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 Mid-Coast (A), accounting for 18.1% (1,908 people). This share was lower than Regional NSW (18.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 599 people and 2.5 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Mid-Coast (A) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Mid-Coast (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Mid-Coast (A), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
67
2021 rate
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
67
1.7%
+0.5pp
5-14
2021 count
507
2021 rate
5.0%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
507
5.0%
+0.5pp
15-19
2021 count
230
2021 rate
4.9%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
230
4.9%
+0.6pp
20-24
2021 count
186
2021 rate
5.4%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
186
5.4%
+0.2pp
25-34
2021 count
321
2021 rate
4.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
321
4.2%
+0.1pp
35-44
2021 count
355
2021 rate
4.2%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
355
4.2%
-0.7pp
45-54
2021 count
611
2021 rate
5.6%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
611
5.6%
-0.4pp
55-64
2021 count
1,128
2021 rate
7.3%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
1,128
7.3%
-0.2pp
65-74
2021 count
1,641
2021 rate
9.3%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
1,641
9.3%
-0.1pp
75-84
2021 count
1,908
2021 rate
18.1%
Change from 2016
+2.5pp
1,908
18.1%
+2.5pp
85+
2021 count
1,764
2021 rate
45.4%
Change from 2016
+6.3pp
1,764
45.4%
+6.3pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+17
+0.5pp
5-14
+64
+0.5pp
15-19
+22
+0.6pp
20-24
+6
+0.2pp
25-34
+44
+0.1pp
35-44
-49
-0.7pp
45-54
-73
-0.4pp
55-64
+37
-0.2pp
65-74
+190
-0.1pp
75-84
+599
+2.5pp
85+
+428
+6.3pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Mid-Coast (A). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 67 | 1.7% | 1.6% | 50 | 1.2% | 1.3% | +17 | +0.5pp |
| 5-14 | 507 | 5.0% | 5.2% | 443 | 4.5% | 3.8% | +64 | +0.5pp |
| 15-19 | 230 | 4.9% | 4.2% | 208 | 4.3% | 3.2% | +22 | +0.6pp |
| 20-24 | 186 | 5.4% | 3.4% | 180 | 5.2% | 2.6% | +6 | +0.2pp |
| 25-34 | 321 | 4.2% | 2.6% | 277 | 4.1% | 2.4% | +44 | +0.1pp |
| 35-44 | 355 | 4.2% | 2.8% | 404 | 4.9% | 3.0% | -49 | -0.7pp |
| 45-54 | 611 | 5.6% | 4.2% | 684 | 6.0% | 4.4% | -73 | -0.4pp |
| 55-64 | 1,128 | 7.3% | 6.0% | 1,091 | 7.5% | 6.2% | +37 | -0.2pp |
| 65-74 | 1,641 | 9.3% | 9.1% | 1,451 | 9.4% | 8.7% | +190 | -0.1pp |
| 75-84 | 1,908 | 18.1% | 18.9% | 1,309 | 15.6% | 17.8% | +599 | +2.5pp |
| 85+ | 1,764 | 45.4% | 46.5% | 1,336 | 39.1% | 43.8% | +428 | +6.3pp |
| Total | 8,714 | 9.0% | 6.8% | 7,423 | 8.2% | 6.3% | +1,291 | +0.8pp |