Population
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, 85+ year olds was the most common age group among residents who needed assistance with core activities in Colac-Otway (S), accounting for 49% (319 people). This share was higher than Regional Vic. (46.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 81 people and 2.6 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Colac-Otway (S) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises assistance for Colac-Otway (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Vic. and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Colac-Otway (S), with comparison markers for Regional Vic..
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
5-14
15-19
20-24
25-34
35-44
45-54
55-64
65-74
75-84
85+
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
-7
-0.6pp
5-14
+30
+1.0pp
15-19
+6
+0.5pp
20-24
-8
-0.7pp
25-34
+29
+0.7pp
35-44
-4
-0.4pp
45-54
-9
-0.3pp
55-64
-39
-1.4pp
65-74
+56
+0.7pp
75-84
+81
+2.6pp
85+
+66
+5.8pp
Data table
Assistance for Colac-Otway (S). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 8 | 0.7% | 1.5% | 15 | 1.3% | 1.2% | -7 | -0.6pp |
| 5-14 | 120 | 4.6% | 5.5% | 90 | 3.6% | 3.9% | +30 | +1.0pp |
| 15-19 | 47 | 3.9% | 4.6% | 41 | 3.4% | 3.4% | +6 | +0.5pp |
| 20-24 | 21 | 2.0% | 3.7% | 29 | 2.7% | 2.9% | -8 | -0.7pp |
| 25-34 | 86 | 3.3% | 2.8% | 57 | 2.6% | 2.4% | +29 | +0.7pp |
| 35-44 | 83 | 3.4% | 3.1% | 87 | 3.8% | 3.0% | -4 | -0.4pp |
| 45-54 | 144 | 5.1% | 4.3% | 153 | 5.4% | 4.2% | -9 | -0.3pp |
| 55-64 | 182 | 5.6% | 6.0% | 221 | 7.0% | 5.8% | -39 | -1.4pp |
| 65-74 | 233 | 7.6% | 8.8% | 177 | 6.9% | 8.1% | +56 | +0.7pp |
| 75-84 | 293 | 17.7% | 18.7% | 212 | 15.1% | 17.0% | +81 | +2.6pp |
| 85+ | 319 | 49.0% | 46.4% | 253 | 43.2% | 42.3% | +66 | +5.8pp |
| Total | 1,531 | 6.8% | 6.9% | 1,333 | 6.4% | 6.0% | +198 | +0.4pp |