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 Clarence Valley (A), accounting for 19.5% (919 people). This share was higher than Regional NSW (18.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 175 people and 0.8 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Clarence Valley (A) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Clarence Valley (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Clarence Valley (A), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
40
2021 rate
1.6%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
40
1.6%
-0.1pp
5-14
2021 count
321
2021 rate
5.3%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
321
5.3%
+0.8pp
15-19
2021 count
146
2021 rate
5.3%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
146
5.3%
+1.3pp
20-24
2021 count
87
2021 rate
3.7%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
87
3.7%
+0.4pp
25-34
2021 count
158
2021 rate
3.0%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
158
3.0%
-0.7pp
35-44
2021 count
194
2021 rate
3.6%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
194
3.6%
-0.9pp
45-54
2021 count
376
2021 rate
5.8%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
376
5.8%
-0.7pp
55-64
2021 count
623
2021 rate
7.4%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
623
7.4%
-0.7pp
65-74
2021 count
847
2021 rate
10.1%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
847
10.1%
-0.1pp
75-84
2021 count
919
2021 rate
19.5%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
919
19.5%
+0.8pp
85+
2021 count
861
2021 rate
49.0%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
861
49.0%
+1.3pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
-3
-0.1pp
5-14
+57
+0.8pp
15-19
+29
+1.3pp
20-24
+19
+0.4pp
25-34
+6
-0.7pp
35-44
-40
-0.9pp
45-54
-61
-0.7pp
55-64
-50
-0.7pp
65-74
+93
-0.1pp
75-84
+175
+0.8pp
85+
+90
+1.3pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Clarence Valley (A). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 40 | 1.6% | 1.6% | 43 | 1.7% | 1.3% | -3 | -0.1pp |
| 5-14 | 321 | 5.3% | 5.2% | 264 | 4.5% | 3.8% | +57 | +0.8pp |
| 15-19 | 146 | 5.3% | 4.2% | 117 | 4.0% | 3.2% | +29 | +1.3pp |
| 20-24 | 87 | 3.7% | 3.4% | 68 | 3.3% | 2.6% | +19 | +0.4pp |
| 25-34 | 158 | 3.0% | 2.6% | 152 | 3.7% | 2.4% | +6 | -0.7pp |
| 35-44 | 194 | 3.6% | 2.8% | 234 | 4.5% | 3.0% | -40 | -0.9pp |
| 45-54 | 376 | 5.8% | 4.2% | 437 | 6.5% | 4.4% | -61 | -0.7pp |
| 55-64 | 623 | 7.4% | 6.0% | 673 | 8.1% | 6.2% | -50 | -0.7pp |
| 65-74 | 847 | 10.1% | 9.1% | 754 | 10.2% | 8.7% | +93 | -0.1pp |
| 75-84 | 919 | 19.5% | 18.9% | 744 | 18.7% | 17.8% | +175 | +0.8pp |
| 85+ | 861 | 49.0% | 46.5% | 771 | 47.7% | 43.8% | +90 | +1.3pp |
| Total | 4,580 | 8.5% | 6.8% | 4,242 | 8.4% | 6.3% | +338 | +0.1pp |