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 Mareeba (S), accounting for 19.2% (306 people). This share was lower than Regional Qld (20.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 78 people and 1.2 percentage points.

Section overview

Need for assistance with core activities by age

Mareeba (S) - Persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises need for assistance for Mareeba (S) 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 Mareeba (S), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.

Mareeba (S)

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

0-4

2021 count

9

2021 rate

0.8%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

5-14

2021 count

91

2021 rate

3.3%

Change from 2016

+0.7pp

15-19

2021 count

43

2021 rate

3.4%

Change from 2016

+2.1pp

20-24

2021 count

24

2021 rate

2.2%

Change from 2016

+0.4pp

25-34

2021 count

42

2021 rate

1.5%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

35-44

2021 count

52

2021 rate

1.9%

Change from 2016

-0.5pp

45-54

2021 count

99

2021 rate

3.2%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

55-64

2021 count

180

2021 rate

5.5%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

65-74

2021 count

213

2021 rate

8.0%

Change from 2016

+1.1pp

75-84

2021 count

306

2021 rate

19.2%

Change from 2016

+1.2pp

85+

2021 count

225

2021 rate

47.9%

Change from 2016

+1.7pp

Data table

Need for assistance for Mareeba (S). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.

Need for assistance for Mareeba (S). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.
Need for assistance for Mareeba (S). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional Qld%Count%Regional Qld%Countpp
0-490.8%1.5%60.6%1.2%+3+0.2pp
5-14913.3%5.0%742.6%3.5%+17+0.7pp
15-19433.4%4.0%161.3%2.9%+27+2.1pp
20-24242.2%2.8%201.8%2.2%+4+0.4pp
25-34421.5%2.1%311.3%1.9%+11+0.2pp
35-44521.9%2.5%622.4%2.5%-10-0.5pp
45-54993.2%3.8%1023.3%3.8%-3-0.1pp
55-641805.5%6.0%1785.7%6.0%+2-0.2pp
65-742138.0%9.6%1716.9%9.1%+42+1.1pp
75-8430619.2%20.4%22818.0%19.3%+78+1.2pp
85+22547.9%47.7%17546.2%46.7%+50+1.7pp
Total1,2705.6%6.3%1,0725.0%5.5%+198+0.6pp