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 Gunnedah (A), accounting for 18.8% (160 people). This share was similar to Regional NSW (18.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 5-14 year olds, which increased by 33 people and 1.1 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Gunnedah (A) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Gunnedah (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Gunnedah (A), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
15
2021 rate
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
15
1.6%
+0.7pp
5-14
2021 count
90
2021 rate
4.6%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
90
4.6%
+1.1pp
15-19
2021 count
28
2021 rate
4.1%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
28
4.1%
+1.1pp
20-24
2021 count
15
2021 rate
2.2%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
15
2.2%
-0.2pp
25-34
2021 count
30
2021 rate
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
30
1.7%
+0.1pp
35-44
2021 count
31
2021 rate
2.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
31
2.1%
0.0pp
45-54
2021 count
67
2021 rate
4.8%
Change from 2016
+2.3pp
67
4.8%
+2.3pp
55-64
2021 count
96
2021 rate
6.1%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
96
6.1%
+1.1pp
65-74
2021 count
106
2021 rate
8.4%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
106
8.4%
+0.4pp
75-84
2021 count
160
2021 rate
18.8%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
160
18.8%
+1.9pp
85+
2021 count
159
2021 rate
47.9%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
159
47.9%
-0.8pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+7
+0.7pp
5-14
+33
+1.1pp
15-19
+7
+1.1pp
20-24
-1
-0.2pp
25-34
+6
+0.1pp
35-44
+2
0.0pp
45-54
+29
+2.3pp
55-64
+17
+1.1pp
65-74
+11
+0.4pp
75-84
+25
+1.9pp
85+
+4
-0.8pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Gunnedah (A). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 15 | 1.6% | 1.6% | 8 | 0.9% | 1.3% | +7 | +0.7pp |
| 5-14 | 90 | 4.6% | 5.2% | 57 | 3.5% | 3.8% | +33 | +1.1pp |
| 15-19 | 28 | 4.1% | 4.2% | 21 | 3.0% | 3.2% | +7 | +1.1pp |
| 20-24 | 15 | 2.2% | 3.4% | 16 | 2.4% | 2.6% | -1 | -0.2pp |
| 25-34 | 30 | 1.7% | 2.6% | 24 | 1.6% | 2.4% | +6 | +0.1pp |
| 35-44 | 31 | 2.1% | 2.8% | 29 | 2.1% | 3.0% | +2 | 0.0pp |
| 45-54 | 67 | 4.8% | 4.2% | 38 | 2.5% | 4.4% | +29 | +2.3pp |
| 55-64 | 96 | 6.1% | 6.0% | 79 | 5.0% | 6.2% | +17 | +1.1pp |
| 65-74 | 106 | 8.4% | 9.1% | 95 | 8.0% | 8.7% | +11 | +0.4pp |
| 75-84 | 160 | 18.8% | 18.9% | 135 | 16.9% | 17.8% | +25 | +1.9pp |
| 85+ | 159 | 47.9% | 46.5% | 155 | 48.7% | 43.8% | +4 | -0.8pp |
| Total | 793 | 6.1% | 6.8% | 667 | 5.5% | 6.3% | +126 | +0.6pp |