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 Maitland (C), accounting for 7.5% (975 people). This share was higher than Regional NSW (5.2%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 5-14 year olds, which increased by 381 people and 2.2 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Maitland (C) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Maitland (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 Maitland (C), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
111
2021 rate
1.8%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
111
1.8%
-0.2pp
5-14
2021 count
975
2021 rate
7.5%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
975
7.5%
+2.2pp
15-19
2021 count
300
2021 rate
5.4%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
300
5.4%
+1.1pp
20-24
2021 count
217
2021 rate
4.0%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
217
4.0%
+0.9pp
25-34
2021 count
344
2021 rate
2.7%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
344
2.7%
+0.4pp
35-44
2021 count
391
2021 rate
3.2%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
391
3.2%
+0.2pp
45-54
2021 count
511
2021 rate
4.6%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
511
4.6%
+0.3pp
55-64
2021 count
703
2021 rate
7.1%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
703
7.1%
+0.7pp
65-74
2021 count
882
2021 rate
10.8%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
882
10.8%
+1.6pp
75-84
2021 count
877
2021 rate
20.2%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
877
20.2%
+0.9pp
85+
2021 count
737
2021 rate
49.3%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
737
49.3%
+1.3pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
-7
-0.2pp
5-14
+381
+2.2pp
15-19
+88
+1.1pp
20-24
+69
+0.9pp
25-34
+104
+0.4pp
35-44
+83
+0.2pp
45-54
+81
+0.3pp
55-64
+138
+0.7pp
65-74
+278
+1.6pp
75-84
+250
+0.9pp
85+
+123
+1.3pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Maitland (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 | 111 | 1.8% | 1.6% | 118 | 2.0% | 1.3% | -7 | -0.2pp |
| 5-14 | 975 | 7.5% | 5.2% | 594 | 5.3% | 3.8% | +381 | +2.2pp |
| 15-19 | 300 | 5.4% | 4.2% | 212 | 4.3% | 3.2% | +88 | +1.1pp |
| 20-24 | 217 | 4.0% | 3.4% | 148 | 3.1% | 2.6% | +69 | +0.9pp |
| 25-34 | 344 | 2.7% | 2.6% | 240 | 2.3% | 2.4% | +104 | +0.4pp |
| 35-44 | 391 | 3.2% | 2.8% | 308 | 3.0% | 3.0% | +83 | +0.2pp |
| 45-54 | 511 | 4.6% | 4.2% | 430 | 4.3% | 4.4% | +81 | +0.3pp |
| 55-64 | 703 | 7.1% | 6.0% | 565 | 6.4% | 6.2% | +138 | +0.7pp |
| 65-74 | 882 | 10.8% | 9.1% | 604 | 9.2% | 8.7% | +278 | +1.6pp |
| 75-84 | 877 | 20.2% | 18.9% | 627 | 19.3% | 17.8% | +250 | +0.9pp |
| 85+ | 737 | 49.3% | 46.5% | 614 | 48.0% | 43.8% | +123 | +1.3pp |
| Total | 6,042 | 6.7% | 6.8% | 4,448 | 5.8% | 6.3% | +1,594 | +0.9pp |