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 Cobar (A), accounting for 18.5% (39 people). This share was lower than Regional NSW (18.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 65-74 year olds, which decreased by 8 people and 2.9 percentage points.

Section overview

Need for assistance with core activities by age

Cobar (A) - Persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises need for assistance for Cobar (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 Cobar (A), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.

Cobar (A)

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

0-4

2021 count

0

2021 rate

0.0%

Change from 2016

-1.1pp

5-14

2021 count

13

2021 rate

2.4%

Change from 2016

+0.7pp

15-19

2021 count

5

2021 rate

2.2%

Change from 2016

+1.0pp

20-24

2021 count

4

2021 rate

1.8%

Change from 2016

+0.6pp

25-34

2021 count

13

2021 rate

2.2%

Change from 2016

+0.9pp

35-44

2021 count

6

2021 rate

1.2%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

45-54

2021 count

17

2021 rate

3.8%

Change from 2016

+0.4pp

55-64

2021 count

21

2021 rate

3.8%

Change from 2016

+0.4pp

65-74

2021 count

24

2021 rate

6.2%

Change from 2016

-2.9pp

75-84

2021 count

39

2021 rate

18.5%

Change from 2016

+2.0pp

85+

2021 count

34

2021 rate

45.3%

Change from 2016

+9.4pp

Data table

Need for assistance for Cobar (A). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.

Need for assistance for Cobar (A). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
Need for assistance for Cobar (A). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional NSW%Count%Regional NSW%Countpp
0-400.0%1.6%41.1%1.3%-4-1.1pp
5-14132.4%5.2%111.7%3.8%+2+0.7pp
15-1952.2%4.2%31.2%3.2%+2+1.0pp
20-2441.8%3.4%31.2%2.6%+1+0.6pp
25-34132.2%2.6%91.3%2.4%+4+0.9pp
35-4461.2%2.8%71.2%3.0%-10.0pp
45-54173.8%4.2%203.4%4.4%-3+0.4pp
55-64213.8%6.0%203.4%6.2%+1+0.4pp
65-74246.2%9.1%329.1%8.7%-8-2.9pp
75-843918.5%18.9%3516.5%17.8%+4+2.0pp
85+3445.3%46.5%2835.9%43.8%+6+9.4pp
Total1804.4%6.8%1844.0%6.3%-4+0.4pp