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 (M) (Tas.), accounting for 18.7% (343 people). This share was similar to Regional Tas. (18.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 63 people, while its share fell by 0.2 percentage points.

Section overview

Need for assistance with core activities by age

Central Coast (M) (Tas.) - Persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises need for assistance for Central Coast (M) (Tas.) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Tas. 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

+10

+1.1pp

5-14

+49

+1.8pp

15-19

+22

+1.8pp

20-24

-2

-0.3pp

25-34

+4

-0.3pp

35-44

+12

+0.5pp

45-54

-37

-1.0pp

55-64

+37

+0.5pp

65-74

+22

-0.6pp

75-84

+63

-0.2pp

85+

+33

-3.9pp

Data table

Need for assistance for Central Coast (M) (Tas.). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Tas..

Need for assistance for Central Coast (M) (Tas.). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Tas..
Need for assistance for Central Coast (M) (Tas.). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Tas..
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional Tas.%Count%Regional Tas.%Countpp
0-4191.9%1.7%90.8%1.1%+10+1.1pp
5-141475.7%5.6%983.9%4.0%+49+1.8pp
15-19735.7%4.9%513.9%3.6%+22+1.8pp
20-24393.6%3.8%413.9%3.0%-2-0.3pp
25-34652.8%2.8%613.1%2.6%+4-0.3pp
35-44773.3%3.3%652.8%3.5%+12+0.5pp
45-541123.9%5.2%1494.9%5.2%-37-1.0pp
55-642446.7%6.9%2076.2%7.1%+37+0.5pp
65-743039.6%10.0%28110.2%9.6%+22-0.6pp
75-8434318.7%18.9%28018.9%18.3%+63-0.2pp
85+27943.2%45.1%24647.1%46.2%+33-3.9pp
Total1,6997.5%7.3%1,4836.9%6.7%+216+0.6pp