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 North Mackay, accounting for 45.2% (100 people). This share was lower than Mackay (R) (50.8%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 85+ year olds, which increased by 100 people and 45.2 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
North Mackay - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for North Mackay 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 North Mackay, with comparison markers for Mackay (R).
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
10
2021 rate
2.8%
Change from 2016
+2.8pp
10
2.8%
+2.8pp
5-14
2021 count
37
2021 rate
5.2%
Change from 2016
+5.2pp
37
5.2%
+5.2pp
15-19
2021 count
16
2021 rate
5.1%
Change from 2016
+5.1pp
16
5.1%
+5.1pp
20-24
2021 count
17
2021 rate
4.2%
Change from 2016
+4.2pp
17
4.2%
+4.2pp
25-34
2021 count
20
2021 rate
2.2%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
20
2.2%
+2.2pp
35-44
2021 count
15
2021 rate
1.9%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
15
1.9%
+1.9pp
45-54
2021 count
29
2021 rate
3.8%
Change from 2016
+3.8pp
29
3.8%
+3.8pp
55-64
2021 count
41
2021 rate
5.3%
Change from 2016
-2.8pp
41
5.3%
-2.8pp
65-74
2021 count
63
2021 rate
11.1%
Change from 2016
+11.1pp
63
11.1%
+11.1pp
75-84
2021 count
95
2021 rate
21.9%
Change from 2016
+21.9pp
95
21.9%
+21.9pp
85+
2021 count
100
2021 rate
45.2%
Change from 2016
+45.2pp
100
45.2%
+45.2pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+10
+2.8pp
5-14
+37
+5.2pp
15-19
+16
+5.1pp
20-24
+17
+4.2pp
25-34
+20
+2.2pp
35-44
+15
+1.9pp
45-54
+29
+3.8pp
55-64
+38
-2.8pp
65-74
+63
+11.1pp
75-84
+95
+21.9pp
85+
+100
+45.2pp
Data table
Need for assistance for North Mackay. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mackay (R).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Mackay (R)% | Count | % | Mackay (R)% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 10 | 2.8% | 1.6% | 0 | 0.0% | 1.1% | +10 | +2.8pp |
| 5-14 | 37 | 5.2% | 4.1% | 0 | 0.0% | 3.2% | +37 | +5.2pp |
| 15-19 | 16 | 5.1% | 3.4% | 0 | 0.0% | 2.3% | +16 | +5.1pp |
| 20-24 | 17 | 4.2% | 2.6% | 0 | 0.0% | 2.0% | +17 | +4.2pp |
| 25-34 | 20 | 2.2% | 1.6% | 0 | 0.0% | 1.6% | +20 | +2.2pp |
| 35-44 | 15 | 1.9% | 1.8% | 0 | 0.0% | 1.9% | +15 | +1.9pp |
| 45-54 | 29 | 3.8% | 2.7% | 0 | 0.0% | 2.8% | +29 | +3.8pp |
| 55-64 | 41 | 5.3% | 4.6% | 3 | 8.1% | 4.6% | +38 | -2.8pp |
| 65-74 | 63 | 11.1% | 8.5% | 0 | 0.0% | 8.5% | +63 | +11.1pp |
| 75-84 | 95 | 21.9% | 20.3% | 0 | 0.0% | 20.4% | +95 | +21.9pp |
| 85+ | 100 | 45.2% | 50.8% | 0 | 0.0% | 50.2% | +100 | +45.2pp |
| Total | 440 | 7.1% | 5.0% | 10 | 5.6% | 4.4% | +430 | +1.5pp |