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, 65-74 year olds was the most common age group among residents who needed assistance with core activities in Kempsey (A), accounting for 12.2% (578 people). This share was higher than Regional NSW (9.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 186 people and 4.2 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Kempsey (A) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Kempsey (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Kempsey (A), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
31
2021 rate
2.0%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
31
2.0%
+0.4pp
5-14
2021 count
251
2021 rate
7.1%
Change from 2016
+2.4pp
251
7.1%
+2.4pp
15-19
2021 count
95
2021 rate
5.6%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
95
5.6%
+1.4pp
20-24
2021 count
68
2021 rate
4.7%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
68
4.7%
+1.3pp
25-34
2021 count
94
2021 rate
3.1%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
94
3.1%
-0.4pp
35-44
2021 count
117
2021 rate
3.9%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
117
3.9%
-1.3pp
45-54
2021 count
245
2021 rate
6.9%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
245
6.9%
-0.1pp
55-64
2021 count
423
2021 rate
8.9%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
423
8.9%
-0.9pp
65-74
2021 count
578
2021 rate
12.2%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
578
12.2%
+1.5pp
75-84
2021 count
561
2021 rate
23.0%
Change from 2016
+4.2pp
561
23.0%
+4.2pp
85+
2021 count
456
2021 rate
52.8%
Change from 2016
+3.3pp
456
52.8%
+3.3pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+7
+0.4pp
5-14
+89
+2.4pp
15-19
+25
+1.4pp
20-24
+22
+1.3pp
25-34
+1
-0.4pp
35-44
-32
-1.3pp
45-54
-17
-0.1pp
55-64
-39
-0.9pp
65-74
+146
+1.5pp
75-84
+186
+4.2pp
85+
+27
+3.3pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Kempsey (A). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 31 | 2.0% | 1.6% | 24 | 1.6% | 1.3% | +7 | +0.4pp |
| 5-14 | 251 | 7.1% | 5.2% | 162 | 4.7% | 3.8% | +89 | +2.4pp |
| 15-19 | 95 | 5.6% | 4.2% | 70 | 4.2% | 3.2% | +25 | +1.4pp |
| 20-24 | 68 | 4.7% | 3.4% | 46 | 3.4% | 2.6% | +22 | +1.3pp |
| 25-34 | 94 | 3.1% | 2.6% | 93 | 3.5% | 2.4% | +1 | -0.4pp |
| 35-44 | 117 | 3.9% | 2.8% | 149 | 5.2% | 3.0% | -32 | -1.3pp |
| 45-54 | 245 | 6.9% | 4.2% | 262 | 7.0% | 4.4% | -17 | -0.1pp |
| 55-64 | 423 | 8.9% | 6.0% | 462 | 9.8% | 6.2% | -39 | -0.9pp |
| 65-74 | 578 | 12.2% | 9.1% | 432 | 10.7% | 8.7% | +146 | +1.5pp |
| 75-84 | 561 | 23.0% | 18.9% | 375 | 18.8% | 17.8% | +186 | +4.2pp |
| 85+ | 456 | 52.8% | 46.5% | 429 | 49.5% | 43.8% | +27 | +3.3pp |
| Total | 2,920 | 9.5% | 6.8% | 2,506 | 8.7% | 6.3% | +414 | +0.8pp |