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 Coffs Harbour (C), accounting for 18.1% (1,037 people). This share was lower than Regional NSW (18.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 85+ year olds, which increased by 255 people and 7 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Coffs Harbour (C) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Coffs Harbour (C) 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 Coffs Harbour (C), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
66
2021 rate
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
66
1.6%
+0.6pp
5-14
2021 count
499
2021 rate
5.0%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
499
5.0%
+1.2pp
15-19
2021 count
198
2021 rate
4.4%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
198
4.4%
+0.7pp
20-24
2021 count
127
2021 rate
3.5%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
127
3.5%
+0.4pp
25-34
2021 count
243
2021 rate
2.8%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
243
2.8%
-0.2pp
35-44
2021 count
294
2021 rate
3.2%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
294
3.2%
-0.2pp
45-54
2021 count
387
2021 rate
3.9%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
387
3.9%
-1.0pp
55-64
2021 count
656
2021 rate
6.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
656
6.2%
+0.1pp
65-74
2021 count
883
2021 rate
8.7%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
883
8.7%
+1.1pp
75-84
2021 count
1,037
2021 rate
18.1%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
1,037
18.1%
+1.5pp
85+
2021 count
1,027
2021 rate
44.3%
Change from 2016
+7.0pp
1,027
44.3%
+7.0pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+24
+0.6pp
5-14
+141
+1.2pp
15-19
+38
+0.7pp
20-24
+13
+0.4pp
25-34
+13
-0.2pp
35-44
+14
-0.2pp
45-54
-85
-1.0pp
55-64
-1
+0.1pp
65-74
+233
+1.1pp
75-84
+242
+1.5pp
85+
+255
+7.0pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Coffs Harbour (C). 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 | 66 | 1.6% | 1.6% | 42 | 1.0% | 1.3% | +24 | +0.6pp |
| 5-14 | 499 | 5.0% | 5.2% | 358 | 3.8% | 3.8% | +141 | +1.2pp |
| 15-19 | 198 | 4.4% | 4.2% | 160 | 3.7% | 3.2% | +38 | +0.7pp |
| 20-24 | 127 | 3.5% | 3.4% | 114 | 3.1% | 2.6% | +13 | +0.4pp |
| 25-34 | 243 | 2.8% | 2.6% | 230 | 3.0% | 2.4% | +13 | -0.2pp |
| 35-44 | 294 | 3.2% | 2.8% | 280 | 3.4% | 3.0% | +14 | -0.2pp |
| 45-54 | 387 | 3.9% | 4.2% | 472 | 4.9% | 4.4% | -85 | -1.0pp |
| 55-64 | 656 | 6.2% | 6.0% | 657 | 6.1% | 6.2% | -1 | +0.1pp |
| 65-74 | 883 | 8.7% | 9.1% | 650 | 7.6% | 8.7% | +233 | +1.1pp |
| 75-84 | 1,037 | 18.1% | 18.9% | 795 | 16.6% | 17.8% | +242 | +1.5pp |
| 85+ | 1,027 | 44.3% | 46.5% | 772 | 37.3% | 43.8% | +255 | +7.0pp |
| Total | 5,415 | 6.9% | 6.8% | 4,533 | 6.2% | 6.3% | +882 | +0.7pp |