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 Gwydir (A), accounting for 20.8% (99 people). This share was higher than Regional NSW (18.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 22 people and 3.3 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Gwydir (A) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Gwydir (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Gwydir (A), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
9
2021 rate
4.0%
Change from 2016
+3.1pp
9
4.0%
+3.1pp
5-14
2021 count
20
2021 rate
3.1%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
20
3.1%
-0.6pp
15-19
2021 count
8
2021 rate
3.8%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
8
3.8%
+0.2pp
20-24
2021 count
5
2021 rate
3.0%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
5
3.0%
+0.4pp
25-34
2021 count
16
2021 rate
4.1%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
16
4.1%
+1.4pp
35-44
2021 count
24
2021 rate
4.8%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
24
4.8%
+0.6pp
45-54
2021 count
32
2021 rate
5.2%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
32
5.2%
+1.0pp
55-64
2021 count
61
2021 rate
8.0%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
61
8.0%
+1.0pp
65-74
2021 count
82
2021 rate
11.1%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
82
11.1%
+1.0pp
75-84
2021 count
99
2021 rate
20.8%
Change from 2016
+3.3pp
99
20.8%
+3.3pp
85+
2021 count
77
2021 rate
44.5%
Change from 2016
+6.4pp
77
44.5%
+6.4pp
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+6
+3.1pp
5-14
-4
-0.6pp
15-19
-1
+0.2pp
20-24
-1
+0.4pp
25-34
+4
+1.4pp
35-44
+2
+0.6pp
45-54
+1
+1.0pp
55-64
+9
+1.0pp
65-74
+4
+1.0pp
75-84
+22
+3.3pp
85+
+18
+6.4pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Gwydir (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 | 9 | 4.0% | 1.6% | 3 | 0.9% | 1.3% | +6 | +3.1pp |
| 5-14 | 20 | 3.1% | 5.2% | 24 | 3.7% | 3.8% | -4 | -0.6pp |
| 15-19 | 8 | 3.8% | 4.2% | 9 | 3.6% | 3.2% | -1 | +0.2pp |
| 20-24 | 5 | 3.0% | 3.4% | 6 | 2.6% | 2.6% | -1 | +0.4pp |
| 25-34 | 16 | 4.1% | 2.6% | 12 | 2.7% | 2.4% | +4 | +1.4pp |
| 35-44 | 24 | 4.8% | 2.8% | 22 | 4.2% | 3.0% | +2 | +0.6pp |
| 45-54 | 32 | 5.2% | 4.2% | 31 | 4.2% | 4.4% | +1 | +1.0pp |
| 55-64 | 61 | 8.0% | 6.0% | 52 | 7.0% | 6.2% | +9 | +1.0pp |
| 65-74 | 82 | 11.1% | 9.1% | 78 | 10.1% | 8.7% | +4 | +1.0pp |
| 75-84 | 99 | 20.8% | 18.9% | 77 | 17.5% | 17.8% | +22 | +3.3pp |
| 85+ | 77 | 44.5% | 46.5% | 59 | 38.1% | 43.8% | +18 | +6.4pp |
| Total | 430 | 8.8% | 6.8% | 369 | 7.0% | 6.3% | +61 | +1.8pp |