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 Essendon West, accounting for 40.4% (19 people). This share was lower than Moonee Valley (C) (62.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 5-14 year olds, which decreased by 13 people and 7.1 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Essendon West - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Essendon West in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Moonee Valley (C) and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Essendon West, with comparison markers for Moonee Valley (C).
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
0
2021 rate
0.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
0
0.0%
0.0pp
5-14
2021 count
0
2021 rate
0.0%
Change from 2016
-7.1pp
0
0.0%
-7.1pp
15-19
2021 count
3
2021 rate
2.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
3
2.6%
+0.2pp
20-24
2021 count
0
2021 rate
0.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
0
0.0%
0.0pp
25-34
2021 count
4
2021 rate
2.3%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
4
2.3%
+0.2pp
35-44
2021 count
5
2021 rate
2.5%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
5
2.5%
+0.8pp
45-54
2021 count
7
2021 rate
2.6%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
7
2.6%
-1.5pp
55-64
2021 count
3
2021 rate
1.8%
Change from 2016
-2.0pp
3
1.8%
-2.0pp
65-74
2021 count
11
2021 rate
8.9%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
11
8.9%
+1.7pp
75-84
2021 count
13
2021 rate
15.1%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
13
15.1%
-1.2pp
85+
2021 count
19
2021 rate
40.4%
Change from 2016
+10.6pp
19
40.4%
+10.6pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
0
0.0pp
5-14
-13
-7.1pp
15-19
0
+0.2pp
20-24
0
0.0pp
25-34
0
+0.2pp
35-44
+2
+0.8pp
45-54
-2
-1.5pp
55-64
-3
-2.0pp
65-74
+3
+1.7pp
75-84
-1
-1.2pp
85+
+5
+10.6pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Essendon West. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Moonee Valley (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Moonee Valley (C)% | Count | % | Moonee Valley (C)% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 0 | 0.0% | 1.2% | 0 | 0.0% | 1.0% | 0 | 0.0pp |
| 5-14 | 0 | 0.0% | 3.1% | 13 | 7.1% | 2.4% | -13 | -7.1pp |
| 15-19 | 3 | 2.6% | 2.5% | 3 | 2.4% | 1.8% | 0 | +0.2pp |
| 20-24 | 0 | 0.0% | 1.7% | 0 | 0.0% | 1.4% | 0 | 0.0pp |
| 25-34 | 4 | 2.3% | 1.6% | 4 | 2.1% | 1.0% | 0 | +0.2pp |
| 35-44 | 5 | 2.5% | 1.5% | 3 | 1.7% | 1.5% | +2 | +0.8pp |
| 45-54 | 7 | 2.6% | 2.2% | 9 | 4.1% | 2.3% | -2 | -1.5pp |
| 55-64 | 3 | 1.8% | 4.5% | 6 | 3.8% | 4.3% | -3 | -2.0pp |
| 65-74 | 11 | 8.9% | 9.4% | 8 | 7.2% | 9.7% | +3 | +1.7pp |
| 75-84 | 13 | 15.1% | 28.6% | 14 | 16.3% | 25.8% | -1 | -1.2pp |
| 85+ | 19 | 40.4% | 62.5% | 14 | 29.8% | 52.4% | +5 | +10.6pp |
| Total | 67 | 4.3% | 6.1% | 66 | 4.6% | 5.2% | +1 | -0.3pp |