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 Mount Gambier (C), accounting for 44.5% (357 people). This share was lower than Regional SA (45.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 65 people and 0.6 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Mount Gambier (C) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Mount Gambier (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional SA and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Mount Gambier (C), with comparison markers for Regional SA.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
34
2021 rate
2.3%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
34
2.3%
+0.4pp
5-14
2021 count
223
2021 rate
6.6%
Change from 2016
+2.1pp
223
6.6%
+2.1pp
15-19
2021 count
79
2021 rate
4.7%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
79
4.7%
+0.4pp
20-24
2021 count
63
2021 rate
4.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
63
4.2%
0.0pp
25-34
2021 count
111
2021 rate
3.3%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
111
3.3%
+0.8pp
35-44
2021 count
123
2021 rate
4.1%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
123
4.1%
+0.5pp
45-54
2021 count
161
2021 rate
4.9%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
161
4.9%
+0.3pp
55-64
2021 count
240
2021 rate
7.1%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
240
7.1%
+0.7pp
65-74
2021 count
298
2021 rate
9.7%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
298
9.7%
+0.2pp
75-84
2021 count
340
2021 rate
18.1%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
340
18.1%
+0.6pp
85+
2021 count
357
2021 rate
44.5%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
357
44.5%
+1.4pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+2
+0.4pp
5-14
+63
+2.1pp
15-19
+7
+0.4pp
20-24
-1
0.0pp
25-34
+31
+0.8pp
35-44
+13
+0.5pp
45-54
-1
+0.3pp
55-64
+31
+0.7pp
65-74
+52
+0.2pp
75-84
+65
+0.6pp
85+
+57
+1.4pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Mount Gambier (C). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional SA.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional SA% | Count | % | Regional SA% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 34 | 2.3% | 1.6% | 32 | 1.9% | 1.3% | +2 | +0.4pp |
| 5-14 | 223 | 6.6% | 5.2% | 160 | 4.5% | 3.9% | +63 | +2.1pp |
| 15-19 | 79 | 4.7% | 4.3% | 72 | 4.3% | 3.3% | +7 | +0.4pp |
| 20-24 | 63 | 4.2% | 3.5% | 64 | 4.2% | 2.9% | -1 | 0.0pp |
| 25-34 | 111 | 3.3% | 2.7% | 80 | 2.5% | 2.3% | +31 | +0.8pp |
| 35-44 | 123 | 4.1% | 2.8% | 110 | 3.6% | 3.1% | +13 | +0.5pp |
| 45-54 | 161 | 4.9% | 4.3% | 162 | 4.6% | 4.4% | -1 | +0.3pp |
| 55-64 | 240 | 7.1% | 6.2% | 209 | 6.4% | 6.0% | +31 | +0.7pp |
| 65-74 | 298 | 9.7% | 8.7% | 246 | 9.5% | 8.5% | +52 | +0.2pp |
| 75-84 | 340 | 18.1% | 17.5% | 275 | 17.5% | 16.4% | +65 | +0.6pp |
| 85+ | 357 | 44.5% | 45.5% | 300 | 43.1% | 41.7% | +57 | +1.4pp |
| Total | 2,022 | 7.5% | 7.0% | 1,714 | 6.5% | 6.2% | +308 | +1.0pp |