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, 85+ year olds was the most common age group among residents who needed assistance with core activities in Federation (A), accounting for 43.8% (205 people). This share was lower than Regional NSW (46.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 85+ year olds, which increased by 72 people and 11.4 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Federation (A) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Federation (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Federation (A), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
5
2021 rate
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
5
0.8%
+0.3pp
5-14
2021 count
73
2021 rate
5.1%
Change from 2016
+2.6pp
73
5.1%
+2.6pp
15-19
2021 count
22
2021 rate
3.3%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
22
3.3%
+1.4pp
20-24
2021 count
17
2021 rate
3.2%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
17
3.2%
+1.8pp
25-34
2021 count
31
2021 rate
2.7%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
31
2.7%
+1.0pp
35-44
2021 count
16
2021 rate
1.4%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
16
1.4%
-0.8pp
45-54
2021 count
65
2021 rate
4.3%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
65
4.3%
+1.3pp
55-64
2021 count
102
2021 rate
5.2%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
102
5.2%
-0.3pp
65-74
2021 count
182
2021 rate
8.4%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
182
8.4%
+1.4pp
75-84
2021 count
193
2021 rate
15.0%
Change from 2016
+2.4pp
193
15.0%
+2.4pp
85+
2021 count
205
2021 rate
43.8%
Change from 2016
+11.4pp
205
43.8%
+11.4pp
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+2
+0.3pp
5-14
+36
+2.6pp
15-19
+9
+1.4pp
20-24
+10
+1.8pp
25-34
+14
+1.0pp
35-44
-10
-0.8pp
45-54
+18
+1.3pp
55-64
-1
-0.3pp
65-74
+51
+1.4pp
75-84
+55
+2.4pp
85+
+72
+11.4pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Federation (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 | 5 | 0.8% | 1.6% | 3 | 0.5% | 1.3% | +2 | +0.3pp |
| 5-14 | 73 | 5.1% | 5.2% | 37 | 2.5% | 3.8% | +36 | +2.6pp |
| 15-19 | 22 | 3.3% | 4.2% | 13 | 1.9% | 3.2% | +9 | +1.4pp |
| 20-24 | 17 | 3.2% | 3.4% | 7 | 1.4% | 2.6% | +10 | +1.8pp |
| 25-34 | 31 | 2.7% | 2.6% | 17 | 1.7% | 2.4% | +14 | +1.0pp |
| 35-44 | 16 | 1.4% | 2.8% | 26 | 2.2% | 3.0% | -10 | -0.8pp |
| 45-54 | 65 | 4.3% | 4.2% | 47 | 3.0% | 4.4% | +18 | +1.3pp |
| 55-64 | 102 | 5.2% | 6.0% | 103 | 5.5% | 6.2% | -1 | -0.3pp |
| 65-74 | 182 | 8.4% | 9.1% | 131 | 7.0% | 8.7% | +51 | +1.4pp |
| 75-84 | 193 | 15.0% | 18.9% | 138 | 12.6% | 17.8% | +55 | +2.4pp |
| 85+ | 205 | 43.8% | 46.5% | 133 | 32.4% | 43.8% | +72 | +11.4pp |
| Total | 916 | 7.1% | 6.8% | 665 | 5.4% | 6.3% | +251 | +1.7pp |