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 Mount Alexander (S), accounting for 12.4% (218 people). This share was lower than Regional Vic. (18.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 54 people.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Mount Alexander (S) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Mount Alexander (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Vic. and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Mount Alexander (S), with comparison markers for Regional Vic..
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
16
2021 rate
2.0%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
16
2.0%
+0.8pp
5-14
2021 count
88
2021 rate
4.3%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
88
4.3%
+1.8pp
15-19
2021 count
34
2021 rate
3.6%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
34
3.6%
+1.0pp
20-24
2021 count
20
2021 rate
3.2%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
20
3.2%
+1.0pp
25-34
2021 count
41
2021 rate
2.4%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
41
2.4%
-0.2pp
35-44
2021 count
55
2021 rate
2.4%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
55
2.4%
-0.5pp
45-54
2021 count
95
2021 rate
3.4%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
95
3.4%
+0.2pp
55-64
2021 count
140
2021 rate
4.3%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
140
4.3%
+0.5pp
65-74
2021 count
191
2021 rate
5.7%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
191
5.7%
-0.9pp
75-84
2021 count
218
2021 rate
12.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
218
12.4%
0.0pp
85+
2021 count
181
2021 rate
28.1%
Change from 2016
-3.0pp
181
28.1%
-3.0pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+6
+0.8pp
5-14
+39
+1.8pp
15-19
+10
+1.0pp
20-24
+4
+1.0pp
25-34
+1
-0.2pp
35-44
-7
-0.5pp
45-54
+5
+0.2pp
55-64
+16
+0.5pp
65-74
+16
-0.9pp
75-84
+54
0.0pp
85+
+6
-3.0pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Mount Alexander (S). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 16 | 2.0% | 1.5% | 10 | 1.2% | 1.2% | +6 | +0.8pp |
| 5-14 | 88 | 4.3% | 5.5% | 49 | 2.5% | 3.9% | +39 | +1.8pp |
| 15-19 | 34 | 3.6% | 4.6% | 24 | 2.6% | 3.4% | +10 | +1.0pp |
| 20-24 | 20 | 3.2% | 3.7% | 16 | 2.2% | 2.9% | +4 | +1.0pp |
| 25-34 | 41 | 2.4% | 2.8% | 40 | 2.6% | 2.4% | +1 | -0.2pp |
| 35-44 | 55 | 2.4% | 3.1% | 62 | 2.9% | 3.0% | -7 | -0.5pp |
| 45-54 | 95 | 3.4% | 4.3% | 90 | 3.2% | 4.2% | +5 | +0.2pp |
| 55-64 | 140 | 4.3% | 6.0% | 124 | 3.8% | 5.8% | +16 | +0.5pp |
| 65-74 | 191 | 5.7% | 8.8% | 175 | 6.6% | 8.1% | +16 | -0.9pp |
| 75-84 | 218 | 12.4% | 18.7% | 164 | 12.4% | 17.0% | +54 | 0.0pp |
| 85+ | 181 | 28.1% | 46.4% | 175 | 31.1% | 42.3% | +6 | -3.0pp |
| Total | 1,083 | 5.3% | 6.9% | 933 | 5.0% | 6.0% | +150 | +0.3pp |