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 Brunswick West, accounting for 67.5% (195 people). This share was higher than Moreland (C) (62.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 85+ year olds, which increased by 32 people and 11.9 percentage points.

Section overview

Need for assistance with core activities by age

Brunswick West - Persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises need for assistance for Brunswick West in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Moreland (C) and change since 2016.

Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Brunswick West, with comparison markers for Moreland (C).

Brunswick West

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

0-4

2021 count

0

2021 rate

0.0%

Change from 2016

-1.2pp

5-14

2021 count

47

2021 rate

4.0%

Change from 2016

+1.6pp

15-19

2021 count

16

2021 rate

3.1%

Change from 2016

+2.5pp

20-24

2021 count

31

2021 rate

2.5%

Change from 2016

+1.0pp

25-34

2021 count

68

2021 rate

1.8%

Change from 2016

+0.4pp

35-44

2021 count

46

2021 rate

1.8%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

45-54

2021 count

59

2021 rate

3.4%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

55-64

2021 count

70

2021 rate

5.3%

Change from 2016

-0.6pp

65-74

2021 count

114

2021 rate

12.3%

Change from 2016

+0.4pp

75-84

2021 count

187

2021 rate

32.2%

Change from 2016

+1.4pp

85+

2021 count

195

2021 rate

67.5%

Change from 2016

+11.9pp

Data table

Need for assistance for Brunswick West. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Moreland (C).

Need for assistance for Brunswick West. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Moreland (C).
Need for assistance for Brunswick West. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Moreland (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Moreland (C)%Count%Moreland (C)%Countpp
0-400.0%0.9%91.2%0.9%-9-1.2pp
5-14474.0%3.7%272.4%2.8%+20+1.6pp
15-19163.1%3.2%30.6%2.3%+13+2.5pp
20-24312.5%1.8%201.5%1.5%+11+1.0pp
25-34681.8%1.5%491.4%1.0%+19+0.4pp
35-44461.8%1.7%431.9%1.8%+3-0.1pp
45-54593.4%3.5%593.6%3.8%0-0.2pp
55-64705.3%6.5%735.9%7.5%-3-0.6pp
65-7411412.3%14.1%9611.9%15.0%+18+0.4pp
75-8418732.2%35.5%18430.8%32.3%+3+1.4pp
85+19567.5%62.9%16355.6%56.8%+32+11.9pp
Total8365.7%6.5%7295.1%6.2%+107+0.6pp