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 Kingston (C) (Vic.), accounting for 51.6% (2,273 people). This share was lower than Greater Melbourne (54%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 540 people and 3.4 percentage points.

Section overview

Need for assistance with core activities by age

Kingston (C) (Vic.) - Persons (Usual residence)

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

Need for assistance with core activities by age change

Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.

2016
2021

0-4

+21

+0.2pp

5-14

+171

+0.8pp

15-19

+96

+1.0pp

20-24

+9

+0.2pp

25-34

+41

+0.2pp

35-44

+37

+0.2pp

45-54

-30

-0.2pp

55-64

+65

0.0pp

65-74

+260

+0.7pp

75-84

+540

+3.4pp

85+

+487

+8.4pp

Data table

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

Need for assistance for Kingston (C) (Vic.). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
Need for assistance for Kingston (C) (Vic.). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
Category20212016Change
Count%Greater Melbourne%Count%Greater Melbourne%Countpp
0-4991.1%1.3%780.9%1.1%+21+0.2pp
5-146633.6%3.9%4922.8%3.0%+171+0.8pp
15-192653.1%3.1%1692.1%2.2%+96+1.0pp
20-241621.9%2.0%1531.7%1.5%+9+0.2pp
25-343411.7%1.5%3001.5%1.2%+41+0.2pp
35-444281.9%1.8%3911.7%1.9%+37+0.2pp
45-545612.5%3.2%5912.7%3.2%-30-0.2pp
55-648944.7%5.6%8294.7%5.5%+650.0pp
65-741,3949.1%10.5%1,1348.4%9.5%+260+0.7pp
75-842,22923.4%24.7%1,68920.0%23.2%+540+3.4pp
85+2,27351.6%54.0%1,78643.2%49.0%+487+8.4pp
Total9,3115.9%5.5%7,6105.0%4.9%+1,701+0.9pp