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, 5-14 year olds was the most common age group among residents who needed assistance with core activities in Light (RegC), accounting for 6.7% (156 people). This share was higher than Regional SA (5.2%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 50 people and 3.1 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Light (RegC) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Light (RegC) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional SA and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Light (RegC), with comparison markers for Regional SA.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
14
2021 rate
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
14
1.7%
+0.4pp
5-14
2021 count
156
2021 rate
6.7%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
156
6.7%
+1.8pp
15-19
2021 count
49
2021 rate
4.3%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
49
4.3%
+1.0pp
20-24
2021 count
22
2021 rate
2.4%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
22
2.4%
+1.0pp
25-34
2021 count
36
2021 rate
2.3%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
36
2.3%
+0.6pp
35-44
2021 count
37
2021 rate
1.9%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
37
1.9%
0.0pp
45-54
2021 count
60
2021 rate
2.6%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
60
2.6%
-0.5pp
55-64
2021 count
106
2021 rate
4.6%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
106
4.6%
+0.4pp
65-74
2021 count
115
2021 rate
7.4%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
115
7.4%
+1.0pp
75-84
2021 count
118
2021 rate
16.9%
Change from 2016
+3.1pp
118
16.9%
+3.1pp
85+
2021 count
97
2021 rate
46.0%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
97
46.0%
-0.4pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+3
+0.4pp
5-14
+43
+1.8pp
15-19
+14
+1.0pp
20-24
+11
+1.0pp
25-34
+10
+0.6pp
35-44
-1
0.0pp
45-54
-11
-0.5pp
55-64
+22
+0.4pp
65-74
+37
+1.0pp
75-84
+50
+3.1pp
85+
+20
-0.4pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Light (RegC). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional SA.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional SA% | Count | % | Regional SA% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 14 | 1.7% | 1.6% | 11 | 1.3% | 1.3% | +3 | +0.4pp |
| 5-14 | 156 | 6.7% | 5.2% | 113 | 4.9% | 3.9% | +43 | +1.8pp |
| 15-19 | 49 | 4.3% | 4.3% | 35 | 3.3% | 3.3% | +14 | +1.0pp |
| 20-24 | 22 | 2.4% | 3.5% | 11 | 1.4% | 2.9% | +11 | +1.0pp |
| 25-34 | 36 | 2.3% | 2.7% | 26 | 1.7% | 2.3% | +10 | +0.6pp |
| 35-44 | 37 | 1.9% | 2.8% | 38 | 1.9% | 3.1% | -1 | 0.0pp |
| 45-54 | 60 | 2.6% | 4.3% | 71 | 3.1% | 4.4% | -11 | -0.5pp |
| 55-64 | 106 | 4.6% | 6.2% | 84 | 4.2% | 6.0% | +22 | +0.4pp |
| 65-74 | 115 | 7.4% | 8.7% | 78 | 6.4% | 8.5% | +37 | +1.0pp |
| 75-84 | 118 | 16.9% | 17.5% | 68 | 13.8% | 16.4% | +50 | +3.1pp |
| 85+ | 97 | 46.0% | 45.5% | 77 | 46.4% | 41.7% | +20 | -0.4pp |
| Total | 819 | 5.2% | 7.0% | 612 | 4.2% | 6.2% | +207 | +1.0pp |