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 Forster (NSW), accounting for 45.3% (378 people). This share was similar to Mid-Coast (A) (45.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 85+ year olds, which increased by 135 people and 14 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Forster (NSW) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Forster (NSW) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mid-Coast (A) and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Forster (NSW), with comparison markers for Mid-Coast (A).
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
5
2021 rate
1.0%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
5
1.0%
-0.9pp
5-14
2021 count
84
2021 rate
6.2%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
84
6.2%
+1.9pp
15-19
2021 count
28
2021 rate
4.3%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
28
4.3%
+0.7pp
20-24
2021 count
29
2021 rate
6.5%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
29
6.5%
+0.5pp
25-34
2021 count
47
2021 rate
4.6%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
47
4.6%
+1.3pp
35-44
2021 count
47
2021 rate
3.8%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
47
3.8%
-1.3pp
45-54
2021 count
96
2021 rate
6.4%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
96
6.4%
+0.4pp
55-64
2021 count
163
2021 rate
8.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
163
8.0%
0.0pp
65-74
2021 count
222
2021 rate
8.2%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
222
8.2%
-0.1pp
75-84
2021 count
326
2021 rate
17.2%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
326
17.2%
+1.7pp
85+
2021 count
378
2021 rate
45.3%
Change from 2016
+14.0pp
378
45.3%
+14.0pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
-6
-0.9pp
5-14
+26
+1.9pp
15-19
+3
+0.7pp
20-24
0
+0.5pp
25-34
+13
+1.3pp
35-44
-16
-1.3pp
45-54
+5
+0.4pp
55-64
+2
0.0pp
65-74
+16
-0.1pp
75-84
+80
+1.7pp
85+
+135
+14.0pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Forster (NSW). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mid-Coast (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Mid-Coast (A)% | Count | % | Mid-Coast (A)% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 5 | 1.0% | 1.7% | 11 | 1.9% | 1.2% | -6 | -0.9pp |
| 5-14 | 84 | 6.2% | 5.0% | 58 | 4.3% | 4.5% | +26 | +1.9pp |
| 15-19 | 28 | 4.3% | 4.9% | 25 | 3.6% | 4.3% | +3 | +0.7pp |
| 20-24 | 29 | 6.5% | 5.4% | 29 | 6.0% | 5.2% | 0 | +0.5pp |
| 25-34 | 47 | 4.6% | 4.2% | 34 | 3.3% | 4.1% | +13 | +1.3pp |
| 35-44 | 47 | 3.8% | 4.2% | 63 | 5.1% | 4.9% | -16 | -1.3pp |
| 45-54 | 96 | 6.4% | 5.6% | 91 | 6.0% | 6.0% | +5 | +0.4pp |
| 55-64 | 163 | 8.0% | 7.3% | 161 | 8.0% | 7.5% | +2 | 0.0pp |
| 65-74 | 222 | 8.2% | 9.3% | 206 | 8.3% | 9.4% | +16 | -0.1pp |
| 75-84 | 326 | 17.2% | 18.1% | 246 | 15.5% | 15.6% | +80 | +1.7pp |
| 85+ | 378 | 45.3% | 45.4% | 243 | 31.3% | 39.1% | +135 | +14.0pp |
| Total | 1,430 | 10.1% | 9.0% | 1,166 | 8.5% | 8.2% | +264 | +1.6pp |