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 West, accounting for 26% (283 people). This share was higher than Fairfield (C) (21.8%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 65-74 year olds, which increased by 280 people and 20.7 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Fairfield West - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Fairfield West 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 West, with comparison markers for Fairfield (C).
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
3
2021 rate
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
3
0.4%
+0.4pp
5-14
2021 count
49
2021 rate
2.6%
Change from 2016
-2.4pp
49
2.6%
-2.4pp
15-19
2021 count
18
2021 rate
1.9%
Change from 2016
-12.4pp
18
1.9%
-12.4pp
20-24
2021 count
17
2021 rate
1.8%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
17
1.8%
+1.8pp
25-34
2021 count
29
2021 rate
1.8%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
29
1.8%
+1.8pp
35-44
2021 count
66
2021 rate
4.1%
Change from 2016
-2.2pp
66
4.1%
-2.2pp
45-54
2021 count
133
2021 rate
8.0%
Change from 2016
+8.0pp
133
8.0%
+8.0pp
55-64
2021 count
210
2021 rate
13.7%
Change from 2016
+5.8pp
210
13.7%
+5.8pp
65-74
2021 count
283
2021 rate
26.0%
Change from 2016
+20.7pp
283
26.0%
+20.7pp
75-84
2021 count
268
2021 rate
37.7%
Change from 2016
+19.2pp
268
37.7%
+19.2pp
85+
2021 count
106
2021 rate
60.2%
Change from 2016
+60.2pp
106
60.2%
+60.2pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+3
+0.4pp
5-14
+46
-2.4pp
15-19
+14
-12.4pp
20-24
+17
+1.8pp
25-34
+29
+1.8pp
35-44
+63
-2.2pp
45-54
+133
+8.0pp
55-64
+205
+5.8pp
65-74
+280
+20.7pp
75-84
+263
+19.2pp
85+
+106
+60.2pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Fairfield West. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Fairfield (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Fairfield (C)% | Count | % | Fairfield (C)% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 3 | 0.4% | 1.3% | 0 | 0.0% | 1.1% | +3 | +0.4pp |
| 5-14 | 49 | 2.6% | 2.9% | 3 | 5.0% | 2.5% | +46 | -2.4pp |
| 15-19 | 18 | 1.9% | 2.3% | 4 | 14.3% | 2.1% | +14 | -12.4pp |
| 20-24 | 17 | 1.8% | 2.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 1.5% | +17 | +1.8pp |
| 25-34 | 29 | 1.8% | 2.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 2.0% | +29 | +1.8pp |
| 35-44 | 66 | 4.1% | 3.4% | 3 | 6.3% | 3.6% | +63 | -2.2pp |
| 45-54 | 133 | 8.0% | 6.6% | 0 | 0.0% | 7.1% | +133 | +8.0pp |
| 55-64 | 210 | 13.7% | 12.0% | 5 | 7.9% | 12.2% | +205 | +5.8pp |
| 65-74 | 283 | 26.0% | 21.8% | 3 | 5.3% | 21.4% | +280 | +20.7pp |
| 75-84 | 268 | 37.7% | 39.6% | 5 | 18.5% | 41.4% | +263 | +19.2pp |
| 85+ | 106 | 60.2% | 61.6% | 0 | 0.0% | 66.6% | +106 | +60.2pp |
| Total | 1,174 | 9.0% | 9.3% | 22 | 5.7% | 8.5% | +1,152 | +3.3pp |