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 Greater Dandenong (C), accounting for 33.2% (2,689 people). This share was higher than Greater Melbourne (24.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 600 people and 3.3 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Greater Dandenong (C) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Greater Dandenong (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Melbourne and change since 2016.
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Greater Dandenong (C), with comparison markers for Greater Melbourne.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
112
2021 rate
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
112
1.2%
+0.4pp
5-14
2021 count
530
2021 rate
3.0%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
530
3.0%
+0.7pp
15-19
2021 count
216
2021 rate
2.5%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
216
2.5%
+0.8pp
20-24
2021 count
188
2021 rate
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
188
1.7%
+0.1pp
25-34
2021 count
405
2021 rate
1.5%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
405
1.5%
+0.2pp
35-44
2021 count
547
2021 rate
2.4%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
547
2.4%
-0.5pp
45-54
2021 count
924
2021 rate
5.0%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
924
5.0%
-0.6pp
55-64
2021 count
1,587
2021 rate
9.5%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
1,587
9.5%
-0.4pp
65-74
2021 count
2,157
2021 rate
16.1%
Change from 2016
+2.3pp
2,157
16.1%
+2.3pp
75-84
2021 count
2,689
2021 rate
33.2%
Change from 2016
+3.3pp
2,689
33.2%
+3.3pp
85+
2021 count
2,117
2021 rate
62.3%
Change from 2016
+7.7pp
2,117
62.3%
+7.7pp
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+28
+0.4pp
5-14
+140
+0.7pp
15-19
+65
+0.8pp
20-24
-1
+0.1pp
25-34
+45
+0.2pp
35-44
-51
-0.5pp
45-54
-70
-0.6pp
55-64
+18
-0.4pp
65-74
+511
+2.3pp
75-84
+600
+3.3pp
85+
+474
+7.7pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Greater Dandenong (C). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 112 | 1.2% | 1.3% | 84 | 0.8% | 1.1% | +28 | +0.4pp |
| 5-14 | 530 | 3.0% | 3.9% | 390 | 2.3% | 3.0% | +140 | +0.7pp |
| 15-19 | 216 | 2.5% | 3.1% | 151 | 1.7% | 2.2% | +65 | +0.8pp |
| 20-24 | 188 | 1.7% | 2.0% | 189 | 1.6% | 1.5% | -1 | +0.1pp |
| 25-34 | 405 | 1.5% | 1.5% | 360 | 1.3% | 1.2% | +45 | +0.2pp |
| 35-44 | 547 | 2.4% | 1.8% | 598 | 2.9% | 1.9% | -51 | -0.5pp |
| 45-54 | 924 | 5.0% | 3.2% | 994 | 5.6% | 3.2% | -70 | -0.6pp |
| 55-64 | 1,587 | 9.5% | 5.6% | 1,569 | 9.9% | 5.5% | +18 | -0.4pp |
| 65-74 | 2,157 | 16.1% | 10.5% | 1,646 | 13.8% | 9.5% | +511 | +2.3pp |
| 75-84 | 2,689 | 33.2% | 24.7% | 2,089 | 29.9% | 23.2% | +600 | +3.3pp |
| 85+ | 2,117 | 62.3% | 54.0% | 1,643 | 54.6% | 49.0% | +474 | +7.7pp |
| Total | 11,467 | 7.2% | 5.5% | 9,715 | 6.4% | 4.9% | +1,752 | +0.8pp |