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, 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 need for assistance for Colac-Otway (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Vic. and change since 2016.
Chart view
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
2021 count
8
2021 rate
0.7%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
8
0.7%
-0.6pp
5-14
2021 count
120
2021 rate
4.6%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
120
4.6%
+1.0pp
15-19
2021 count
47
2021 rate
3.9%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
47
3.9%
+0.5pp
20-24
2021 count
21
2021 rate
2.0%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
21
2.0%
-0.7pp
25-34
2021 count
86
2021 rate
3.3%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
86
3.3%
+0.7pp
35-44
2021 count
83
2021 rate
3.4%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
83
3.4%
-0.4pp
45-54
2021 count
144
2021 rate
5.1%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
144
5.1%
-0.3pp
55-64
2021 count
182
2021 rate
5.6%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
182
5.6%
-1.4pp
65-74
2021 count
233
2021 rate
7.6%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
233
7.6%
+0.7pp
75-84
2021 count
293
2021 rate
17.7%
Change from 2016
+2.6pp
293
17.7%
+2.6pp
85+
2021 count
319
2021 rate
49.0%
Change from 2016
+5.8pp
319
49.0%
+5.8pp
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
Need for 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 |