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, 85+ year olds was the most common age group among residents who needed assistance with core activities in Kiama (A), accounting for 48.3% (375 people). This share was higher than Regional NSW (46.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 85+ year olds, which increased by 98 people and 9 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Kiama (A) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Kiama (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 Kiama (A), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
12
2021 rate
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
12
1.0%
+0.1pp
5-14
2021 count
100
2021 rate
3.8%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
100
3.8%
+1.5pp
15-19
2021 count
30
2021 rate
2.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
30
2.3%
+0.1pp
20-24
2021 count
16
2021 rate
1.7%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
16
1.7%
-0.2pp
25-34
2021 count
44
2021 rate
2.2%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
44
2.2%
+0.3pp
35-44
2021 count
36
2021 rate
1.4%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
36
1.4%
-0.2pp
45-54
2021 count
58
2021 rate
2.1%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
58
2.1%
-0.8pp
55-64
2021 count
103
2021 rate
3.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
103
3.0%
0.0pp
65-74
2021 count
152
2021 rate
4.2%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
152
4.2%
-0.3pp
75-84
2021 count
288
2021 rate
14.5%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
288
14.5%
+1.2pp
85+
2021 count
375
2021 rate
48.3%
Change from 2016
+9.0pp
375
48.3%
+9.0pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+2
+0.1pp
5-14
+42
+1.5pp
15-19
+3
+0.1pp
20-24
-4
-0.2pp
25-34
+8
+0.3pp
35-44
-1
-0.2pp
45-54
-23
-0.8pp
55-64
-2
0.0pp
65-74
+23
-0.3pp
75-84
+89
+1.2pp
85+
+98
+9.0pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Kiama (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 | 12 | 1.0% | 1.6% | 10 | 0.9% | 1.3% | +2 | +0.1pp |
| 5-14 | 100 | 3.8% | 5.2% | 58 | 2.3% | 3.8% | +42 | +1.5pp |
| 15-19 | 30 | 2.3% | 4.2% | 27 | 2.2% | 3.2% | +3 | +0.1pp |
| 20-24 | 16 | 1.7% | 3.4% | 20 | 1.9% | 2.6% | -4 | -0.2pp |
| 25-34 | 44 | 2.2% | 2.6% | 36 | 1.9% | 2.4% | +8 | +0.3pp |
| 35-44 | 36 | 1.4% | 2.8% | 37 | 1.6% | 3.0% | -1 | -0.2pp |
| 45-54 | 58 | 2.1% | 4.2% | 81 | 2.9% | 4.4% | -23 | -0.8pp |
| 55-64 | 103 | 3.0% | 6.0% | 105 | 3.0% | 6.2% | -2 | 0.0pp |
| 65-74 | 152 | 4.2% | 9.1% | 129 | 4.5% | 8.7% | +23 | -0.3pp |
| 75-84 | 288 | 14.5% | 18.9% | 199 | 13.3% | 17.8% | +89 | +1.2pp |
| 85+ | 375 | 48.3% | 46.5% | 277 | 39.3% | 43.8% | +98 | +9.0pp |
| Total | 1,221 | 5.3% | 6.8% | 977 | 4.6% | 6.3% | +244 | +0.7pp |