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 85+ year olds, which increased by 19 people and 40.4 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 change

Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.

2016
2021

0-4

0

0.0pp

5-14

0

0.0pp

15-19

+3

+2.6pp

20-24

0

0.0pp

25-34

+4

+2.3pp

35-44

+5

+2.5pp

45-54

+7

+2.6pp

55-64

0

-7.0pp

65-74

+11

+8.9pp

75-84

+13

+15.1pp

85+

+19

+40.4pp

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).

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).
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).
Category20212016Change
Count%Moonee Valley (C)%Count%Moonee Valley (C)%Countpp
0-400.0%1.2%00.0%1.0%00.0pp
5-1400.0%3.1%00.0%2.4%00.0pp
15-1932.6%2.5%00.0%1.8%+3+2.6pp
20-2400.0%1.7%00.0%1.4%00.0pp
25-3442.3%1.6%00.0%1.0%+4+2.3pp
35-4452.5%1.5%00.0%1.5%+5+2.5pp
45-5472.6%2.2%00.0%2.3%+7+2.6pp
55-6431.8%4.5%38.8%4.3%0-7.0pp
65-74118.9%9.4%00.0%9.7%+11+8.9pp
75-841315.1%28.6%00.0%25.8%+13+15.1pp
85+1940.4%62.5%00.0%52.4%+19+40.4pp
Total674.3%6.1%86.1%5.2%+59-1.8pp