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 Hobsons Bay (C), accounting for 29.2% (1,328 people). This share was higher than Greater Melbourne (24.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 65-74 year olds, which increased by 221 people and 1.1 percentage points.

Section overview

Need for assistance with core activities by age

Hobsons Bay (C) - Persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises need for assistance for Hobsons Bay (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Melbourne 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

+13

+0.2pp

5-14

+167

+1.2pp

15-19

+31

+0.8pp

20-24

+5

+0.3pp

25-34

+62

+0.6pp

35-44

+15

0.0pp

45-54

+17

0.0pp

55-64

-29

-0.7pp

65-74

+221

+1.1pp

75-84

+150

+1.9pp

85+

+196

+5.0pp

Data table

Need for assistance for Hobsons Bay (C). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.

Need for assistance for Hobsons Bay (C). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
Need for assistance for Hobsons Bay (C). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
Category20212016Change
Count%Greater Melbourne%Count%Greater Melbourne%Countpp
0-4771.3%1.3%641.1%1.1%+13+0.2pp
5-144634.1%3.9%2962.9%3.0%+167+1.2pp
15-191523.4%3.1%1212.6%2.2%+31+0.8pp
20-241022.2%2.0%971.9%1.5%+5+0.3pp
25-342221.8%1.5%1601.2%1.2%+62+0.6pp
35-442341.6%1.8%2191.6%1.9%+150.0pp
45-543792.9%3.2%3622.9%3.2%+170.0pp
55-646005.4%5.6%6296.1%5.5%-29-0.7pp
65-7499512.4%10.5%77411.3%9.5%+221+1.1pp
75-841,32829.2%24.7%1,17827.3%23.2%+150+1.9pp
85+1,25559.3%54.0%1,05954.3%49.0%+196+5.0pp
Total5,8126.4%5.5%4,9565.6%4.9%+856+0.8pp