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 Boronia, accounting for 24.9% (341 people). This share was higher than Knox (C) (22.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 341 people and 24.9 percentage points.

Section overview

Need for assistance with core activities by age

Boronia - Persons (Usual residence)

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

Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Boronia, with comparison markers for Knox (C).

Boronia

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

0-4

2021 count

14

2021 rate

1.0%

Change from 2016

+1.0pp

5-14

2021 count

155

2021 rate

6.0%

Change from 2016

+6.0pp

15-19

2021 count

59

2021 rate

5.3%

Change from 2016

+5.3pp

20-24

2021 count

46

2021 rate

3.6%

Change from 2016

+3.6pp

25-34

2021 count

106

2021 rate

2.8%

Change from 2016

+2.8pp

35-44

2021 count

107

2021 rate

3.0%

Change from 2016

+3.0pp

45-54

2021 count

124

2021 rate

4.2%

Change from 2016

+4.2pp

55-64

2021 count

155

2021 rate

5.9%

Change from 2016

+5.9pp

65-74

2021 count

188

2021 rate

8.0%

Change from 2016

+8.0pp

75-84

2021 count

341

2021 rate

24.9%

Change from 2016

+24.9pp

85+

2021 count

258

2021 rate

49.8%

Change from 2016

+49.8pp

Data table

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

Need for assistance for Boronia. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Knox (C).
Need for assistance for Boronia. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Knox (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Knox (C)%Count%Knox (C)%Countpp
0-4141.0%1.3%00.0%1.6%+14+1.0pp
5-141556.0%4.5%00.0%3.5%+155+6.0pp
15-19595.3%3.6%00.0%2.7%+59+5.3pp
20-24463.6%2.7%00.0%2.1%+46+3.6pp
25-341062.8%2.3%00.0%1.7%+106+2.8pp
35-441073.0%2.1%00.0%1.9%+107+3.0pp
45-541244.2%2.8%00.0%2.7%+124+4.2pp
55-641555.9%4.2%00.0%3.8%+155+5.9pp
65-741888.0%8.3%00.0%7.9%+188+8.0pp
75-8434124.9%22.5%00.0%20.7%+341+24.9pp
85+25849.8%53.5%00.0%48.9%+258+49.8pp
Total1,5616.6%5.8%00.0%4.8%+1,561+6.6pp