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, 65-74 year olds was the most common age group among residents who needed assistance with core activities in Cook (S), accounting for 8.5% (47 people). This share was lower than Regional Qld (9.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 19 people and 2.1 percentage points.

Section overview

Need for assistance with core activities by age

Cook (S) - Persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises need for assistance for Cook (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Qld and change since 2016.

Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Cook (S), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.

Cook (S)

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

0-4

2021 count

0

2021 rate

0.0%

Change from 2016

-1.2pp

5-14

2021 count

9

2021 rate

1.7%

Change from 2016

+0.6pp

15-19

2021 count

0

2021 rate

0.0%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

20-24

2021 count

3

2021 rate

1.4%

Change from 2016

+0.4pp

25-34

2021 count

7

2021 rate

1.1%

Change from 2016

-0.8pp

35-44

2021 count

12

2021 rate

2.1%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

45-54

2021 count

18

2021 rate

3.0%

Change from 2016

-0.4pp

55-64

2021 count

34

2021 rate

4.7%

Change from 2016

-0.7pp

65-74

2021 count

47

2021 rate

8.5%

Change from 2016

-1.0pp

75-84

2021 count

40

2021 rate

17.5%

Change from 2016

+2.1pp

85+

2021 count

8

2021 rate

33.3%

Change from 2016

-5.4pp

Data table

Need for assistance for Cook (S). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.

Need for assistance for Cook (S). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.
Need for assistance for Cook (S). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional Qld%Count%Regional Qld%Countpp
0-400.0%1.5%31.2%1.2%-3-1.2pp
5-1491.7%5.0%61.1%3.5%+3+0.6pp
15-1900.0%4.0%00.0%2.9%00.0pp
20-2431.4%2.8%31.0%2.2%0+0.4pp
25-3471.1%2.1%101.9%1.9%-3-0.8pp
35-44122.1%2.5%102.0%2.5%+2+0.1pp
45-54183.0%3.8%193.4%3.8%-1-0.4pp
55-64344.7%6.0%375.4%6.0%-3-0.7pp
65-74478.5%9.6%489.5%9.1%-1-1.0pp
75-844017.5%20.4%2115.4%19.3%+19+2.1pp
85+833.3%47.7%1238.7%46.7%-4-5.4pp
Total1723.8%6.3%1724.1%5.5%0-0.3pp