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, 75-84 year olds was the most common age group among residents who needed assistance with core activities in Lithgow (C), accounting for 17.5% (291 people). This share was lower than Regional NSW (18.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 85+ year olds, which increased by 50 people and 8 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Lithgow (C) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Lithgow (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Lithgow (C), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
17
2021 rate
1.8%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
17
1.8%
+0.8pp
5-14
2021 count
158
2021 rate
6.4%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
158
6.4%
+1.2pp
15-19
2021 count
67
2021 rate
6.1%
Change from 2016
+3.1pp
67
6.1%
+3.1pp
20-24
2021 count
34
2021 rate
3.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
34
3.4%
-0.1pp
25-34
2021 count
77
2021 rate
3.4%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
77
3.4%
+0.6pp
35-44
2021 count
82
2021 rate
3.8%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
82
3.8%
+0.9pp
45-54
2021 count
146
2021 rate
5.6%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
146
5.6%
+1.2pp
55-64
2021 count
183
2021 rate
5.8%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
183
5.8%
-0.5pp
65-74
2021 count
263
2021 rate
9.0%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
263
9.0%
+0.6pp
75-84
2021 count
291
2021 rate
17.5%
Change from 2016
-2.2pp
291
17.5%
-2.2pp
85+
2021 count
263
2021 rate
49.3%
Change from 2016
+8.0pp
263
49.3%
+8.0pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+5
+0.8pp
5-14
+33
+1.2pp
15-19
+31
+3.1pp
20-24
-4
-0.1pp
25-34
+14
+0.6pp
35-44
+14
+0.9pp
45-54
+19
+1.2pp
55-64
-11
-0.5pp
65-74
+33
+0.6pp
75-84
+19
-2.2pp
85+
+50
+8.0pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Lithgow (C). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 17 | 1.8% | 1.6% | 12 | 1.0% | 1.3% | +5 | +0.8pp |
| 5-14 | 158 | 6.4% | 5.2% | 125 | 5.2% | 3.8% | +33 | +1.2pp |
| 15-19 | 67 | 6.1% | 4.2% | 36 | 3.0% | 3.2% | +31 | +3.1pp |
| 20-24 | 34 | 3.4% | 3.4% | 38 | 3.5% | 2.6% | -4 | -0.1pp |
| 25-34 | 77 | 3.4% | 2.6% | 63 | 2.8% | 2.4% | +14 | +0.6pp |
| 35-44 | 82 | 3.8% | 2.8% | 68 | 2.9% | 3.0% | +14 | +0.9pp |
| 45-54 | 146 | 5.6% | 4.2% | 127 | 4.4% | 4.4% | +19 | +1.2pp |
| 55-64 | 183 | 5.8% | 6.0% | 194 | 6.3% | 6.2% | -11 | -0.5pp |
| 65-74 | 263 | 9.0% | 9.1% | 230 | 8.4% | 8.7% | +33 | +0.6pp |
| 75-84 | 291 | 17.5% | 18.9% | 272 | 19.7% | 17.8% | +19 | -2.2pp |
| 85+ | 263 | 49.3% | 46.5% | 213 | 41.3% | 43.8% | +50 | +8.0pp |
| Total | 1,582 | 7.6% | 6.8% | 1,387 | 6.6% | 6.3% | +195 | +1.0pp |