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 Carlton (Vic.), accounting for 30.2% (135 people). This share was higher than Melbourne (C) (20.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 85+ year olds, which increased by 27 people, while its share fell by 1.7 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Carlton (Vic.) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Carlton (Vic.) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Melbourne (C) and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Carlton (Vic.), with comparison markers for Melbourne (C).
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
0
2021 rate
0.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
0
0.0%
0.0pp
5-14
2021 count
11
2021 rate
2.0%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
11
2.0%
+0.3pp
15-19
2021 count
16
2021 rate
1.6%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
16
1.6%
+1.2pp
20-24
2021 count
26
2021 rate
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
26
0.7%
+0.4pp
25-34
2021 count
50
2021 rate
0.9%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
50
0.9%
+0.3pp
35-44
2021 count
25
2021 rate
1.4%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
25
1.4%
-0.8pp
45-54
2021 count
38
2021 rate
3.9%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
38
3.9%
+0.1pp
55-64
2021 count
67
2021 rate
8.3%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
67
8.3%
+1.5pp
65-74
2021 count
77
2021 rate
11.3%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
77
11.3%
-0.4pp
75-84
2021 count
135
2021 rate
30.2%
Change from 2016
-2.3pp
135
30.2%
-2.3pp
85+
2021 count
135
2021 rate
62.2%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
135
62.2%
-1.7pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
0
0.0pp
5-14
0
+0.3pp
15-19
+5
+1.2pp
20-24
+9
+0.4pp
25-34
+24
+0.3pp
35-44
-7
-0.8pp
45-54
+1
+0.1pp
55-64
+13
+1.5pp
65-74
+9
-0.4pp
75-84
+23
-2.3pp
85+
+27
-1.7pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Carlton (Vic.). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Melbourne (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Melbourne (C)% | Count | % | Melbourne (C)% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 0 | 0.0% | 1.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0.6% | 0 | 0.0pp |
| 5-14 | 11 | 2.0% | 2.5% | 11 | 1.7% | 2.0% | 0 | +0.3pp |
| 15-19 | 16 | 1.6% | 1.1% | 11 | 0.4% | 0.4% | +5 | +1.2pp |
| 20-24 | 26 | 0.7% | 0.6% | 17 | 0.3% | 0.3% | +9 | +0.4pp |
| 25-34 | 50 | 0.9% | 0.6% | 26 | 0.6% | 0.3% | +24 | +0.3pp |
| 35-44 | 25 | 1.4% | 1.1% | 32 | 2.2% | 1.1% | -7 | -0.8pp |
| 45-54 | 38 | 3.9% | 2.2% | 37 | 3.8% | 1.8% | +1 | +0.1pp |
| 55-64 | 67 | 8.3% | 4.2% | 54 | 6.8% | 3.6% | +13 | +1.5pp |
| 65-74 | 77 | 11.3% | 8.1% | 68 | 11.7% | 6.5% | +9 | -0.4pp |
| 75-84 | 135 | 30.2% | 20.7% | 112 | 32.5% | 20.9% | +23 | -2.3pp |
| 85+ | 135 | 62.2% | 54.1% | 108 | 63.9% | 42.3% | +27 | -1.7pp |
| Total | 587 | 3.7% | 2.3% | 480 | 2.6% | 1.7% | +107 | +1.1pp |