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 Carrum Downs, accounting for 66.9% (283 people). This share was higher than Frankston (C) (49.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 5-14 year olds, which increased by 72 people and 2.5 percentage points.

Section overview

Need for assistance with core activities by age

Carrum Downs - Persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises need for assistance for Carrum Downs in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Frankston (C) and change since 2016.

Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Carrum Downs, with comparison markers for Frankston (C).

Carrum Downs

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

0-4

2021 count

28

2021 rate

1.9%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

5-14

2021 count

192

2021 rate

7.1%

Change from 2016

+2.5pp

15-19

2021 count

53

2021 rate

4.5%

Change from 2016

+0.7pp

20-24

2021 count

49

2021 rate

3.7%

Change from 2016

+1.3pp

25-34

2021 count

67

2021 rate

1.8%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

35-44

2021 count

77

2021 rate

2.4%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

45-54

2021 count

122

2021 rate

4.2%

Change from 2016

+0.9pp

55-64

2021 count

187

2021 rate

7.3%

Change from 2016

+0.5pp

65-74

2021 count

229

2021 rate

13.4%

Change from 2016

+1.9pp

75-84

2021 count

239

2021 rate

28.6%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

85+

2021 count

283

2021 rate

66.9%

Change from 2016

+14.0pp

Data table

Need for assistance for Carrum Downs. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Frankston (C).

Need for assistance for Carrum Downs. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Frankston (C).
Need for assistance for Carrum Downs. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Frankston (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Frankston (C)%Count%Frankston (C)%Countpp
0-4281.9%1.9%301.9%1.6%-20.0pp
5-141927.1%6.2%1204.6%4.2%+72+2.5pp
15-19534.5%4.7%483.8%3.4%+5+0.7pp
20-24493.7%3.6%322.4%2.7%+17+1.3pp
25-34671.8%2.5%541.7%1.9%+13+0.1pp
35-44772.4%2.8%652.1%2.8%+12+0.3pp
45-541224.2%4.0%943.3%3.7%+28+0.9pp
55-641877.3%6.1%1536.8%5.7%+34+0.5pp
65-7422913.4%10.5%16011.5%8.8%+69+1.9pp
75-8423928.6%20.3%21128.6%18.9%+280.0pp
85+28366.9%49.4%22252.9%46.3%+61+14.0pp
Total1,5216.9%6.5%1,1985.8%5.4%+323+1.1pp