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 Sunbury, accounting for 8.4% (424 people). This share was higher than Hume (C) (4.8%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 5-14 year olds, which increased by 159 people and 2.8 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Sunbury - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Sunbury in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Hume (C) and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Sunbury, with comparison markers for Hume (C).
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
51
2021 rate
2.2%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
51
2.2%
+0.4pp
5-14
2021 count
424
2021 rate
8.4%
Change from 2016
+2.8pp
424
8.4%
+2.8pp
15-19
2021 count
137
2021 rate
5.8%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
137
5.8%
+2.0pp
20-24
2021 count
94
2021 rate
4.0%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
94
4.0%
+1.2pp
25-34
2021 count
136
2021 rate
2.5%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
136
2.5%
+0.3pp
35-44
2021 count
120
2021 rate
2.3%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
120
2.3%
-0.1pp
45-54
2021 count
174
2021 rate
3.3%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
174
3.3%
-0.3pp
55-64
2021 count
245
2021 rate
5.0%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
245
5.0%
-0.2pp
65-74
2021 count
363
2021 rate
10.2%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
363
10.2%
+0.7pp
75-84
2021 count
389
2021 rate
23.1%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
389
23.1%
-0.8pp
85+
2021 count
383
2021 rate
58.1%
Change from 2016
+6.3pp
383
58.1%
+6.3pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+6
+0.4pp
5-14
+159
+2.8pp
15-19
+43
+2.0pp
20-24
+26
+1.2pp
25-34
+36
+0.3pp
35-44
+5
-0.1pp
45-54
-15
-0.3pp
55-64
+16
-0.2pp
65-74
+94
+0.7pp
75-84
+57
-0.8pp
85+
+72
+6.3pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Sunbury. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Hume (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Hume (C)% | Count | % | Hume (C)% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 51 | 2.2% | 1.4% | 45 | 1.8% | 1.5% | +6 | +0.4pp |
| 5-14 | 424 | 8.4% | 4.8% | 265 | 5.6% | 3.7% | +159 | +2.8pp |
| 15-19 | 137 | 5.8% | 3.6% | 94 | 3.8% | 2.7% | +43 | +2.0pp |
| 20-24 | 94 | 4.0% | 2.5% | 68 | 2.8% | 2.1% | +26 | +1.2pp |
| 25-34 | 136 | 2.5% | 1.8% | 100 | 2.2% | 1.9% | +36 | +0.3pp |
| 35-44 | 120 | 2.3% | 2.8% | 115 | 2.4% | 3.2% | +5 | -0.1pp |
| 45-54 | 174 | 3.3% | 6.5% | 189 | 3.6% | 6.6% | -15 | -0.3pp |
| 55-64 | 245 | 5.0% | 11.3% | 229 | 5.2% | 10.3% | +16 | -0.2pp |
| 65-74 | 363 | 10.2% | 19.8% | 269 | 9.5% | 17.5% | +94 | +0.7pp |
| 75-84 | 389 | 23.1% | 35.5% | 332 | 23.9% | 32.7% | +57 | -0.8pp |
| 85+ | 383 | 58.1% | 60.9% | 311 | 51.8% | 56.5% | +72 | +6.3pp |
| Total | 2,513 | 6.5% | 6.9% | 2,015 | 5.6% | 6.3% | +498 | +0.9pp |