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 Dubbo Regional, accounting for 20.6% (644 people). This share was higher than Regional NSW (18.9%).
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Dubbo Regional - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Dubbo Regional in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Dubbo Regional, with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
49
2021 rate
1.3%
Change from 2016
-
49
1.3%
-
5-14
2021 count
366
2021 rate
4.8%
Change from 2016
-
366
4.8%
-
15-19
2021 count
131
2021 rate
4.2%
Change from 2016
-
131
4.2%
-
20-24
2021 count
99
2021 rate
3.2%
Change from 2016
-
99
3.2%
-
25-34
2021 count
162
2021 rate
1.9%
Change from 2016
-
162
1.9%
-
35-44
2021 count
137
2021 rate
2.1%
Change from 2016
-
137
2.1%
-
45-54
2021 count
266
2021 rate
4.2%
Change from 2016
-
266
4.2%
-
55-64
2021 count
370
2021 rate
5.8%
Change from 2016
-
370
5.8%
-
65-74
2021 count
487
2021 rate
9.4%
Change from 2016
-
487
9.4%
-
75-84
2021 count
644
2021 rate
20.6%
Change from 2016
-
644
20.6%
-
85+
2021 count
555
2021 rate
46.8%
Change from 2016
-
555
46.8%
-
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Data table
Need for assistance for Dubbo Regional. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 49 | 1.3% | 1.6% | - | - | 1.3% | - | - |
| 5-14 | 366 | 4.8% | 5.2% | - | - | 3.8% | - | - |
| 15-19 | 131 | 4.2% | 4.2% | - | - | 3.2% | - | - |
| 20-24 | 99 | 3.2% | 3.4% | - | - | 2.6% | - | - |
| 25-34 | 162 | 1.9% | 2.6% | - | - | 2.4% | - | - |
| 35-44 | 137 | 2.1% | 2.8% | - | - | 3.0% | - | - |
| 45-54 | 266 | 4.2% | 4.2% | - | - | 4.4% | - | - |
| 55-64 | 370 | 5.8% | 6.0% | - | - | 6.2% | - | - |
| 65-74 | 487 | 9.4% | 9.1% | - | - | 8.7% | - | - |
| 75-84 | 644 | 20.6% | 18.9% | - | - | 17.8% | - | - |
| 85+ | 555 | 46.8% | 46.5% | - | - | 43.8% | - | - |
| Total | 3,271 | 6.0% | 6.8% | - | - | 6.3% | - | - |