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 Westmead (part), accounting for 34.3% (158 people). This share was higher than Cumberland (A) (33.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 85+ year olds, which decreased by 69 people and 7.1 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Westmead (part) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Westmead (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 Westmead (part), with comparison markers for Cumberland (A).
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
20
2021 rate
1.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
20
1.5%
+0.1pp
5-14
2021 count
50
2021 rate
2.3%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
50
2.3%
+0.7pp
15-19
2021 count
19
2021 rate
3.6%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
19
3.6%
+0.9pp
20-24
2021 count
20
2021 rate
1.9%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
20
1.9%
-0.7pp
25-34
2021 count
43
2021 rate
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
43
1.1%
+0.4pp
35-44
2021 count
37
2021 rate
1.0%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
37
1.0%
-0.3pp
45-54
2021 count
58
2021 rate
4.3%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
58
4.3%
-1.0pp
55-64
2021 count
98
2021 rate
9.4%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
98
9.4%
+0.8pp
65-74
2021 count
121
2021 rate
16.0%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
121
16.0%
-1.7pp
75-84
2021 count
158
2021 rate
34.3%
Change from 2016
-2.9pp
158
34.3%
-2.9pp
85+
2021 count
110
2021 rate
49.5%
Change from 2016
-7.1pp
110
49.5%
-7.1pp
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
+18
+0.7pp
15-19
+6
+0.9pp
20-24
+1
-0.7pp
25-34
+14
+0.4pp
35-44
-5
-0.3pp
45-54
-12
-1.0pp
55-64
+9
+0.8pp
65-74
0
-1.7pp
75-84
-14
-2.9pp
85+
-69
-7.1pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Westmead (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 | 20 | 1.5% | 1.4% | 22 | 1.4% | 1.0% | -2 | +0.1pp |
| 5-14 | 50 | 2.3% | 2.8% | 32 | 1.6% | 2.4% | +18 | +0.7pp |
| 15-19 | 19 | 3.6% | 2.5% | 13 | 2.7% | 2.0% | +6 | +0.9pp |
| 20-24 | 20 | 1.9% | 1.4% | 19 | 2.6% | 1.4% | +1 | -0.7pp |
| 25-34 | 43 | 1.1% | 1.3% | 29 | 0.7% | 1.3% | +14 | +0.4pp |
| 35-44 | 37 | 1.0% | 2.1% | 42 | 1.3% | 2.7% | -5 | -0.3pp |
| 45-54 | 58 | 4.3% | 4.9% | 70 | 5.3% | 5.5% | -12 | -1.0pp |
| 55-64 | 98 | 9.4% | 9.1% | 89 | 8.6% | 9.6% | +9 | +0.8pp |
| 65-74 | 121 | 16.0% | 17.3% | 121 | 17.7% | 16.4% | 0 | -1.7pp |
| 75-84 | 158 | 34.3% | 33.6% | 172 | 37.2% | 31.9% | -14 | -2.9pp |
| 85+ | 110 | 49.5% | 55.5% | 179 | 56.6% | 57.1% | -69 | -7.1pp |
| Total | 731 | 4.4% | 6.0% | 784 | 4.8% | 5.8% | -53 | -0.4pp |