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 Petersham, accounting for 26.5% (77 people). This share was lower than Inner West (A) (28.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 74 people and 9.8 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Petersham - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Petersham in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Inner West (A) and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Petersham, with comparison markers for Inner West (A).
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
0
2021 rate
0.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
0
0.0%
0.0pp
5-14
2021 count
17
2021 rate
2.5%
Change from 2016
-4.5pp
17
2.5%
-4.5pp
15-19
2021 count
9
2021 rate
2.4%
Change from 2016
+2.4pp
9
2.4%
+2.4pp
20-24
2021 count
10
2021 rate
1.6%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
10
1.6%
+1.6pp
25-34
2021 count
27
2021 rate
1.5%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
27
1.5%
+1.5pp
35-44
2021 count
26
2021 rate
1.9%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
26
1.9%
+1.9pp
45-54
2021 count
33
2021 rate
2.7%
Change from 2016
+2.7pp
33
2.7%
+2.7pp
55-64
2021 count
40
2021 rate
4.8%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
40
4.8%
-1.7pp
65-74
2021 count
38
2021 rate
6.8%
Change from 2016
-6.7pp
38
6.8%
-6.7pp
75-84
2021 count
77
2021 rate
26.5%
Change from 2016
+9.8pp
77
26.5%
+9.8pp
85+
2021 count
61
2021 rate
56.5%
Change from 2016
-43.5pp
61
56.5%
-43.5pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
0
0.0pp
5-14
+14
-4.5pp
15-19
+9
+2.4pp
20-24
+10
+1.6pp
25-34
+27
+1.5pp
35-44
+26
+1.9pp
45-54
+33
+2.7pp
55-64
+37
-1.7pp
65-74
+33
-6.7pp
75-84
+74
+9.8pp
85+
+58
-43.5pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Petersham. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Inner West (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Inner West (A)% | Count | % | Inner West (A)% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 0 | 0.0% | 0.7% | 0 | 0.0% | 0.7% | 0 | 0.0pp |
| 5-14 | 17 | 2.5% | 2.5% | 3 | 7.0% | 1.9% | +14 | -4.5pp |
| 15-19 | 9 | 2.4% | 2.3% | 0 | 0.0% | 1.9% | +9 | +2.4pp |
| 20-24 | 10 | 1.6% | 1.6% | 0 | 0.0% | 1.0% | +10 | +1.6pp |
| 25-34 | 27 | 1.5% | 1.1% | 0 | 0.0% | 0.8% | +27 | +1.5pp |
| 35-44 | 26 | 1.9% | 1.2% | 0 | 0.0% | 1.2% | +26 | +1.9pp |
| 45-54 | 33 | 2.7% | 2.1% | 0 | 0.0% | 2.6% | +33 | +2.7pp |
| 55-64 | 40 | 4.8% | 4.1% | 3 | 6.5% | 4.7% | +37 | -1.7pp |
| 65-74 | 38 | 6.8% | 9.5% | 5 | 13.5% | 10.5% | +33 | -6.7pp |
| 75-84 | 77 | 26.5% | 28.6% | 3 | 16.7% | 31.3% | +74 | +9.8pp |
| 85+ | 61 | 56.5% | 62.9% | 3 | 100.0% | 59.8% | +58 | -43.5pp |
| Total | 341 | 4.2% | 4.8% | 18 | 5.6% | 4.5% | +323 | -1.4pp |