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 Cowra (A), accounting for 17.4% (192 people). This share was lower than Regional NSW (18.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 51 people and 3.2 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Cowra (A) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Cowra (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Cowra (A), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
7
2021 rate
1.0%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
7
1.0%
-0.5pp
5-14
2021 count
98
2021 rate
6.6%
Change from 2016
+2.6pp
98
6.6%
+2.6pp
15-19
2021 count
26
2021 rate
3.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
26
3.6%
+0.1pp
20-24
2021 count
27
2021 rate
4.2%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
27
4.2%
+0.4pp
25-34
2021 count
38
2021 rate
3.0%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
38
3.0%
+0.4pp
35-44
2021 count
50
2021 rate
4.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
50
4.2%
+0.1pp
45-54
2021 count
78
2021 rate
5.0%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
78
5.0%
-0.5pp
55-64
2021 count
137
2021 rate
7.8%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
137
7.8%
+1.0pp
65-74
2021 count
173
2021 rate
9.3%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
173
9.3%
+1.1pp
75-84
2021 count
192
2021 rate
17.4%
Change from 2016
+3.2pp
192
17.4%
+3.2pp
85+
2021 count
191
2021 rate
46.5%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
191
46.5%
+1.5pp
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
-3
-0.5pp
5-14
+38
+2.6pp
15-19
0
+0.1pp
20-24
+2
+0.4pp
25-34
+10
+0.4pp
35-44
-2
+0.1pp
45-54
-13
-0.5pp
55-64
+14
+1.0pp
65-74
+36
+1.1pp
75-84
+51
+3.2pp
85+
-4
+1.5pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Cowra (A). 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 | 7 | 1.0% | 1.6% | 10 | 1.5% | 1.3% | -3 | -0.5pp |
| 5-14 | 98 | 6.6% | 5.2% | 60 | 4.0% | 3.8% | +38 | +2.6pp |
| 15-19 | 26 | 3.6% | 4.2% | 26 | 3.5% | 3.2% | 0 | +0.1pp |
| 20-24 | 27 | 4.2% | 3.4% | 25 | 3.8% | 2.6% | +2 | +0.4pp |
| 25-34 | 38 | 3.0% | 2.6% | 28 | 2.6% | 2.4% | +10 | +0.4pp |
| 35-44 | 50 | 4.2% | 2.8% | 52 | 4.1% | 3.0% | -2 | +0.1pp |
| 45-54 | 78 | 5.0% | 4.2% | 91 | 5.5% | 4.4% | -13 | -0.5pp |
| 55-64 | 137 | 7.8% | 6.0% | 123 | 6.8% | 6.2% | +14 | +1.0pp |
| 65-74 | 173 | 9.3% | 9.1% | 137 | 8.2% | 8.7% | +36 | +1.1pp |
| 75-84 | 192 | 17.4% | 18.9% | 141 | 14.2% | 17.8% | +51 | +3.2pp |
| 85+ | 191 | 46.5% | 46.5% | 195 | 45.0% | 43.8% | -4 | +1.5pp |
| Total | 1,021 | 8.0% | 6.8% | 888 | 7.1% | 6.3% | +133 | +0.9pp |