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, 65-74 year olds was the most common age group among residents who needed assistance with core activities in Gympie (R), accounting for 12.3% (999 people). This share was higher than Regional Qld (9.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 402 people and 5.1 percentage points.

Section overview

Need for assistance with core activities by age

Gympie (R) - Persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises need for assistance for Gympie (R) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Qld 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

-20

-0.6pp

5-14

+207

+3.3pp

15-19

+83

+2.3pp

20-24

+12

+0.6pp

25-34

+30

+0.2pp

35-44

+23

+0.2pp

45-54

-9

-0.1pp

55-64

+35

-0.4pp

65-74

+225

+1.3pp

75-84

+402

+5.1pp

85+

+242

+15.0pp

Data table

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

Need for assistance for Gympie (R). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.
Need for assistance for Gympie (R). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional Qld%Count%Regional Qld%Countpp
0-4431.8%1.5%632.4%1.2%-20-0.6pp
5-145258.3%5.0%3185.0%3.5%+207+3.3pp
15-192147.0%4.0%1314.7%2.9%+83+2.3pp
20-241135.3%2.8%1014.7%2.2%+12+0.6pp
25-342024.1%2.1%1723.9%1.9%+30+0.2pp
35-442644.8%2.5%2414.6%2.5%+23+0.2pp
45-544847.0%3.8%4937.1%3.8%-9-0.1pp
55-647468.8%6.0%7119.2%6.0%+35-0.4pp
65-7499912.3%9.6%77411.0%9.1%+225+1.3pp
75-8496423.2%20.4%56218.1%19.3%+402+5.1pp
85+62451.8%47.7%38236.8%46.7%+242+15.0pp
Total5,1719.7%6.3%3,9448.0%5.5%+1,227+1.7pp