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 Fairfield (NSW) (part), accounting for 32.3% (595 people). This share was higher than Fairfield (C) (21.8%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 65-74 year olds, which increased by 396 people and 11.8 percentage points.

Section overview

Need for assistance with core activities by age

Fairfield (NSW) (part) - Persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises need for assistance for Fairfield (NSW) (part) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Fairfield (C) and change since 2016.

Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Fairfield (NSW) (part), with comparison markers for Fairfield (C).

Fairfield (NSW) (part)

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

0-4

2021 count

19

2021 rate

2.0%

Change from 2016

+1.2pp

5-14

2021 count

76

2021 rate

3.5%

Change from 2016

+1.3pp

15-19

2021 count

16

2021 rate

1.4%

Change from 2016

-0.3pp

20-24

2021 count

21

2021 rate

1.8%

Change from 2016

+1.1pp

25-34

2021 count

68

2021 rate

2.8%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

35-44

2021 count

154

2021 rate

6.4%

Change from 2016

+2.9pp

45-54

2021 count

252

2021 rate

9.9%

Change from 2016

+2.9pp

55-64

2021 count

479

2021 rate

18.5%

Change from 2016

+7.5pp

65-74

2021 count

595

2021 rate

32.3%

Change from 2016

+11.8pp

75-84

2021 count

430

2021 rate

45.6%

Change from 2016

+13.7pp

85+

2021 count

218

2021 rate

59.7%

Change from 2016

+5.1pp

Data table

Need for assistance for Fairfield (NSW) (part). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Fairfield (C).

Need for assistance for Fairfield (NSW) (part). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Fairfield (C).
Need for assistance for Fairfield (NSW) (part). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Fairfield (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Fairfield (C)%Count%Fairfield (C)%Countpp
0-4192.0%1.3%60.8%1.1%+13+1.2pp
5-14763.5%2.9%342.2%2.5%+42+1.3pp
15-19161.4%2.3%151.7%2.1%+1-0.3pp
20-24211.8%2.0%60.7%1.5%+15+1.1pp
25-34682.8%2.0%382.6%2.0%+30+0.2pp
35-441546.4%3.4%523.5%3.6%+102+2.9pp
45-542529.9%6.6%1117.0%7.1%+141+2.9pp
55-6447918.5%12.0%13711.0%12.2%+342+7.5pp
65-7459532.3%21.8%19920.5%21.4%+396+11.8pp
75-8443045.6%39.6%17231.9%41.4%+258+13.7pp
85+21859.7%61.6%7754.6%66.6%+141+5.1pp
Total2,32412.5%9.3%8497.3%8.5%+1,475+5.2pp