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 Geraldton (C), accounting for 20.8% (446 people). This share was higher than Regional WA (17%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 92 people and 1.2 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Greater Geraldton (C) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Greater Geraldton (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Greater Geraldton (C), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
27
2021 rate
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
27
1.1%
+0.3pp
5-14
2021 count
221
2021 rate
4.0%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
221
4.0%
+1.5pp
15-19
2021 count
99
2021 rate
4.0%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
99
4.0%
+1.8pp
20-24
2021 count
54
2021 rate
2.6%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
54
2.6%
+0.5pp
25-34
2021 count
87
2021 rate
1.9%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
87
1.9%
+0.1pp
35-44
2021 count
102
2021 rate
2.1%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
102
2.1%
+0.2pp
45-54
2021 count
134
2021 rate
2.5%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
134
2.5%
-0.7pp
55-64
2021 count
242
2021 rate
4.7%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
242
4.7%
-0.1pp
65-74
2021 count
344
2021 rate
8.6%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
344
8.6%
-0.3pp
75-84
2021 count
446
2021 rate
20.8%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
446
20.8%
+1.2pp
85+
2021 count
378
2021 rate
45.1%
Change from 2016
-5.4pp
378
45.1%
-5.4pp
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+6
+0.3pp
5-14
+83
+1.5pp
15-19
+40
+1.8pp
20-24
+7
+0.5pp
25-34
+2
+0.1pp
35-44
+9
+0.2pp
45-54
-45
-0.7pp
55-64
+14
-0.1pp
65-74
+54
-0.3pp
75-84
+92
+1.2pp
85+
+56
-5.4pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Greater Geraldton (C). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional WA% | Count | % | Regional WA% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 27 | 1.1% | 1.0% | 21 | 0.8% | 0.8% | +6 | +0.3pp |
| 5-14 | 221 | 4.0% | 3.5% | 138 | 2.5% | 2.3% | +83 | +1.5pp |
| 15-19 | 99 | 4.0% | 3.0% | 59 | 2.2% | 2.2% | +40 | +1.8pp |
| 20-24 | 54 | 2.6% | 2.4% | 47 | 2.1% | 1.8% | +7 | +0.5pp |
| 25-34 | 87 | 1.9% | 1.6% | 85 | 1.8% | 1.3% | +2 | +0.1pp |
| 35-44 | 102 | 2.1% | 1.7% | 93 | 1.9% | 1.6% | +9 | +0.2pp |
| 45-54 | 134 | 2.5% | 2.7% | 179 | 3.2% | 2.5% | -45 | -0.7pp |
| 55-64 | 242 | 4.7% | 4.2% | 228 | 4.8% | 4.2% | +14 | -0.1pp |
| 65-74 | 344 | 8.6% | 7.3% | 290 | 8.9% | 7.4% | +54 | -0.3pp |
| 75-84 | 446 | 20.8% | 17.0% | 354 | 19.6% | 16.5% | +92 | +1.2pp |
| 85+ | 378 | 45.1% | 42.6% | 322 | 50.5% | 41.4% | +56 | -5.4pp |
| Total | 2,136 | 5.4% | 4.6% | 1,808 | 4.7% | 3.8% | +328 | +0.7pp |