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 Mount Pleasant (Mackay - Qld), accounting for 15.1% (65 people). This share was lower than Mackay (R) (20.3%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 23 people and 2.8 percentage points.

Section overview

Need for assistance with core activities by age

Mount Pleasant (Mackay - Qld) - Persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises need for assistance for Mount Pleasant (Mackay - Qld) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mackay (R) and change since 2016.

Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Mount Pleasant (Mackay - Qld), with comparison markers for Mackay (R).

Mount Pleasant (Mackay - Qld)

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

0-4

2021 count

3

2021 rate

1.2%

Change from 2016

-2.0pp

5-14

2021 count

24

2021 rate

3.7%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

15-19

2021 count

10

2021 rate

4.5%

Change from 2016

+2.4pp

20-24

2021 count

9

2021 rate

3.5%

Change from 2016

+2.3pp

25-34

2021 count

16

2021 rate

2.8%

Change from 2016

+2.1pp

35-44

2021 count

10

2021 rate

1.6%

Change from 2016

-0.5pp

45-54

2021 count

20

2021 rate

3.9%

Change from 2016

+2.0pp

55-64

2021 count

9

2021 rate

1.8%

Change from 2016

-2.8pp

65-74

2021 count

34

2021 rate

6.2%

Change from 2016

-2.1pp

75-84

2021 count

65

2021 rate

15.1%

Change from 2016

+2.8pp

85+

2021 count

50

2021 rate

38.2%

Change from 2016

+8.5pp

Data table

Need for assistance for Mount Pleasant (Mackay - Qld). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mackay (R).

Need for assistance for Mount Pleasant (Mackay - Qld). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mackay (R).
Need for assistance for Mount Pleasant (Mackay - Qld). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mackay (R).
Category20212016Change
Count%Mackay (R)%Count%Mackay (R)%Countpp
0-431.2%1.6%83.2%1.1%-5-2.0pp
5-14243.7%4.1%203.8%3.2%+4-0.1pp
15-19104.5%3.4%62.1%2.3%+4+2.4pp
20-2493.5%2.6%31.2%2.0%+6+2.3pp
25-34162.8%1.6%40.7%1.6%+12+2.1pp
35-44101.6%1.8%112.1%1.9%-1-0.5pp
45-54203.9%2.7%101.9%2.8%+10+2.0pp
55-6491.8%4.6%274.6%4.6%-18-2.8pp
65-74346.2%8.5%408.3%8.5%-6-2.1pp
75-846515.1%20.3%4212.3%20.4%+23+2.8pp
85+5038.2%50.8%3829.7%50.2%+12+8.5pp
Total2545.4%5.0%2054.6%4.4%+49+0.8pp