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 Merrylands West, accounting for 61.8% (141 people). This share was higher than Cumberland (A) (55.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 85+ year olds, which increased by 141 people and 61.8 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Merrylands West - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Merrylands West 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 West, with comparison markers for Cumberland (A).
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
3
2021 rate
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
3
0.7%
+0.7pp
5-14
2021 count
40
2021 rate
4.2%
Change from 2016
+4.2pp
40
4.2%
+4.2pp
15-19
2021 count
14
2021 rate
3.1%
Change from 2016
+3.1pp
14
3.1%
+3.1pp
20-24
2021 count
16
2021 rate
3.3%
Change from 2016
+3.3pp
16
3.3%
+3.3pp
25-34
2021 count
18
2021 rate
1.7%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
18
1.7%
+1.7pp
35-44
2021 count
22
2021 rate
2.2%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
22
2.2%
+2.2pp
45-54
2021 count
59
2021 rate
7.1%
Change from 2016
+7.1pp
59
7.1%
+7.1pp
55-64
2021 count
84
2021 rate
11.6%
Change from 2016
+11.6pp
84
11.6%
+11.6pp
65-74
2021 count
102
2021 rate
18.9%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
102
18.9%
+0.4pp
75-84
2021 count
137
2021 rate
40.2%
Change from 2016
+40.2pp
137
40.2%
+40.2pp
85+
2021 count
141
2021 rate
61.8%
Change from 2016
+61.8pp
141
61.8%
+61.8pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+3
+0.7pp
5-14
+40
+4.2pp
15-19
+14
+3.1pp
20-24
+16
+3.3pp
25-34
+18
+1.7pp
35-44
+22
+2.2pp
45-54
+59
+7.1pp
55-64
+84
+11.6pp
65-74
+97
+0.4pp
75-84
+137
+40.2pp
85+
+141
+61.8pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Merrylands West. 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 | 3 | 0.7% | 1.4% | 0 | 0.0% | 1.0% | +3 | +0.7pp |
| 5-14 | 40 | 4.2% | 2.8% | 0 | 0.0% | 2.4% | +40 | +4.2pp |
| 15-19 | 14 | 3.1% | 2.5% | 0 | 0.0% | 2.0% | +14 | +3.1pp |
| 20-24 | 16 | 3.3% | 1.4% | 0 | 0.0% | 1.4% | +16 | +3.3pp |
| 25-34 | 18 | 1.7% | 1.3% | 0 | 0.0% | 1.3% | +18 | +1.7pp |
| 35-44 | 22 | 2.2% | 2.1% | 0 | 0.0% | 2.7% | +22 | +2.2pp |
| 45-54 | 59 | 7.1% | 4.9% | 0 | 0.0% | 5.5% | +59 | +7.1pp |
| 55-64 | 84 | 11.6% | 9.1% | 0 | 0.0% | 9.6% | +84 | +11.6pp |
| 65-74 | 102 | 18.9% | 17.3% | 5 | 18.5% | 16.4% | +97 | +0.4pp |
| 75-84 | 137 | 40.2% | 33.6% | 0 | 0.0% | 31.9% | +137 | +40.2pp |
| 85+ | 141 | 61.8% | 55.5% | 0 | 0.0% | 57.1% | +141 | +61.8pp |
| Total | 637 | 9.0% | 6.0% | 9 | 4.0% | 5.8% | +628 | +5.0pp |