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 Rowville, accounting for 23.9% (397 people). This share was higher than Knox (C) (22.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 178 people and 6.4 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Rowville - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Rowville 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 Rowville, with comparison markers for Knox (C).
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
23
2021 rate
1.4%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
23
1.4%
-0.3pp
5-14
2021 count
146
2021 rate
3.6%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
146
3.6%
+0.4pp
15-19
2021 count
56
2021 rate
2.5%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
56
2.5%
+0.5pp
20-24
2021 count
61
2021 rate
2.6%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
61
2.6%
+1.0pp
25-34
2021 count
81
2021 rate
2.1%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
81
2.1%
+0.8pp
35-44
2021 count
54
2021 rate
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
54
1.3%
+0.4pp
45-54
2021 count
87
2021 rate
1.7%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
87
1.7%
-0.5pp
55-64
2021 count
167
2021 rate
3.3%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
167
3.3%
+0.4pp
65-74
2021 count
241
2021 rate
7.8%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
241
7.8%
-0.8pp
75-84
2021 count
397
2021 rate
23.9%
Change from 2016
+6.4pp
397
23.9%
+6.4pp
85+
2021 count
283
2021 rate
51.1%
Change from 2016
+14.0pp
283
51.1%
+14.0pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
-9
-0.3pp
5-14
+6
+0.4pp
15-19
+4
+0.5pp
20-24
+21
+1.0pp
25-34
+29
+0.8pp
35-44
+12
+0.4pp
45-54
-35
-0.5pp
55-64
+38
+0.4pp
65-74
+44
-0.8pp
75-84
+178
+6.4pp
85+
+142
+14.0pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Rowville. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Knox (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Knox (C)% | Count | % | Knox (C)% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 23 | 1.4% | 1.3% | 32 | 1.7% | 1.6% | -9 | -0.3pp |
| 5-14 | 146 | 3.6% | 4.5% | 140 | 3.2% | 3.5% | +6 | +0.4pp |
| 15-19 | 56 | 2.5% | 3.6% | 52 | 2.0% | 2.7% | +4 | +0.5pp |
| 20-24 | 61 | 2.6% | 2.7% | 40 | 1.6% | 2.1% | +21 | +1.0pp |
| 25-34 | 81 | 2.1% | 2.3% | 52 | 1.3% | 1.7% | +29 | +0.8pp |
| 35-44 | 54 | 1.3% | 2.1% | 42 | 0.9% | 1.9% | +12 | +0.4pp |
| 45-54 | 87 | 1.7% | 2.8% | 122 | 2.2% | 2.7% | -35 | -0.5pp |
| 55-64 | 167 | 3.3% | 4.2% | 129 | 2.9% | 3.8% | +38 | +0.4pp |
| 65-74 | 241 | 7.8% | 8.3% | 197 | 8.6% | 7.9% | +44 | -0.8pp |
| 75-84 | 397 | 23.9% | 22.5% | 219 | 17.5% | 20.7% | +178 | +6.4pp |
| 85+ | 283 | 51.1% | 53.5% | 141 | 37.1% | 48.9% | +142 | +14.0pp |
| Total | 1,597 | 4.8% | 5.8% | 1,157 | 3.4% | 4.8% | +440 | +1.4pp |