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 Cockburn (C), accounting for 21.7% (1,029 people). This share was higher than Greater Perth (18.8%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 85+ year olds, which increased by 330 people and 9.2 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Cockburn (C) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Cockburn (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Perth and change since 2016.
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Cockburn (C), with comparison markers for Greater Perth.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
91
2021 rate
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
91
1.2%
+0.2pp
5-14
2021 count
592
2021 rate
3.9%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
592
3.9%
+0.8pp
15-19
2021 count
216
2021 rate
3.3%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
216
3.3%
+1.0pp
20-24
2021 count
172
2021 rate
2.3%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
172
2.3%
+0.6pp
25-34
2021 count
281
2021 rate
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
281
1.6%
+0.5pp
35-44
2021 count
255
2021 rate
1.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
255
1.4%
-0.1pp
45-54
2021 count
408
2021 rate
2.6%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
408
2.6%
+0.3pp
55-64
2021 count
547
2021 rate
4.2%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
547
4.2%
-0.1pp
65-74
2021 count
739
2021 rate
7.9%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
739
7.9%
-0.8pp
75-84
2021 count
1,029
2021 rate
21.7%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
1,029
21.7%
+1.2pp
85+
2021 count
942
2021 rate
52.0%
Change from 2016
+9.2pp
942
52.0%
+9.2pp
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+14
+0.2pp
5-14
+179
+0.8pp
15-19
+66
+1.0pp
20-24
+58
+0.6pp
25-34
+97
+0.5pp
35-44
+17
-0.1pp
45-54
+75
+0.3pp
55-64
+76
-0.1pp
65-74
+136
-0.8pp
75-84
+267
+1.2pp
85+
+330
+9.2pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Cockburn (C). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Perth.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Perth% | Count | % | Greater Perth% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 91 | 1.2% | 1.2% | 77 | 1.0% | 1.0% | +14 | +0.2pp |
| 5-14 | 592 | 3.9% | 3.7% | 413 | 3.1% | 2.7% | +179 | +0.8pp |
| 15-19 | 216 | 3.3% | 3.1% | 150 | 2.3% | 2.1% | +66 | +1.0pp |
| 20-24 | 172 | 2.3% | 2.1% | 114 | 1.7% | 1.5% | +58 | +0.6pp |
| 25-34 | 281 | 1.6% | 1.6% | 184 | 1.1% | 1.1% | +97 | +0.5pp |
| 35-44 | 255 | 1.4% | 1.6% | 238 | 1.5% | 1.5% | +17 | -0.1pp |
| 45-54 | 408 | 2.6% | 2.5% | 333 | 2.3% | 2.4% | +75 | +0.3pp |
| 55-64 | 547 | 4.2% | 4.3% | 471 | 4.3% | 4.1% | +76 | -0.1pp |
| 65-74 | 739 | 7.9% | 7.5% | 603 | 8.7% | 7.2% | +136 | -0.8pp |
| 75-84 | 1,029 | 21.7% | 18.8% | 762 | 20.5% | 18.1% | +267 | +1.2pp |
| 85+ | 942 | 52.0% | 46.7% | 612 | 42.8% | 43.0% | +330 | +9.2pp |
| Total | 5,278 | 4.5% | 4.6% | 3,952 | 3.8% | 3.9% | +1,326 | +0.7pp |