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, 65-74 year olds was the most common age group among residents who needed assistance with core activities in Melton (C), accounting for 16.6% (1,789 people). This share was higher than Greater Melbourne (10.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 65-74 year olds, which increased by 641 people and 1.7 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Melton (C) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Melton (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Melbourne and change since 2016.
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Melton (C), with comparison markers for Greater Melbourne.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
216
2021 rate
1.5%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
216
1.5%
+0.2pp
5-14
2021 count
1,472
2021 rate
5.1%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
1,472
5.1%
+1.1pp
15-19
2021 count
480
2021 rate
4.1%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
480
4.1%
+1.4pp
20-24
2021 count
273
2021 rate
2.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
273
2.5%
+0.1pp
25-34
2021 count
524
2021 rate
1.8%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
524
1.8%
+0.1pp
35-44
2021 count
596
2021 rate
2.0%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
596
2.0%
-0.3pp
45-54
2021 count
909
2021 rate
4.0%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
909
4.0%
-0.2pp
55-64
2021 count
1,195
2021 rate
7.9%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
1,195
7.9%
-0.3pp
65-74
2021 count
1,789
2021 rate
16.6%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
1,789
16.6%
+1.7pp
75-84
2021 count
1,411
2021 rate
32.7%
Change from 2016
+3.9pp
1,411
32.7%
+3.9pp
85+
2021 count
638
2021 rate
55.3%
Change from 2016
-3.2pp
638
55.3%
-3.2pp
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+65
+0.2pp
5-14
+591
+1.1pp
15-19
+238
+1.4pp
20-24
+65
+0.1pp
25-34
+162
+0.1pp
35-44
+62
-0.3pp
45-54
+197
-0.2pp
55-64
+165
-0.3pp
65-74
+641
+1.7pp
75-84
+591
+3.9pp
85+
+119
-3.2pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Melton (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 | 216 | 1.5% | 1.3% | 151 | 1.3% | 1.1% | +65 | +0.2pp |
| 5-14 | 1,472 | 5.1% | 3.9% | 881 | 4.0% | 3.0% | +591 | +1.1pp |
| 15-19 | 480 | 4.1% | 3.1% | 242 | 2.7% | 2.2% | +238 | +1.4pp |
| 20-24 | 273 | 2.5% | 2.0% | 208 | 2.4% | 1.5% | +65 | +0.1pp |
| 25-34 | 524 | 1.8% | 1.5% | 362 | 1.7% | 1.2% | +162 | +0.1pp |
| 35-44 | 596 | 2.0% | 1.8% | 534 | 2.3% | 1.9% | +62 | -0.3pp |
| 45-54 | 909 | 4.0% | 3.2% | 712 | 4.2% | 3.2% | +197 | -0.2pp |
| 55-64 | 1,195 | 7.9% | 5.6% | 1,030 | 8.2% | 5.5% | +165 | -0.3pp |
| 65-74 | 1,789 | 16.6% | 10.5% | 1,148 | 14.9% | 9.5% | +641 | +1.7pp |
| 75-84 | 1,411 | 32.7% | 24.7% | 820 | 28.8% | 23.2% | +591 | +3.9pp |
| 85+ | 638 | 55.3% | 54.0% | 519 | 58.5% | 49.0% | +119 | -3.2pp |
| Total | 9,496 | 5.3% | 5.5% | 6,614 | 4.9% | 4.9% | +2,882 | +0.4pp |