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 Edward River (A), accounting for 17.6% (119 people). This share was lower than Regional NSW (18.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 5-14 year olds, which increased by 28 people and 2.9 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Edward River (A) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Edward River (A) 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 Edward River (A), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
7
2021 rate
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
7
1.6%
+0.4pp
5-14
2021 count
60
2021 rate
5.8%
Change from 2016
+2.9pp
60
5.8%
+2.9pp
15-19
2021 count
23
2021 rate
4.8%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
23
4.8%
+2.0pp
20-24
2021 count
12
2021 rate
3.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
12
3.0%
-0.1pp
25-34
2021 count
26
2021 rate
3.0%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
26
3.0%
+0.5pp
35-44
2021 count
14
2021 rate
1.7%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
14
1.7%
-1.6pp
45-54
2021 count
56
2021 rate
5.5%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
56
5.5%
+1.1pp
55-64
2021 count
73
2021 rate
5.8%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
73
5.8%
+0.7pp
65-74
2021 count
104
2021 rate
9.2%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
104
9.2%
+1.5pp
75-84
2021 count
119
2021 rate
17.6%
Change from 2016
+2.7pp
119
17.6%
+2.7pp
85+
2021 count
117
2021 rate
40.9%
Change from 2016
-2.8pp
117
40.9%
-2.8pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+1
+0.4pp
5-14
+28
+2.9pp
15-19
+9
+2.0pp
20-24
-3
-0.1pp
25-34
+4
+0.5pp
35-44
-18
-1.6pp
45-54
+7
+1.1pp
55-64
+3
+0.7pp
65-74
+26
+1.5pp
75-84
+19
+2.7pp
85+
-12
-2.8pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Edward River (A). 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 | 7 | 1.6% | 1.6% | 6 | 1.2% | 1.3% | +1 | +0.4pp |
| 5-14 | 60 | 5.8% | 5.2% | 32 | 2.9% | 3.8% | +28 | +2.9pp |
| 15-19 | 23 | 4.8% | 4.2% | 14 | 2.8% | 3.2% | +9 | +2.0pp |
| 20-24 | 12 | 3.0% | 3.4% | 15 | 3.1% | 2.6% | -3 | -0.1pp |
| 25-34 | 26 | 3.0% | 2.6% | 22 | 2.5% | 2.4% | +4 | +0.5pp |
| 35-44 | 14 | 1.7% | 2.8% | 32 | 3.3% | 3.0% | -18 | -1.6pp |
| 45-54 | 56 | 5.5% | 4.2% | 49 | 4.4% | 4.4% | +7 | +1.1pp |
| 55-64 | 73 | 5.8% | 6.0% | 70 | 5.1% | 6.2% | +3 | +0.7pp |
| 65-74 | 104 | 9.2% | 9.1% | 78 | 7.7% | 8.7% | +26 | +1.5pp |
| 75-84 | 119 | 17.6% | 18.9% | 100 | 14.9% | 17.8% | +19 | +2.7pp |
| 85+ | 117 | 40.9% | 46.5% | 129 | 43.7% | 43.8% | -12 | -2.8pp |
| Total | 606 | 7.2% | 6.8% | 546 | 6.2% | 6.3% | +60 | +1.0pp |