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 Melbourne (C), accounting for 20.7% (649 people). This share was lower than Greater Melbourne (24.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 65-74 year olds, which increased by 191 people and 1.6 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Melbourne (C) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Melbourne (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 Melbourne (C), with comparison markers for Greater Melbourne.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
42
2021 rate
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
42
1.0%
+0.4pp
5-14
2021 count
144
2021 rate
2.5%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
144
2.5%
+0.5pp
15-19
2021 count
67
2021 rate
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
67
1.1%
+0.7pp
20-24
2021 count
155
2021 rate
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
155
0.6%
+0.3pp
25-34
2021 count
318
2021 rate
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
318
0.6%
+0.3pp
35-44
2021 count
260
2021 rate
1.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
260
1.1%
0.0pp
45-54
2021 count
264
2021 rate
2.2%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
264
2.2%
+0.4pp
55-64
2021 count
387
2021 rate
4.2%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
387
4.2%
+0.6pp
65-74
2021 count
533
2021 rate
8.1%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
533
8.1%
+1.6pp
75-84
2021 count
649
2021 rate
20.7%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
649
20.7%
-0.2pp
85+
2021 count
643
2021 rate
54.1%
Change from 2016
+11.8pp
643
54.1%
+11.8pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+16
+0.4pp
5-14
+56
+0.5pp
15-19
+20
+0.7pp
20-24
+75
+0.3pp
25-34
+172
+0.3pp
35-44
+88
0.0pp
45-54
+86
+0.4pp
55-64
+104
+0.6pp
65-74
+191
+1.6pp
75-84
+169
-0.2pp
85+
+112
+11.8pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Melbourne (C). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 42 | 1.0% | 1.3% | 26 | 0.6% | 1.1% | +16 | +0.4pp |
| 5-14 | 144 | 2.5% | 3.9% | 88 | 2.0% | 3.0% | +56 | +0.5pp |
| 15-19 | 67 | 1.1% | 3.1% | 47 | 0.4% | 2.2% | +20 | +0.7pp |
| 20-24 | 155 | 0.6% | 2.0% | 80 | 0.3% | 1.5% | +75 | +0.3pp |
| 25-34 | 318 | 0.6% | 1.5% | 146 | 0.3% | 1.2% | +172 | +0.3pp |
| 35-44 | 260 | 1.1% | 1.8% | 172 | 1.1% | 1.9% | +88 | 0.0pp |
| 45-54 | 264 | 2.2% | 3.2% | 178 | 1.8% | 3.2% | +86 | +0.4pp |
| 55-64 | 387 | 4.2% | 5.6% | 283 | 3.6% | 5.5% | +104 | +0.6pp |
| 65-74 | 533 | 8.1% | 10.5% | 342 | 6.5% | 9.5% | +191 | +1.6pp |
| 75-84 | 649 | 20.7% | 24.7% | 480 | 20.9% | 23.2% | +169 | -0.2pp |
| 85+ | 643 | 54.1% | 54.0% | 531 | 42.3% | 49.0% | +112 | +11.8pp |
| Total | 3,468 | 2.3% | 5.5% | 2,369 | 1.7% | 4.9% | +1,099 | +0.6pp |