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 Westmeadows, accounting for 36.7% (143 people). This share was higher than Hume (C) (35.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 74 people and 11.3 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Westmeadows - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Westmeadows 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 Westmeadows, with comparison markers for Hume (C).
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
6
2021 rate
1.5%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
6
1.5%
-0.4pp
5-14
2021 count
43
2021 rate
6.1%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
43
6.1%
+1.1pp
15-19
2021 count
14
2021 rate
4.2%
Change from 2016
+2.8pp
14
4.2%
+2.8pp
20-24
2021 count
9
2021 rate
2.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
9
2.5%
0.0pp
25-34
2021 count
15
2021 rate
1.5%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
15
1.5%
-1.4pp
35-44
2021 count
29
2021 rate
3.2%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
29
3.2%
+1.4pp
45-54
2021 count
41
2021 rate
5.5%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
41
5.5%
+0.5pp
55-64
2021 count
48
2021 rate
6.0%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
48
6.0%
-0.7pp
65-74
2021 count
123
2021 rate
17.3%
Change from 2016
+4.8pp
123
17.3%
+4.8pp
75-84
2021 count
143
2021 rate
36.7%
Change from 2016
+11.3pp
143
36.7%
+11.3pp
85+
2021 count
88
2021 rate
64.2%
Change from 2016
+14.2pp
88
64.2%
+14.2pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
0
-0.4pp
5-14
+12
+1.1pp
15-19
+9
+2.8pp
20-24
-1
0.0pp
25-34
-10
-1.4pp
35-44
+16
+1.4pp
45-54
+2
+0.5pp
55-64
-8
-0.7pp
65-74
+49
+4.8pp
75-84
+74
+11.3pp
85+
+50
+14.2pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Westmeadows. 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 | 6 | 1.5% | 1.4% | 6 | 1.9% | 1.5% | 0 | -0.4pp |
| 5-14 | 43 | 6.1% | 4.8% | 31 | 5.0% | 3.7% | +12 | +1.1pp |
| 15-19 | 14 | 4.2% | 3.6% | 5 | 1.4% | 2.7% | +9 | +2.8pp |
| 20-24 | 9 | 2.5% | 2.5% | 10 | 2.5% | 2.1% | -1 | 0.0pp |
| 25-34 | 15 | 1.5% | 1.8% | 25 | 2.9% | 1.9% | -10 | -1.4pp |
| 35-44 | 29 | 3.2% | 2.8% | 13 | 1.8% | 3.2% | +16 | +1.4pp |
| 45-54 | 41 | 5.5% | 6.5% | 39 | 5.0% | 6.6% | +2 | +0.5pp |
| 55-64 | 48 | 6.0% | 11.3% | 56 | 6.7% | 10.3% | -8 | -0.7pp |
| 65-74 | 123 | 17.3% | 19.8% | 74 | 12.5% | 17.5% | +49 | +4.8pp |
| 75-84 | 143 | 36.7% | 35.5% | 69 | 25.4% | 32.7% | +74 | +11.3pp |
| 85+ | 88 | 64.2% | 60.9% | 38 | 50.0% | 56.5% | +50 | +14.2pp |
| Total | 563 | 8.7% | 6.9% | 367 | 6.3% | 6.3% | +196 | +2.4pp |