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 Ku-ring-gai (A), accounting for 42.8% (1,773 people). This share was lower than Greater Sydney (48.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 261 people and 1.2 percentage points.

Section overview

Need for assistance with core activities by age

Ku-ring-gai (A) - Persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises need for assistance for Ku-ring-gai (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Sydney and change since 2016.

Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Ku-ring-gai (A), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.

Ku-ring-gai (A)

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

0-4

2021 count

40

2021 rate

0.7%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

5-14

2021 count

346

2021 rate

1.9%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

15-19

2021 count

153

2021 rate

1.7%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

20-24

2021 count

103

2021 rate

1.5%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

25-34

2021 count

145

2021 rate

1.6%

Change from 2016

+0.5pp

35-44

2021 count

106

2021 rate

0.6%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

45-54

2021 count

169

2021 rate

0.9%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

55-64

2021 count

270

2021 rate

1.8%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

65-74

2021 count

545

2021 rate

4.7%

Change from 2016

+0.8pp

75-84

2021 count

1,187

2021 rate

14.6%

Change from 2016

+1.2pp

85+

2021 count

1,773

2021 rate

42.8%

Change from 2016

-0.6pp

Data table

Need for assistance for Ku-ring-gai (A). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.

Need for assistance for Ku-ring-gai (A). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
Need for assistance for Ku-ring-gai (A). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
Category20212016Change
Count%Greater Sydney%Count%Greater Sydney%Countpp
0-4400.7%1.3%530.9%1.1%-13-0.2pp
5-143461.9%3.4%2871.6%2.7%+59+0.3pp
15-191531.7%2.7%1261.4%2.2%+27+0.3pp
20-241031.5%1.8%841.3%1.5%+19+0.2pp
25-341451.6%1.3%1051.1%1.2%+40+0.5pp
35-441060.6%1.6%1020.7%1.8%+4-0.1pp
45-541690.9%2.9%1981.1%3.2%-29-0.2pp
55-642701.8%5.5%2521.9%5.7%+18-0.1pp
65-745454.7%10.5%4053.9%9.9%+140+0.8pp
75-841,18714.6%23.1%92613.4%23.4%+261+1.2pp
85+1,77342.8%48.7%1,75143.4%50.4%+22-0.6pp
Total4,8343.9%5.2%4,2943.6%4.9%+540+0.3pp