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, 75-84 year olds was the most common age group among residents who needed assistance with core activities in Moreton Bay (R), accounting for 22.4% (5,988 people). This share was similar to Greater Brisbane (22.3%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 2,514 people and 3.7 percentage points.

Section overview

Need for assistance with core activities by age

Moreton Bay (R) - Persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises need for assistance for Moreton Bay (R) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Brisbane and change since 2016.

Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Moreton Bay (R), with comparison markers for Greater Brisbane.

Moreton Bay (R)

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

0-4

2021 count

547

2021 rate

1.9%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

5-14

2021 count

4,564

2021 rate

6.9%

Change from 2016

+2.2pp

15-19

2021 count

1,600

2021 rate

5.3%

Change from 2016

+1.6pp

20-24

2021 count

1,045

2021 rate

3.8%

Change from 2016

+0.9pp

25-34

2021 count

1,787

2021 rate

3.1%

Change from 2016

+0.6pp

35-44

2021 count

1,968

2021 rate

3.1%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

45-54

2021 count

2,751

2021 rate

4.3%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

55-64

2021 count

3,728

2021 rate

6.7%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

65-74

2021 count

5,408

2021 rate

11.0%

Change from 2016

+1.2pp

75-84

2021 count

5,988

2021 rate

22.4%

Change from 2016

+3.7pp

85+

2021 count

4,368

2021 rate

51.4%

Change from 2016

+12.2pp

Data table

Need for assistance for Moreton Bay (R). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Brisbane.

Need for assistance for Moreton Bay (R). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Brisbane.
Need for assistance for Moreton Bay (R). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Brisbane.
Category20212016Change
Count%Greater Brisbane%Count%Greater Brisbane%Countpp
0-45471.9%1.6%4751.7%1.2%+72+0.2pp
5-144,5646.9%5.2%2,8364.7%3.7%+1,728+2.2pp
15-191,6005.3%3.9%1,0333.7%2.8%+567+1.6pp
20-241,0453.8%2.6%7372.9%1.9%+308+0.9pp
25-341,7873.1%2.1%1,2942.5%1.7%+493+0.6pp
35-441,9683.1%2.3%1,6162.8%2.3%+352+0.3pp
45-542,7514.3%3.6%2,3654.1%3.5%+386+0.2pp
55-643,7286.7%6.0%3,2496.6%5.8%+479+0.1pp
65-745,40811.0%10.4%3,9599.8%9.4%+1,449+1.2pp
75-845,98822.4%22.3%3,47418.7%20.6%+2,514+3.7pp
85+4,36851.4%51.1%2,88739.2%46.5%+1,481+12.2pp
Total33,7407.1%5.7%23,9295.6%4.9%+9,811+1.5pp