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, 65-74 year olds was the most common age group among residents who needed assistance with core activities in East Pilbara (S), accounting for 11.2% (28 people). This share was higher than Regional WA (7.3%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 15-19 year olds, which increased by 12 people and 3.2 percentage points.

Section overview

Need for assistance with core activities by age

East Pilbara (S) - Persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises need for assistance for East Pilbara (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.

Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot

2021 distribution by category for East Pilbara (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.

East Pilbara (S)

Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.

0-4

2021 count

4

2021 rate

0.7%

Change from 2016

-0.3pp

5-14

2021 count

25

2021 rate

2.5%

Change from 2016

+0.6pp

15-19

2021 count

12

2021 rate

3.2%

Change from 2016

+3.2pp

20-24

2021 count

0

2021 rate

0.0%

Change from 2016

-0.4pp

25-34

2021 count

6

2021 rate

0.3%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

35-44

2021 count

14

2021 rate

0.7%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

45-54

2021 count

10

2021 rate

0.7%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

55-64

2021 count

24

2021 rate

2.3%

Change from 2016

-0.4pp

65-74

2021 count

28

2021 rate

11.2%

Change from 2016

+1.5pp

75-84

2021 count

12

2021 rate

27.3%

Change from 2016

+1.2pp

85+

2021 count

3

2021 rate

23.1%

Change from 2016

+23.1pp

Data table

Need for assistance for East Pilbara (S). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.

Need for assistance for East Pilbara (S). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.
Need for assistance for East Pilbara (S). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional WA%Count%Regional WA%Countpp
0-440.7%1.0%61.0%0.8%-2-0.3pp
5-14252.5%3.5%191.9%2.3%+6+0.6pp
15-19123.2%3.0%00.0%2.2%+12+3.2pp
20-2400.0%2.4%30.4%1.8%-3-0.4pp
25-3460.3%1.6%60.2%1.3%0+0.1pp
35-44140.7%1.7%120.5%1.6%+2+0.2pp
45-54100.7%2.7%90.5%2.5%+1+0.2pp
55-64242.3%4.2%262.7%4.2%-2-0.4pp
65-742811.2%7.3%199.7%7.4%+9+1.5pp
75-841227.3%17.0%626.1%16.5%+6+1.2pp
85+323.1%42.6%00.0%41.4%+3+23.1pp
Total1241.3%4.6%1041.0%3.8%+20+0.3pp