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 Thornton (NSW), accounting for 8.4% (124 people). This share was higher than Maitland (C) (7.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 5-14 year olds, which increased by 51 people and 2.5 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Thornton (NSW) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Thornton (NSW) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Maitland (C) and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Thornton (NSW), with comparison markers for Maitland (C).
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
22
2021 rate
2.7%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
22
2.7%
+0.9pp
5-14
2021 count
124
2021 rate
8.4%
Change from 2016
+2.5pp
124
8.4%
+2.5pp
15-19
2021 count
31
2021 rate
4.6%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
31
4.6%
+0.7pp
20-24
2021 count
26
2021 rate
3.0%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
26
3.0%
-0.9pp
25-34
2021 count
51
2021 rate
2.7%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
51
2.7%
0.0pp
35-44
2021 count
62
2021 rate
4.5%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
62
4.5%
+2.0pp
45-54
2021 count
59
2021 rate
4.6%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
59
4.6%
+0.9pp
55-64
2021 count
96
2021 rate
8.1%
Change from 2016
+2.4pp
96
8.1%
+2.4pp
65-74
2021 count
90
2021 rate
12.2%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
90
12.2%
+1.8pp
75-84
2021 count
60
2021 rate
20.5%
Change from 2016
+2.6pp
60
20.5%
+2.6pp
85+
2021 count
37
2021 rate
56.9%
Change from 2016
+13.3pp
37
56.9%
+13.3pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+11
+0.9pp
5-14
+51
+2.5pp
15-19
+9
+0.7pp
20-24
+6
-0.9pp
25-34
+23
0.0pp
35-44
+33
+2.0pp
45-54
+16
+0.9pp
55-64
+40
+2.4pp
65-74
+33
+1.8pp
75-84
+23
+2.6pp
85+
+20
+13.3pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Thornton (NSW). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Maitland (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Maitland (C)% | Count | % | Maitland (C)% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 22 | 2.7% | 1.8% | 11 | 1.8% | 2.0% | +11 | +0.9pp |
| 5-14 | 124 | 8.4% | 7.5% | 73 | 5.9% | 5.3% | +51 | +2.5pp |
| 15-19 | 31 | 4.6% | 5.4% | 22 | 3.9% | 4.3% | +9 | +0.7pp |
| 20-24 | 26 | 3.0% | 4.0% | 20 | 3.9% | 3.1% | +6 | -0.9pp |
| 25-34 | 51 | 2.7% | 2.7% | 28 | 2.7% | 2.3% | +23 | 0.0pp |
| 35-44 | 62 | 4.5% | 3.2% | 29 | 2.5% | 3.0% | +33 | +2.0pp |
| 45-54 | 59 | 4.6% | 4.6% | 43 | 3.7% | 4.3% | +16 | +0.9pp |
| 55-64 | 96 | 8.1% | 7.1% | 56 | 5.7% | 6.4% | +40 | +2.4pp |
| 65-74 | 90 | 12.2% | 10.8% | 57 | 10.4% | 9.2% | +33 | +1.8pp |
| 75-84 | 60 | 20.5% | 20.2% | 37 | 17.9% | 19.3% | +23 | +2.6pp |
| 85+ | 37 | 56.9% | 49.3% | 17 | 43.6% | 48.0% | +20 | +13.3pp |
| Total | 659 | 6.2% | 6.7% | 377 | 4.7% | 5.8% | +282 | +1.5pp |