Population
Assistance
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.
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 Meander Valley (M), accounting for 16.7% (266 people). This share was lower than Regional Tas. (18.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 5-14 year olds, which increased by 63 people and 2.4 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Meander Valley (M) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises assistance for Meander Valley (M) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Tas. and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Meander Valley (M), with comparison markers for Regional Tas..
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
5-14
15-19
20-24
25-34
35-44
45-54
55-64
65-74
75-84
85+
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+4
+0.4pp
5-14
+63
+2.4pp
15-19
+13
+1.6pp
20-24
+11
+0.9pp
25-34
+22
+0.5pp
35-44
-31
-1.4pp
45-54
+33
+1.3pp
55-64
-9
-0.7pp
65-74
+52
+0.4pp
75-84
+45
-1.6pp
85+
+8
+0.5pp
Data table
Assistance for Meander Valley (M). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Tas..
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Tas.% | Count | % | Regional Tas.% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 13 | 1.3% | 1.7% | 9 | 0.9% | 1.1% | +4 | +0.4pp |
| 5-14 | 132 | 5.4% | 5.6% | 69 | 3.0% | 4.0% | +63 | +2.4pp |
| 15-19 | 51 | 4.7% | 4.9% | 38 | 3.1% | 3.6% | +13 | +1.6pp |
| 20-24 | 37 | 3.6% | 3.8% | 26 | 2.7% | 3.0% | +11 | +0.9pp |
| 25-34 | 71 | 3.1% | 2.8% | 49 | 2.6% | 2.6% | +22 | +0.5pp |
| 35-44 | 44 | 2.0% | 3.3% | 75 | 3.4% | 3.5% | -31 | -1.4pp |
| 45-54 | 130 | 4.8% | 5.2% | 97 | 3.5% | 5.2% | +33 | +1.3pp |
| 55-64 | 177 | 5.8% | 6.9% | 186 | 6.5% | 7.1% | -9 | -0.7pp |
| 65-74 | 251 | 8.9% | 10.0% | 199 | 8.5% | 9.6% | +52 | +0.4pp |
| 75-84 | 266 | 16.7% | 18.9% | 221 | 18.3% | 18.3% | +45 | -1.6pp |
| 85+ | 244 | 48.5% | 45.1% | 236 | 48.0% | 46.2% | +8 | +0.5pp |
| Total | 1,414 | 6.8% | 7.3% | 1,203 | 6.2% | 6.7% | +211 | +0.6pp |