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 Indigo (S), accounting for 17.9% (220 people). This share was lower than Regional Vic. (18.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 62 people and 0.4 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Indigo (S) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Indigo (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Vic. and change since 2016.
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Indigo (S), with comparison markers for Regional Vic..
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
9
2021 rate
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
9
1.1%
+0.7pp
5-14
2021 count
109
2021 rate
5.0%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
109
5.0%
+2.2pp
15-19
2021 count
24
2021 rate
2.4%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
24
2.4%
+1.7pp
20-24
2021 count
10
2021 rate
1.7%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
10
1.7%
-1.4pp
25-34
2021 count
23
2021 rate
1.6%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
23
1.6%
-0.7pp
35-44
2021 count
33
2021 rate
1.7%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
33
1.7%
0.0pp
45-54
2021 count
54
2021 rate
2.2%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
54
2.2%
+0.3pp
55-64
2021 count
116
2021 rate
4.1%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
116
4.1%
+0.3pp
65-74
2021 count
193
2021 rate
7.8%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
193
7.8%
+0.8pp
75-84
2021 count
220
2021 rate
17.9%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
220
17.9%
+0.4pp
85+
2021 count
206
2021 rate
52.3%
Change from 2016
+4.7pp
206
52.3%
+4.7pp
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+6
+0.7pp
5-14
+51
+2.2pp
15-19
+17
+1.7pp
20-24
-8
-1.4pp
25-34
-6
-0.7pp
35-44
0
0.0pp
45-54
+7
+0.3pp
55-64
+17
+0.3pp
65-74
+51
+0.8pp
75-84
+62
+0.4pp
85+
+38
+4.7pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Indigo (S). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 9 | 1.1% | 1.5% | 3 | 0.4% | 1.2% | +6 | +0.7pp |
| 5-14 | 109 | 5.0% | 5.5% | 58 | 2.8% | 3.9% | +51 | +2.2pp |
| 15-19 | 24 | 2.4% | 4.6% | 7 | 0.7% | 3.4% | +17 | +1.7pp |
| 20-24 | 10 | 1.7% | 3.7% | 18 | 3.1% | 2.9% | -8 | -1.4pp |
| 25-34 | 23 | 1.6% | 2.8% | 29 | 2.3% | 2.4% | -6 | -0.7pp |
| 35-44 | 33 | 1.7% | 3.1% | 33 | 1.7% | 3.0% | 0 | 0.0pp |
| 45-54 | 54 | 2.2% | 4.3% | 47 | 1.9% | 4.2% | +7 | +0.3pp |
| 55-64 | 116 | 4.1% | 6.0% | 99 | 3.8% | 5.8% | +17 | +0.3pp |
| 65-74 | 193 | 7.8% | 8.8% | 142 | 7.0% | 8.1% | +51 | +0.8pp |
| 75-84 | 220 | 17.9% | 18.7% | 158 | 17.5% | 17.0% | +62 | +0.4pp |
| 85+ | 206 | 52.3% | 46.4% | 168 | 47.6% | 42.3% | +38 | +4.7pp |
| Total | 1,000 | 5.8% | 6.9% | 775 | 4.9% | 6.0% | +225 | +0.9pp |