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 Wantirna South, accounting for 61.7% (468 people). This share was higher than Knox (C) (53.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 85+ year olds, which increased by 468 people and 61.7 percentage points.

Section overview

Need for assistance with core activities by age

Wantirna South - Persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises need for assistance for Wantirna South 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 Wantirna South, with comparison markers for Knox (C).

Wantirna South

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

0-4

2021 count

9

2021 rate

0.9%

Change from 2016

+0.9pp

5-14

2021 count

79

2021 rate

3.4%

Change from 2016

+3.4pp

15-19

2021 count

39

2021 rate

3.2%

Change from 2016

+3.2pp

20-24

2021 count

32

2021 rate

2.4%

Change from 2016

+2.4pp

25-34

2021 count

54

2021 rate

2.2%

Change from 2016

+2.2pp

35-44

2021 count

65

2021 rate

2.4%

Change from 2016

+2.4pp

45-54

2021 count

60

2021 rate

2.3%

Change from 2016

+2.3pp

55-64

2021 count

90

2021 rate

3.3%

Change from 2016

+3.3pp

65-74

2021 count

192

2021 rate

8.2%

Change from 2016

+8.2pp

75-84

2021 count

306

2021 rate

23.2%

Change from 2016

-6.8pp

85+

2021 count

468

2021 rate

61.7%

Change from 2016

+61.7pp

Data table

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

Need for assistance for Wantirna South. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Knox (C).
Need for assistance for Wantirna South. 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
0-490.9%1.3%00.0%1.6%+9+0.9pp
5-14793.4%4.5%00.0%3.5%+79+3.4pp
15-19393.2%3.6%00.0%2.7%+39+3.2pp
20-24322.4%2.7%00.0%2.1%+32+2.4pp
25-34542.2%2.3%00.0%1.7%+54+2.2pp
35-44652.4%2.1%00.0%1.9%+65+2.4pp
45-54602.3%2.8%00.0%2.7%+60+2.3pp
55-64903.3%4.2%00.0%3.8%+90+3.3pp
65-741928.2%8.3%00.0%7.9%+192+8.2pp
75-8430623.2%22.5%330.0%20.7%+303-6.8pp
85+46861.7%53.5%00.0%48.9%+468+61.7pp
Total1,4066.8%5.8%83.2%4.8%+1,398+3.6pp