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 Inner West (A), accounting for 28.6% (2,258 people). This share was higher than Greater Sydney (23.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 85+ year olds, which increased by 349 people and 3.1 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Inner West (A) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Inner West (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Sydney and change since 2016.
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Inner West (A), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
65
2021 rate
0.7%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
65
0.7%
0.0pp
5-14
2021 count
443
2021 rate
2.5%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
443
2.5%
+0.6pp
15-19
2021 count
172
2021 rate
2.3%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
172
2.3%
+0.4pp
20-24
2021 count
180
2021 rate
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
180
1.6%
+0.6pp
25-34
2021 count
373
2021 rate
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
373
1.1%
+0.3pp
35-44
2021 count
354
2021 rate
1.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
354
1.2%
0.0pp
45-54
2021 count
560
2021 rate
2.1%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
560
2.1%
-0.5pp
55-64
2021 count
821
2021 rate
4.1%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
821
4.1%
-0.6pp
65-74
2021 count
1,357
2021 rate
9.5%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
1,357
9.5%
-1.0pp
75-84
2021 count
2,258
2021 rate
28.6%
Change from 2016
-2.7pp
2,258
28.6%
-2.7pp
85+
2021 count
2,244
2021 rate
62.9%
Change from 2016
+3.1pp
2,244
62.9%
+3.1pp
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
-6
0.0pp
5-14
+120
+0.6pp
15-19
+40
+0.4pp
20-24
+51
+0.6pp
25-34
+91
+0.3pp
35-44
-39
0.0pp
45-54
-99
-0.5pp
55-64
-50
-0.6pp
65-74
+83
-1.0pp
75-84
+119
-2.7pp
85+
+349
+3.1pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Inner West (A). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 65 | 0.7% | 1.3% | 71 | 0.7% | 1.1% | -6 | 0.0pp |
| 5-14 | 443 | 2.5% | 3.4% | 323 | 1.9% | 2.7% | +120 | +0.6pp |
| 15-19 | 172 | 2.3% | 2.7% | 132 | 1.9% | 2.2% | +40 | +0.4pp |
| 20-24 | 180 | 1.6% | 1.8% | 129 | 1.0% | 1.5% | +51 | +0.6pp |
| 25-34 | 373 | 1.1% | 1.3% | 282 | 0.8% | 1.2% | +91 | +0.3pp |
| 35-44 | 354 | 1.2% | 1.6% | 393 | 1.2% | 1.8% | -39 | 0.0pp |
| 45-54 | 560 | 2.1% | 2.9% | 659 | 2.6% | 3.2% | -99 | -0.5pp |
| 55-64 | 821 | 4.1% | 5.5% | 871 | 4.7% | 5.7% | -50 | -0.6pp |
| 65-74 | 1,357 | 9.5% | 10.5% | 1,274 | 10.5% | 9.9% | +83 | -1.0pp |
| 75-84 | 2,258 | 28.6% | 23.1% | 2,139 | 31.3% | 23.4% | +119 | -2.7pp |
| 85+ | 2,244 | 62.9% | 48.7% | 1,895 | 59.8% | 50.4% | +349 | +3.1pp |
| Total | 8,828 | 4.8% | 5.2% | 8,168 | 4.5% | 4.9% | +660 | +0.3pp |