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 Maribyrnong (C), accounting for 37.2% (993 people). This share was higher than Greater Melbourne (24.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 65-74 year olds, which increased by 174 people, while its share fell by 0.2 percentage points.

Section overview

Need for assistance with core activities by age

Maribyrnong (C) - Persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises need for assistance for Maribyrnong (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Melbourne and change since 2016.

Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Maribyrnong (C), with comparison markers for Greater Melbourne.

Maribyrnong (C)

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

0-4

2021 count

58

2021 rate

1.2%

Change from 2016

+0.4pp

5-14

2021 count

319

2021 rate

3.8%

Change from 2016

+1.2pp

15-19

2021 count

110

2021 rate

3.2%

Change from 2016

+1.1pp

20-24

2021 count

92

2021 rate

1.6%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

25-34

2021 count

268

2021 rate

1.4%

Change from 2016

+0.5pp

35-44

2021 count

228

2021 rate

1.5%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

45-54

2021 count

326

2021 rate

3.0%

Change from 2016

-0.3pp

55-64

2021 count

556

2021 rate

6.8%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

65-74

2021 count

781

2021 rate

14.9%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

75-84

2021 count

993

2021 rate

37.2%

Change from 2016

+2.0pp

85+

2021 count

803

2021 rate

59.6%

Change from 2016

+6.4pp

Data table

Need for assistance for Maribyrnong (C). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.

Need for assistance for Maribyrnong (C). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
Need for assistance for Maribyrnong (C). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
Category20212016Change
Count%Greater Melbourne%Count%Greater Melbourne%Countpp
0-4581.2%1.3%450.8%1.1%+13+0.4pp
5-143193.8%3.9%1992.6%3.0%+120+1.2pp
15-191103.2%3.1%772.1%2.2%+33+1.1pp
20-24921.6%2.0%941.3%1.5%-2+0.3pp
25-342681.4%1.5%1790.9%1.2%+89+0.5pp
35-442281.5%1.8%2211.6%1.9%+7-0.1pp
45-543263.0%3.2%3283.3%3.2%-2-0.3pp
55-645566.8%5.6%4716.5%5.5%+85+0.3pp
65-7478114.9%10.5%60715.1%9.5%+174-0.2pp
75-8499337.2%24.7%91135.2%23.2%+82+2.0pp
85+80359.6%54.0%73453.2%49.0%+69+6.4pp
Total4,5235.3%5.5%3,8474.7%4.9%+676+0.6pp