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, 85+ year olds was the most common age group among residents who needed assistance with core activities in Melbourne (part), accounting for 40.5% (164 people). This share was lower than Melbourne (C) (54.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 82 people and 2.5 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Melbourne (part) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Melbourne (part) 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 Melbourne (part), with comparison markers for Melbourne (C).
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
7
2021 rate
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
7
0.6%
+0.2pp
5-14
2021 count
27
2021 rate
2.2%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
27
2.2%
+0.8pp
15-19
2021 count
11
2021 rate
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
11
0.6%
+0.4pp
20-24
2021 count
65
2021 rate
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
65
0.6%
+0.5pp
25-34
2021 count
113
2021 rate
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
113
0.5%
+0.2pp
35-44
2021 count
93
2021 rate
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
93
1.1%
+0.2pp
45-54
2021 count
75
2021 rate
2.0%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
75
2.0%
+0.5pp
55-64
2021 count
96
2021 rate
3.4%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
96
3.4%
+1.1pp
65-74
2021 count
118
2021 rate
5.8%
Change from 2016
+2.3pp
118
5.8%
+2.3pp
75-84
2021 count
142
2021 rate
13.7%
Change from 2016
+2.5pp
142
13.7%
+2.5pp
85+
2021 count
164
2021 rate
40.5%
Change from 2016
+3.7pp
164
40.5%
+3.7pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+3
+0.2pp
5-14
+16
+0.8pp
15-19
+2
+0.4pp
20-24
+52
+0.5pp
25-34
+65
+0.2pp
35-44
+45
+0.2pp
45-54
+33
+0.5pp
55-64
+46
+1.1pp
65-74
+64
+2.3pp
75-84
+82
+2.5pp
85+
+44
+3.7pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Melbourne (part). 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 | 7 | 0.6% | 1.0% | 4 | 0.4% | 0.6% | +3 | +0.2pp |
| 5-14 | 27 | 2.2% | 2.5% | 11 | 1.4% | 2.0% | +16 | +0.8pp |
| 15-19 | 11 | 0.6% | 1.1% | 9 | 0.2% | 0.4% | +2 | +0.4pp |
| 20-24 | 65 | 0.6% | 0.6% | 13 | 0.1% | 0.3% | +52 | +0.5pp |
| 25-34 | 113 | 0.5% | 0.6% | 48 | 0.3% | 0.3% | +65 | +0.2pp |
| 35-44 | 93 | 1.1% | 1.1% | 48 | 0.9% | 1.1% | +45 | +0.2pp |
| 45-54 | 75 | 2.0% | 2.2% | 42 | 1.5% | 1.8% | +33 | +0.5pp |
| 55-64 | 96 | 3.4% | 4.2% | 50 | 2.3% | 3.6% | +46 | +1.1pp |
| 65-74 | 118 | 5.8% | 8.1% | 54 | 3.5% | 6.5% | +64 | +2.3pp |
| 75-84 | 142 | 13.7% | 20.7% | 60 | 11.2% | 20.9% | +82 | +2.5pp |
| 85+ | 164 | 40.5% | 54.1% | 120 | 36.8% | 42.3% | +44 | +3.7pp |
| Total | 904 | 1.6% | 2.3% | 469 | 1.0% | 1.7% | +435 | +0.6pp |