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 Monash (C), accounting for 52.1% (3,230 people). This share was lower than Greater Melbourne (54%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 85+ year olds, which increased by 790 people and 4.1 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Monash (C) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Monash (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Melbourne and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Monash (C), with comparison markers for Greater Melbourne.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
91
2021 rate
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
91
1.1%
+0.3pp
5-14
2021 count
547
2021 rate
2.6%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
547
2.6%
+0.5pp
15-19
2021 count
234
2021 rate
2.1%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
234
2.1%
+0.5pp
20-24
2021 count
207
2021 rate
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
207
1.3%
+0.4pp
25-34
2021 count
354
2021 rate
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
354
1.2%
+0.2pp
35-44
2021 count
355
2021 rate
1.4%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
355
1.4%
+0.1pp
45-54
2021 count
556
2021 rate
2.3%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
556
2.3%
-0.1pp
55-64
2021 count
854
2021 rate
4.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
854
4.3%
+0.1pp
65-74
2021 count
1,519
2021 rate
9.3%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
1,519
9.3%
+0.8pp
75-84
2021 count
3,035
2021 rate
24.7%
Change from 2016
+3.7pp
3,035
24.7%
+3.7pp
85+
2021 count
3,230
2021 rate
52.1%
Change from 2016
+4.1pp
3,230
52.1%
+4.1pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+15
+0.3pp
5-14
+129
+0.5pp
15-19
+38
+0.5pp
20-24
+43
+0.4pp
25-34
+86
+0.2pp
35-44
+41
+0.1pp
45-54
-8
-0.1pp
55-64
+91
+0.1pp
65-74
+221
+0.8pp
75-84
+698
+3.7pp
85+
+790
+4.1pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Monash (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 | 91 | 1.1% | 1.3% | 76 | 0.8% | 1.1% | +15 | +0.3pp |
| 5-14 | 547 | 2.6% | 3.9% | 418 | 2.1% | 3.0% | +129 | +0.5pp |
| 15-19 | 234 | 2.1% | 3.1% | 196 | 1.6% | 2.2% | +38 | +0.5pp |
| 20-24 | 207 | 1.3% | 2.0% | 164 | 0.9% | 1.5% | +43 | +0.4pp |
| 25-34 | 354 | 1.2% | 1.5% | 268 | 1.0% | 1.2% | +86 | +0.2pp |
| 35-44 | 355 | 1.4% | 1.8% | 314 | 1.3% | 1.9% | +41 | +0.1pp |
| 45-54 | 556 | 2.3% | 3.2% | 564 | 2.4% | 3.2% | -8 | -0.1pp |
| 55-64 | 854 | 4.3% | 5.6% | 763 | 4.2% | 5.5% | +91 | +0.1pp |
| 65-74 | 1,519 | 9.3% | 10.5% | 1,298 | 8.5% | 9.5% | +221 | +0.8pp |
| 75-84 | 3,035 | 24.7% | 24.7% | 2,337 | 21.0% | 23.2% | +698 | +3.7pp |
| 85+ | 3,230 | 52.1% | 54.0% | 2,440 | 48.0% | 49.0% | +790 | +4.1pp |
| Total | 10,973 | 5.8% | 5.5% | 8,836 | 4.8% | 4.9% | +2,137 | +1.0pp |