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, 55-64 year olds was the most common age group among residents who needed assistance with core activities in South Gladstone, accounting for 7.9% (39 people). This share was higher than Gladstone (R) (6.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 55-64 year olds, which increased by 39 people and 7.9 percentage points.

Section overview

Need for assistance with core activities by age

South Gladstone - Persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises need for assistance for South Gladstone in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Gladstone (R) and change since 2016.

Need for assistance with core activities by age change

Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.

2016
2021

0-4

0

0.0pp

5-14

+24

+5.5pp

15-19

+14

+5.8pp

20-24

+13

+6.0pp

25-34

+10

+2.3pp

35-44

+18

+3.9pp

45-54

+19

-5.0pp

55-64

+39

+7.9pp

65-74

+25

+8.4pp

75-84

+33

+23.6pp

85+

+32

+58.2pp

Data table

Need for assistance for South Gladstone. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Gladstone (R).

Need for assistance for South Gladstone. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Gladstone (R).
Need for assistance for South Gladstone. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Gladstone (R).
Category20212016Change
Count%Gladstone (R)%Count%Gladstone (R)%Countpp
0-400.0%1.8%00.0%1.3%00.0pp
5-14245.5%5.9%00.0%3.1%+24+5.5pp
15-19145.8%4.6%00.0%2.8%+14+5.8pp
20-24136.0%3.5%00.0%2.0%+13+6.0pp
25-34102.3%2.1%00.0%1.3%+10+2.3pp
35-44183.9%2.7%00.0%2.2%+18+3.9pp
45-54234.5%3.9%49.5%3.1%+19-5.0pp
55-64397.9%6.5%00.0%5.0%+39+7.9pp
65-74258.4%9.8%00.0%9.3%+25+8.4pp
75-843323.6%21.7%00.0%19.6%+33+23.6pp
85+3258.2%50.4%00.0%53.0%+32+58.2pp
Total2386.8%5.8%42.3%4.0%+234+4.5pp