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, 5-14 year olds was the most common age group among residents who needed assistance with core activities in Australind (part), accounting for 4.5% (116 people). This share was higher than Harvey (S) (3.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 5-14 year olds, which increased by 49 people and 1.7 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Australind (part) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Australind (part) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Harvey (S) and change since 2016.
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Australind (part), with comparison markers for Harvey (S).
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
18
2021 rate
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
18
1.6%
+0.4pp
5-14
2021 count
116
2021 rate
4.5%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
116
4.5%
+1.7pp
15-19
2021 count
44
2021 rate
4.3%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
44
4.3%
+2.0pp
20-24
2021 count
28
2021 rate
3.7%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
28
3.7%
+1.8pp
25-34
2021 count
40
2021 rate
2.0%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
40
2.0%
+1.4pp
35-44
2021 count
44
2021 rate
1.9%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
44
1.9%
0.0pp
45-54
2021 count
48
2021 rate
2.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
48
2.5%
+0.1pp
55-64
2021 count
93
2021 rate
5.0%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
93
5.0%
+1.0pp
65-74
2021 count
104
2021 rate
7.0%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
104
7.0%
+0.4pp
75-84
2021 count
106
2021 rate
14.1%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
106
14.1%
-1.3pp
85+
2021 count
72
2021 rate
39.1%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
72
39.1%
+1.9pp
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+4
+0.4pp
5-14
+49
+1.7pp
15-19
+22
+2.0pp
20-24
+15
+1.8pp
25-34
+27
+1.4pp
35-44
+4
0.0pp
45-54
+4
+0.1pp
55-64
+30
+1.0pp
65-74
+30
+0.4pp
75-84
+27
-1.3pp
85+
+17
+1.9pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Australind (part). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Harvey (S).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Harvey (S)% | Count | % | Harvey (S)% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 18 | 1.6% | 1.1% | 14 | 1.2% | 1.2% | +4 | +0.4pp |
| 5-14 | 116 | 4.5% | 3.9% | 67 | 2.8% | 2.5% | +49 | +1.7pp |
| 15-19 | 44 | 4.3% | 3.5% | 22 | 2.3% | 1.9% | +22 | +2.0pp |
| 20-24 | 28 | 3.7% | 3.4% | 13 | 1.9% | 2.6% | +15 | +1.8pp |
| 25-34 | 40 | 2.0% | 2.1% | 13 | 0.6% | 1.2% | +27 | +1.4pp |
| 35-44 | 44 | 1.9% | 1.8% | 40 | 1.9% | 1.5% | +4 | 0.0pp |
| 45-54 | 48 | 2.5% | 2.4% | 44 | 2.4% | 2.1% | +4 | +0.1pp |
| 55-64 | 93 | 5.0% | 5.0% | 63 | 4.0% | 3.8% | +30 | +1.0pp |
| 65-74 | 104 | 7.0% | 7.5% | 74 | 6.6% | 6.6% | +30 | +0.4pp |
| 75-84 | 106 | 14.1% | 15.0% | 79 | 15.4% | 15.2% | +27 | -1.3pp |
| 85+ | 72 | 39.1% | 41.0% | 55 | 37.2% | 42.2% | +17 | +1.9pp |
| Total | 712 | 4.5% | 4.6% | 481 | 3.3% | 3.6% | +231 | +1.2pp |