.1pp
20-24
+108
+0.5pp
25-34
+167
+0.2pp
35-44
+63
0.0pp
45-54
-156
-0.4pp
55-64
+192
+0.1pp
65-74
+519
+0.4pp
75-84
+929
+0.8pp
85+
+254
+1.4pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Central Coast (C) (NSW). 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 | 350 | 1.8% | 1.3% | 333 | 1.7% | 1.1% | +17 | +0.1pp |
| 5-14 | 2,745 | 6.4% | 3.4% | 1,810 | 4.4% | 2.7% | +935 | +2.0pp |
| 15-19 | 957 | 4.7% | 2.7% | 713 | 3.6% | 2.2% | +244 | +1.1pp |
| 20-24 | 670 | 3.6% | 1.8% | 562 | 3.1% | 1.5% | +108 | +0.5pp |
| 25-34 | 1,048 | 2.7% | 1.3% | 881 | 2.5% | 1.2% | +167 | +0.2pp |
| 35-44 | 1,171 | 2.8% | 1.6% | 1,108 | 2.8% | 1.8% | +63 | 0.0pp |
| 45-54 | 1,654 | 3.7% | 2.9% | 1,810 | 4.1% | 3.2% | -156 | -0.4pp |
| 55-64 | 2,754 | 6.1% | 5.5% | 2,562 | 6.0% | 5.7% | +192 | +0.1pp |
| 65-74 | 3,725 | 9.2% | 10.5% | 3,206 | 8.8% | 9.9% | +519 | +0.4pp |
| 75-84 | 4,803 | 18.7% | 23.1% | 3,874 | 17.9% | 23.4% | +929 | +0.8pp |
| 85+ | 4,483 | 42.5% | 48.7% | 4,229 | 41.1% | 50.4% | +254 | +1.4pp |
| Total | 24,360 | 7.0% | 5.2% | 21,083 | 6.4% | 4.9% | +3,277 | +0.6pp |