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 Wingham, accounting for 11.1% (84 people). This share was higher than Mid-Coast (A) (9.3%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 85+ year olds, which decreased by 23 people and 5.5 percentage points.

Section overview

Need for assistance with core activities by age

Wingham - Persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises need for assistance for Wingham 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 Wingham, with comparison markers for Mid-Coast (A).

Wingham

Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.

0-4

2021 count

10

2021 rate

3.4%

Change from 2016

+2.4pp

5-14

2021 count

38

2021 rate

5.6%

Change from 2016

+2.4pp

15-19

2021 count

15

2021 rate

5.5%

Change from 2016

-0.9pp

20-24

2021 count

12

2021 rate

4.9%

Change from 2016

-0.3pp

25-34

2021 count

19

2021 rate

3.4%

Change from 2016

-0.4pp

35-44

2021 count

19

2021 rate

3.7%

Change from 2016

-1.1pp

45-54

2021 count

40

2021 rate

6.5%

Change from 2016

-0.6pp

55-64

2021 count

69

2021 rate

8.2%

Change from 2016

+2.1pp

65-74

2021 count

84

2021 rate

11.1%

Change from 2016

-0.8pp

75-84

2021 count

78

2021 rate

17.1%

Change from 2016

-3.2pp

85+

2021 count

68

2021 rate

39.8%

Change from 2016

-5.5pp

Data table

Need for assistance for Wingham. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mid-Coast (A).

Need for assistance for Wingham. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mid-Coast (A).
Need for assistance for Wingham. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mid-Coast (A).
Category20212016Change
Count%Mid-Coast (A)%Count%Mid-Coast (A)%Countpp
0-4103.4%1.7%31.0%1.2%+7+2.4pp
5-14385.6%5.0%213.2%4.5%+17+2.4pp
15-19155.5%4.9%236.4%4.3%-8-0.9pp
20-24124.9%5.4%135.2%5.2%-1-0.3pp
25-34193.4%4.2%193.8%4.1%0-0.4pp
35-44193.7%4.2%234.8%4.9%-4-1.1pp
45-54406.5%5.6%527.1%6.0%-12-0.6pp
55-64698.2%7.3%486.1%7.5%+21+2.1pp
65-748411.1%9.3%8211.9%9.4%+2-0.8pp
75-847817.1%18.1%8920.3%15.6%-11-3.2pp
85+6839.8%45.4%9145.3%39.1%-23-5.5pp
Total4528.4%9.0%4628.6%8.2%-10-0.2pp