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 Darebin (C), accounting for 34.1% (2,512 people). This share was higher than Greater Melbourne (24.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 85+ year olds, which increased by 453 people and 8.7 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Darebin (C) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Darebin (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Melbourne and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Darebin (C), with comparison markers for Greater Melbourne.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
83
2021 rate
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
83
1.1%
+0.2pp
5-14
2021 count
522
2021 rate
3.6%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
522
3.6%
+0.9pp
15-19
2021 count
199
2021 rate
3.0%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
199
3.0%
+0.7pp
20-24
2021 count
205
2021 rate
2.2%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
205
2.2%
+0.9pp
25-34
2021 count
421
2021 rate
1.5%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
421
1.5%
+0.5pp
35-44
2021 count
474
2021 rate
2.0%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
474
2.0%
+0.2pp
45-54
2021 count
699
2021 rate
3.4%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
699
3.4%
-0.2pp
55-64
2021 count
1,006
2021 rate
6.6%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
1,006
6.6%
-0.1pp
65-74
2021 count
1,372
2021 rate
13.0%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
1,372
13.0%
-0.8pp
75-84
2021 count
2,512
2021 rate
34.1%
Change from 2016
+2.4pp
2,512
34.1%
+2.4pp
85+
2021 count
2,364
2021 rate
59.9%
Change from 2016
+8.7pp
2,364
59.9%
+8.7pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+6
+0.2pp
5-14
+124
+0.9pp
15-19
+39
+0.7pp
20-24
+59
+0.9pp
25-34
+123
+0.5pp
35-44
+58
+0.2pp
45-54
+2
-0.2pp
55-64
+94
-0.1pp
65-74
+69
-0.8pp
75-84
+56
+2.4pp
85+
+453
+8.7pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Darebin (C). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 83 | 1.1% | 1.3% | 77 | 0.9% | 1.1% | +6 | +0.2pp |
| 5-14 | 522 | 3.6% | 3.9% | 398 | 2.7% | 3.0% | +124 | +0.9pp |
| 15-19 | 199 | 3.0% | 3.1% | 160 | 2.3% | 2.2% | +39 | +0.7pp |
| 20-24 | 205 | 2.2% | 2.0% | 146 | 1.3% | 1.5% | +59 | +0.9pp |
| 25-34 | 421 | 1.5% | 1.5% | 298 | 1.0% | 1.2% | +123 | +0.5pp |
| 35-44 | 474 | 2.0% | 1.8% | 416 | 1.8% | 1.9% | +58 | +0.2pp |
| 45-54 | 699 | 3.4% | 3.2% | 697 | 3.6% | 3.2% | +2 | -0.2pp |
| 55-64 | 1,006 | 6.6% | 5.6% | 912 | 6.7% | 5.5% | +94 | -0.1pp |
| 65-74 | 1,372 | 13.0% | 10.5% | 1,303 | 13.8% | 9.5% | +69 | -0.8pp |
| 75-84 | 2,512 | 34.1% | 24.7% | 2,456 | 31.7% | 23.2% | +56 | +2.4pp |
| 85+ | 2,364 | 59.9% | 54.0% | 1,911 | 51.2% | 49.0% | +453 | +8.7pp |
| Total | 9,855 | 6.6% | 5.5% | 8,774 | 6.0% | 4.9% | +1,081 | +0.6pp |