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 Penshurst (NSW), accounting for 25.5% (153 people). This share was similar to Georges River (A) (25.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 65-74 year olds, which increased by 29 people and 0.7 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Penshurst (NSW) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Penshurst (NSW) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Georges River (A) and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Penshurst (NSW), with comparison markers for Georges River (A).
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
7
2021 rate
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
7
1.1%
+0.7pp
5-14
2021 count
34
2021 rate
2.7%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
34
2.7%
+0.6pp
15-19
2021 count
16
2021 rate
2.6%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
16
2.6%
+0.9pp
20-24
2021 count
20
2021 rate
2.1%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
20
2.1%
+0.6pp
25-34
2021 count
21
2021 rate
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
21
1.0%
+0.3pp
35-44
2021 count
19
2021 rate
1.1%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
19
1.1%
-0.2pp
45-54
2021 count
37
2021 rate
2.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
37
2.3%
+0.1pp
55-64
2021 count
79
2021 rate
5.0%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
79
5.0%
+0.1pp
65-74
2021 count
104
2021 rate
8.9%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
104
8.9%
+0.7pp
75-84
2021 count
153
2021 rate
25.5%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
153
25.5%
+1.3pp
85+
2021 count
116
2021 rate
39.7%
Change from 2016
-10.2pp
116
39.7%
-10.2pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+4
+0.7pp
5-14
+7
+0.6pp
15-19
+3
+0.9pp
20-24
+6
+0.6pp
25-34
+4
+0.3pp
35-44
-3
-0.2pp
45-54
0
+0.1pp
55-64
+7
+0.1pp
65-74
+29
+0.7pp
75-84
+20
+1.3pp
85+
-18
-10.2pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Penshurst (NSW). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Georges River (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Georges River (A)% | Count | % | Georges River (A)% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 7 | 1.1% | 1.0% | 3 | 0.4% | 0.8% | +4 | +0.7pp |
| 5-14 | 34 | 2.7% | 2.7% | 27 | 2.1% | 2.2% | +7 | +0.6pp |
| 15-19 | 16 | 2.6% | 2.3% | 13 | 1.7% | 1.9% | +3 | +0.9pp |
| 20-24 | 20 | 2.1% | 1.5% | 14 | 1.5% | 1.2% | +6 | +0.6pp |
| 25-34 | 21 | 1.0% | 1.2% | 17 | 0.7% | 0.9% | +4 | +0.3pp |
| 35-44 | 19 | 1.1% | 1.2% | 22 | 1.3% | 1.5% | -3 | -0.2pp |
| 45-54 | 37 | 2.3% | 2.3% | 37 | 2.2% | 2.4% | 0 | +0.1pp |
| 55-64 | 79 | 5.0% | 4.4% | 72 | 4.9% | 4.6% | +7 | +0.1pp |
| 65-74 | 104 | 8.9% | 9.6% | 75 | 8.2% | 9.1% | +29 | +0.7pp |
| 75-84 | 153 | 25.5% | 25.4% | 133 | 24.2% | 24.3% | +20 | +1.3pp |
| 85+ | 116 | 39.7% | 48.3% | 134 | 49.9% | 51.6% | -18 | -10.2pp |
| Total | 608 | 4.8% | 5.3% | 560 | 4.4% | 4.9% | +48 | +0.4pp |