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 Upper Ferntree Gully (part), accounting for 65.6% (63 people). This share was higher than Knox (C) (53.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 5-14 year olds, which increased by 29 people and 7.3 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Upper Ferntree Gully (part) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Upper Ferntree Gully (part) 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 Upper Ferntree Gully (part), with comparison markers for Knox (C).
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
4
2021 rate
2.1%
Change from 2016
+2.1pp
4
2.1%
+2.1pp
5-14
2021 count
33
2021 rate
8.3%
Change from 2016
+7.3pp
33
8.3%
+7.3pp
15-19
2021 count
5
2021 rate
2.5%
Change from 2016
-2.3pp
5
2.5%
-2.3pp
20-24
2021 count
3
2021 rate
1.6%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
3
1.6%
-1.4pp
25-34
2021 count
11
2021 rate
2.7%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
11
2.7%
+0.3pp
35-44
2021 count
11
2021 rate
2.5%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
11
2.5%
-1.2pp
45-54
2021 count
18
2021 rate
3.8%
Change from 2016
+2.1pp
18
3.8%
+2.1pp
55-64
2021 count
26
2021 rate
5.4%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
26
5.4%
-0.5pp
65-74
2021 count
43
2021 rate
12.4%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
43
12.4%
+1.4pp
75-84
2021 count
60
2021 rate
32.3%
Change from 2016
-3.5pp
60
32.3%
-3.5pp
85+
2021 count
63
2021 rate
65.6%
Change from 2016
-6.5pp
63
65.6%
-6.5pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+4
+2.1pp
5-14
+29
+7.3pp
15-19
-4
-2.3pp
20-24
-3
-1.4pp
25-34
+1
+0.3pp
35-44
-6
-1.2pp
45-54
+10
+2.1pp
55-64
-3
-0.5pp
65-74
+11
+1.4pp
75-84
+3
-3.5pp
85+
-12
-6.5pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Upper Ferntree Gully (part). 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 | 4 | 2.1% | 1.3% | 0 | 0.0% | 1.6% | +4 | +2.1pp |
| 5-14 | 33 | 8.3% | 4.5% | 4 | 1.0% | 3.5% | +29 | +7.3pp |
| 15-19 | 5 | 2.5% | 3.6% | 9 | 4.8% | 2.7% | -4 | -2.3pp |
| 20-24 | 3 | 1.6% | 2.7% | 6 | 3.0% | 2.1% | -3 | -1.4pp |
| 25-34 | 11 | 2.7% | 2.3% | 10 | 2.4% | 1.7% | +1 | +0.3pp |
| 35-44 | 11 | 2.5% | 2.1% | 17 | 3.7% | 1.9% | -6 | -1.2pp |
| 45-54 | 18 | 3.8% | 2.8% | 8 | 1.7% | 2.7% | +10 | +2.1pp |
| 55-64 | 26 | 5.4% | 4.2% | 29 | 5.9% | 3.8% | -3 | -0.5pp |
| 65-74 | 43 | 12.4% | 8.3% | 32 | 11.0% | 7.9% | +11 | +1.4pp |
| 75-84 | 60 | 32.3% | 22.5% | 57 | 35.8% | 20.7% | +3 | -3.5pp |
| 85+ | 63 | 65.6% | 53.5% | 75 | 72.1% | 48.9% | -12 | -6.5pp |
| Total | 264 | 7.7% | 5.8% | 243 | 7.1% | 4.8% | +21 | +0.6pp |