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 Knox (C), accounting for 22.5% (2,000 people). This share was lower than Greater Melbourne (24.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 525 people and 1.8 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Knox (C) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Knox (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Melbourne and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Knox (C), with comparison markers for Greater Melbourne.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
107
2021 rate
1.3%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
107
1.3%
-0.3pp
5-14
2021 count
837
2021 rate
4.5%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
837
4.5%
+1.0pp
15-19
2021 count
336
2021 rate
3.6%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
336
3.6%
+0.9pp
20-24
2021 count
260
2021 rate
2.7%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
260
2.7%
+0.6pp
25-34
2021 count
468
2021 rate
2.3%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
468
2.3%
+0.6pp
35-44
2021 count
472
2021 rate
2.1%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
472
2.1%
+0.2pp
45-54
2021 count
600
2021 rate
2.8%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
600
2.8%
+0.1pp
55-64
2021 count
863
2021 rate
4.2%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
863
4.2%
+0.4pp
65-74
2021 count
1,332
2021 rate
8.3%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
1,332
8.3%
+0.4pp
75-84
2021 count
2,000
2021 rate
22.5%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
2,000
22.5%
+1.8pp
85+
2021 count
1,894
2021 rate
53.5%
Change from 2016
+4.6pp
1,894
53.5%
+4.6pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
-37
-0.3pp
5-14
+197
+1.0pp
15-19
+68
+0.9pp
20-24
+45
+0.6pp
25-34
+126
+0.6pp
35-44
+82
+0.2pp
45-54
+13
+0.1pp
55-64
+99
+0.4pp
65-74
+252
+0.4pp
75-84
+525
+1.8pp
85+
+376
+4.6pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Knox (C). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 107 | 1.3% | 1.3% | 144 | 1.6% | 1.1% | -37 | -0.3pp |
| 5-14 | 837 | 4.5% | 3.9% | 640 | 3.5% | 3.0% | +197 | +1.0pp |
| 15-19 | 336 | 3.6% | 3.1% | 268 | 2.7% | 2.2% | +68 | +0.9pp |
| 20-24 | 260 | 2.7% | 2.0% | 215 | 2.1% | 1.5% | +45 | +0.6pp |
| 25-34 | 468 | 2.3% | 1.5% | 342 | 1.7% | 1.2% | +126 | +0.6pp |
| 35-44 | 472 | 2.1% | 1.8% | 390 | 1.9% | 1.9% | +82 | +0.2pp |
| 45-54 | 600 | 2.8% | 3.2% | 587 | 2.7% | 3.2% | +13 | +0.1pp |
| 55-64 | 863 | 4.2% | 5.6% | 764 | 3.8% | 5.5% | +99 | +0.4pp |
| 65-74 | 1,332 | 8.3% | 10.5% | 1,080 | 7.9% | 9.5% | +252 | +0.4pp |
| 75-84 | 2,000 | 22.5% | 24.7% | 1,475 | 20.7% | 23.2% | +525 | +1.8pp |
| 85+ | 1,894 | 53.5% | 54.0% | 1,518 | 48.9% | 49.0% | +376 | +4.6pp |
| Total | 9,170 | 5.8% | 5.5% | 7,419 | 4.8% | 4.9% | +1,751 | +1.0pp |