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 Douglas (S), accounting for 18.4% (137 people). This share was lower than Regional Qld (20.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 67 people and 5.3 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Douglas (S) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Douglas (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Qld and change since 2016.
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Douglas (S), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
5
2021 rate
0.9%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
5
0.9%
+0.9pp
5-14
2021 count
35
2021 rate
2.7%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
35
2.7%
+0.7pp
15-19
2021 count
17
2021 rate
3.1%
Change from 2016
+2.5pp
17
3.1%
+2.5pp
20-24
2021 count
7
2021 rate
1.4%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
7
1.4%
-0.8pp
25-34
2021 count
18
2021 rate
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
18
1.2%
+0.2pp
35-44
2021 count
17
2021 rate
1.1%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
17
1.1%
-1.0pp
45-54
2021 count
69
2021 rate
3.9%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
69
3.9%
+0.6pp
55-64
2021 count
112
2021 rate
5.5%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
112
5.5%
+1.2pp
65-74
2021 count
120
2021 rate
7.3%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
120
7.3%
-0.2pp
75-84
2021 count
137
2021 rate
18.4%
Change from 2016
+5.3pp
137
18.4%
+5.3pp
85+
2021 count
76
2021 rate
41.3%
Change from 2016
+19.3pp
76
41.3%
+19.3pp
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+5
+0.9pp
5-14
+9
+0.7pp
15-19
+14
+2.5pp
20-24
-4
-0.8pp
25-34
+3
+0.2pp
35-44
-16
-1.0pp
45-54
+10
+0.6pp
55-64
+31
+1.2pp
65-74
+25
-0.2pp
75-84
+67
+5.3pp
85+
+41
+19.3pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Douglas (S). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 5 | 0.9% | 1.5% | 0 | 0.0% | 1.2% | +5 | +0.9pp |
| 5-14 | 35 | 2.7% | 5.0% | 26 | 2.0% | 3.5% | +9 | +0.7pp |
| 15-19 | 17 | 3.1% | 4.0% | 3 | 0.6% | 2.9% | +14 | +2.5pp |
| 20-24 | 7 | 1.4% | 2.8% | 11 | 2.2% | 2.2% | -4 | -0.8pp |
| 25-34 | 18 | 1.2% | 2.1% | 15 | 1.0% | 1.9% | +3 | +0.2pp |
| 35-44 | 17 | 1.1% | 2.5% | 33 | 2.1% | 2.5% | -16 | -1.0pp |
| 45-54 | 69 | 3.9% | 3.8% | 59 | 3.3% | 3.8% | +10 | +0.6pp |
| 55-64 | 112 | 5.5% | 6.0% | 81 | 4.3% | 6.0% | +31 | +1.2pp |
| 65-74 | 120 | 7.3% | 9.6% | 95 | 7.5% | 9.1% | +25 | -0.2pp |
| 75-84 | 137 | 18.4% | 20.4% | 70 | 13.1% | 19.3% | +67 | +5.3pp |
| 85+ | 76 | 41.3% | 47.7% | 35 | 22.0% | 46.7% | +41 | +19.3pp |
| Total | 609 | 4.9% | 6.3% | 428 | 3.7% | 5.5% | +181 | +1.2pp |