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 Ipswich (C), accounting for 6.6% (2,414 people). This share was higher than Greater Brisbane (5.2%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 5-14 year olds, which increased by 978 people and 1.8 percentage points.

Section overview

Need for assistance with core activities by age

Ipswich (C) - Persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises need for assistance for Ipswich (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Brisbane and change since 2016.

Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Ipswich (C), with comparison markers for Greater Brisbane.

Ipswich (C)

Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.

0-4

2021 count

326

2021 rate

1.9%

Change from 2016

+0.5pp

5-14

2021 count

2,414

2021 rate

6.6%

Change from 2016

+1.8pp

15-19

2021 count

785

2021 rate

5.2%

Change from 2016

+1.4pp

20-24

2021 count

589

2021 rate

3.8%

Change from 2016

+0.6pp

25-34

2021 count

1,012

2021 rate

2.9%

Change from 2016

+0.6pp

35-44

2021 count

1,081

2021 rate

3.3%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

45-54

2021 count

1,467

2021 rate

5.3%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

55-64

2021 count

2,020

2021 rate

8.9%

Change from 2016

+0.6pp

65-74

2021 count

2,186

2021 rate

14.0%

Change from 2016

+1.6pp

75-84

2021 count

2,001

2021 rate

25.1%

Change from 2016

+2.3pp

85+

2021 count

1,178

2021 rate

45.7%

Change from 2016

-4.7pp

Data table

Need for assistance for Ipswich (C). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Brisbane.

Need for assistance for Ipswich (C). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Brisbane.
Need for assistance for Ipswich (C). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Brisbane.
Category20212016Change
Count%Greater Brisbane%Count%Greater Brisbane%Countpp
0-43261.9%1.6%2281.4%1.2%+98+0.5pp
5-142,4146.6%5.2%1,4364.8%3.7%+978+1.8pp
15-197855.2%3.9%5133.8%2.8%+272+1.4pp
20-245893.8%2.6%4513.2%1.9%+138+0.6pp
25-341,0122.9%2.1%6982.3%1.7%+314+0.6pp
35-441,0813.3%2.3%8363.2%2.3%+245+0.1pp
45-541,4675.3%3.6%1,2375.1%3.5%+230+0.2pp
55-642,0208.9%6.0%1,5828.3%5.8%+438+0.6pp
65-742,18614.0%10.4%1,52412.4%9.4%+662+1.6pp
75-842,00125.1%22.3%1,40522.8%20.6%+596+2.3pp
85+1,17845.7%51.1%1,13350.4%46.5%+45-4.7pp
Total15,0726.6%5.7%11,0445.7%4.9%+4,028+0.9pp