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 Mackay (R), accounting for 20.3% (1,134 people). This share was similar to Regional Qld (20.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 214 people, while its share fell by 0.1 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Mackay (R) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Mackay (R) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Qld and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Mackay (R), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
121
2021 rate
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
121
1.6%
+0.5pp
5-14
2021 count
697
2021 rate
4.1%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
697
4.1%
+0.9pp
15-19
2021 count
255
2021 rate
3.4%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
255
3.4%
+1.1pp
20-24
2021 count
184
2021 rate
2.6%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
184
2.6%
+0.6pp
25-34
2021 count
257
2021 rate
1.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
257
1.6%
0.0pp
35-44
2021 count
296
2021 rate
1.8%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
296
1.8%
-0.1pp
45-54
2021 count
445
2021 rate
2.7%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
445
2.7%
-0.1pp
55-64
2021 count
738
2021 rate
4.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
738
4.6%
0.0pp
65-74
2021 count
933
2021 rate
8.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
933
8.5%
0.0pp
75-84
2021 count
1,134
2021 rate
20.3%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
1,134
20.3%
-0.1pp
85+
2021 count
1,005
2021 rate
50.8%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
1,005
50.8%
+0.6pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+32
+0.5pp
5-14
+182
+0.9pp
15-19
+91
+1.1pp
20-24
+53
+0.6pp
25-34
+17
0.0pp
35-44
+7
-0.1pp
45-54
-33
-0.1pp
55-64
+79
0.0pp
65-74
+170
0.0pp
75-84
+214
-0.1pp
85+
+179
+0.6pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Mackay (R). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 121 | 1.6% | 1.5% | 89 | 1.1% | 1.2% | +32 | +0.5pp |
| 5-14 | 697 | 4.1% | 5.0% | 515 | 3.2% | 3.5% | +182 | +0.9pp |
| 15-19 | 255 | 3.4% | 4.0% | 164 | 2.3% | 2.9% | +91 | +1.1pp |
| 20-24 | 184 | 2.6% | 2.8% | 131 | 2.0% | 2.2% | +53 | +0.6pp |
| 25-34 | 257 | 1.6% | 2.1% | 240 | 1.6% | 1.9% | +17 | 0.0pp |
| 35-44 | 296 | 1.8% | 2.5% | 289 | 1.9% | 2.5% | +7 | -0.1pp |
| 45-54 | 445 | 2.7% | 3.8% | 478 | 2.8% | 3.8% | -33 | -0.1pp |
| 55-64 | 738 | 4.6% | 6.0% | 659 | 4.6% | 6.0% | +79 | 0.0pp |
| 65-74 | 933 | 8.5% | 9.6% | 763 | 8.5% | 9.1% | +170 | 0.0pp |
| 75-84 | 1,134 | 20.3% | 20.4% | 920 | 20.4% | 19.3% | +214 | -0.1pp |
| 85+ | 1,005 | 50.8% | 47.7% | 826 | 50.2% | 46.7% | +179 | +0.6pp |
| Total | 6,071 | 5.0% | 6.3% | 5,072 | 4.4% | 5.5% | +999 | +0.6pp |