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 Melville (C), accounting for 46.8% (1,561 people). This share was similar to Greater Perth (46.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 85+ year olds, which increased by 336 people and 8.8 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Melville (C) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Melville (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Perth and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Melville (C), with comparison markers for Greater Perth.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
58
2021 rate
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
58
1.2%
+0.3pp
5-14
2021 count
403
2021 rate
3.1%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
403
3.1%
+0.8pp
15-19
2021 count
182
2021 rate
2.8%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
182
2.8%
+1.1pp
20-24
2021 count
107
2021 rate
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
107
1.7%
+0.4pp
25-34
2021 count
207
2021 rate
1.9%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
207
1.9%
+0.6pp
35-44
2021 count
158
2021 rate
1.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
158
1.2%
0.0pp
45-54
2021 count
233
2021 rate
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
233
1.7%
+0.1pp
55-64
2021 count
328
2021 rate
2.5%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
328
2.5%
+0.2pp
65-74
2021 count
540
2021 rate
4.6%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
540
4.6%
-0.5pp
75-84
2021 count
1,091
2021 rate
16.3%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
1,091
16.3%
+1.1pp
85+
2021 count
1,561
2021 rate
46.8%
Change from 2016
+8.8pp
1,561
46.8%
+8.8pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+13
+0.3pp
5-14
+125
+0.8pp
15-19
+74
+1.1pp
20-24
+20
+0.4pp
25-34
+63
+0.6pp
35-44
+5
0.0pp
45-54
+12
+0.1pp
55-64
+38
+0.2pp
65-74
+62
-0.5pp
75-84
+228
+1.1pp
85+
+336
+8.8pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Melville (C). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Perth.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Perth% | Count | % | Greater Perth% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 58 | 1.2% | 1.2% | 45 | 0.9% | 1.0% | +13 | +0.3pp |
| 5-14 | 403 | 3.1% | 3.7% | 278 | 2.3% | 2.7% | +125 | +0.8pp |
| 15-19 | 182 | 2.8% | 3.1% | 108 | 1.7% | 2.1% | +74 | +1.1pp |
| 20-24 | 107 | 1.7% | 2.1% | 87 | 1.3% | 1.5% | +20 | +0.4pp |
| 25-34 | 207 | 1.9% | 1.6% | 144 | 1.3% | 1.1% | +63 | +0.6pp |
| 35-44 | 158 | 1.2% | 1.6% | 153 | 1.2% | 1.5% | +5 | 0.0pp |
| 45-54 | 233 | 1.7% | 2.5% | 221 | 1.6% | 2.4% | +12 | +0.1pp |
| 55-64 | 328 | 2.5% | 4.3% | 290 | 2.3% | 4.1% | +38 | +0.2pp |
| 65-74 | 540 | 4.6% | 7.5% | 478 | 5.1% | 7.2% | +62 | -0.5pp |
| 75-84 | 1,091 | 16.3% | 18.8% | 863 | 15.2% | 18.1% | +228 | +1.1pp |
| 85+ | 1,561 | 46.8% | 46.7% | 1,225 | 38.0% | 43.0% | +336 | +8.8pp |
| Total | 4,868 | 4.7% | 4.6% | 3,891 | 4.0% | 3.9% | +977 | +0.7pp |