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 Merrylands (part), accounting for 39% (440 people). This share was higher than Cumberland (A) (33.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 116 people and 5.9 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Merrylands (part) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Merrylands (part) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Cumberland (A) and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Merrylands (part), with comparison markers for Cumberland (A).
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
30
2021 rate
1.2%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
30
1.2%
-0.1pp
5-14
2021 count
124
2021 rate
3.0%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
124
3.0%
+0.4pp
15-19
2021 count
44
2021 rate
2.4%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
44
2.4%
+0.5pp
20-24
2021 count
26
2021 rate
1.0%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
26
1.0%
-0.3pp
25-34
2021 count
81
2021 rate
1.3%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
81
1.3%
-0.2pp
35-44
2021 count
129
2021 rate
2.7%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
129
2.7%
-0.7pp
45-54
2021 count
229
2021 rate
6.4%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
229
6.4%
-0.3pp
55-64
2021 count
345
2021 rate
10.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
345
10.6%
+0.1pp
65-74
2021 count
414
2021 rate
19.7%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
414
19.7%
+2.2pp
75-84
2021 count
440
2021 rate
39.0%
Change from 2016
+5.9pp
440
39.0%
+5.9pp
85+
2021 count
244
2021 rate
59.5%
Change from 2016
+6.3pp
244
59.5%
+6.3pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
-2
-0.1pp
5-14
+25
+0.4pp
15-19
+9
+0.5pp
20-24
-6
-0.3pp
25-34
-6
-0.2pp
35-44
-9
-0.7pp
45-54
-3
-0.3pp
55-64
+62
+0.1pp
65-74
+112
+2.2pp
75-84
+116
+5.9pp
85+
+26
+6.3pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Merrylands (part). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Cumberland (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Cumberland (A)% | Count | % | Cumberland (A)% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 30 | 1.2% | 1.4% | 32 | 1.3% | 1.0% | -2 | -0.1pp |
| 5-14 | 124 | 3.0% | 2.8% | 99 | 2.6% | 2.4% | +25 | +0.4pp |
| 15-19 | 44 | 2.4% | 2.5% | 35 | 1.9% | 2.0% | +9 | +0.5pp |
| 20-24 | 26 | 1.0% | 1.4% | 32 | 1.3% | 1.4% | -6 | -0.3pp |
| 25-34 | 81 | 1.3% | 1.3% | 87 | 1.5% | 1.3% | -6 | -0.2pp |
| 35-44 | 129 | 2.7% | 2.1% | 138 | 3.4% | 2.7% | -9 | -0.7pp |
| 45-54 | 229 | 6.4% | 4.9% | 232 | 6.7% | 5.5% | -3 | -0.3pp |
| 55-64 | 345 | 10.6% | 9.1% | 283 | 10.5% | 9.6% | +62 | +0.1pp |
| 65-74 | 414 | 19.7% | 17.3% | 302 | 17.5% | 16.4% | +112 | +2.2pp |
| 75-84 | 440 | 39.0% | 33.6% | 324 | 33.1% | 31.9% | +116 | +5.9pp |
| 85+ | 244 | 59.5% | 55.5% | 218 | 53.2% | 57.1% | +26 | +6.3pp |
| Total | 2,108 | 6.5% | 6.0% | 1,788 | 6.0% | 5.8% | +320 | +0.5pp |