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, accounting for 45.7% (177 people). This share was lower than Knox (C) (53.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 45-54 year olds, which decreased by 56 people and 2.3 percentage points.

Section overview

Need for assistance with core activities by age

Wantirna - Persons (Usual residence)

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

Wantirna

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

0-4

2021 count

16

2021 rate

2.1%

Change from 2016

+0.4pp

5-14

2021 count

70

2021 rate

3.7%

Change from 2016

-1.1pp

15-19

2021 count

23

2021 rate

3.0%

Change from 2016

-1.1pp

20-24

2021 count

15

2021 rate

2.0%

Change from 2016

-1.4pp

25-34

2021 count

22

2021 rate

1.4%

Change from 2016

-1.7pp

35-44

2021 count

33

2021 rate

1.6%

Change from 2016

-1.5pp

45-54

2021 count

37

2021 rate

2.1%

Change from 2016

-2.3pp

55-64

2021 count

59

2021 rate

3.4%

Change from 2016

-1.6pp

65-74

2021 count

116

2021 rate

6.5%

Change from 2016

-1.1pp

75-84

2021 count

157

2021 rate

19.1%

Change from 2016

+3.5pp

85+

2021 count

177

2021 rate

45.7%

Change from 2016

+7.7pp

Data table

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

Need for assistance for Wantirna. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Knox (C).
Need for assistance for Wantirna. 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
0-4162.1%1.3%161.7%1.6%0+0.4pp
5-14703.7%4.5%944.8%3.5%-24-1.1pp
15-19233.0%3.6%434.1%2.7%-20-1.1pp
20-24152.0%2.7%303.4%2.1%-15-1.4pp
25-34221.4%2.3%553.1%1.7%-33-1.7pp
35-44331.6%2.1%543.1%1.9%-21-1.5pp
45-54372.1%2.8%934.4%2.7%-56-2.3pp
55-64593.4%4.2%1005.0%3.8%-41-1.6pp
65-741166.5%8.3%1427.6%7.9%-26-1.1pp
75-8415719.1%22.5%16315.6%20.7%-6+3.5pp
85+17745.7%53.5%15838.0%48.9%+19+7.7pp
Total7375.2%5.8%9606.1%4.8%-223-0.9pp