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 Murray (S), accounting for 16.3% (233 people). This share was lower than Regional WA (17%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 61 people and 1.3 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Murray (S) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Murray (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Murray (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
15
2021 rate
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
15
1.6%
+0.3pp
5-14
2021 count
124
2021 rate
5.3%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
124
5.3%
+1.0pp
15-19
2021 count
56
2021 rate
5.3%
Change from 2016
+2.5pp
56
5.3%
+2.5pp
20-24
2021 count
22
2021 rate
2.7%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
22
2.7%
+0.6pp
25-34
2021 count
38
2021 rate
2.1%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
38
2.1%
+0.3pp
35-44
2021 count
58
2021 rate
2.9%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
58
2.9%
+0.9pp
45-54
2021 count
89
2021 rate
3.9%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
89
3.9%
+0.8pp
55-64
2021 count
142
2021 rate
5.7%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
142
5.7%
+0.5pp
65-74
2021 count
220
2021 rate
8.8%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
220
8.8%
+1.0pp
75-84
2021 count
233
2021 rate
16.3%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
233
16.3%
+1.3pp
85+
2021 count
162
2021 rate
39.6%
Change from 2016
+2.7pp
162
39.6%
+2.7pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+3
+0.3pp
5-14
+28
+1.0pp
15-19
+28
+2.5pp
20-24
+5
+0.6pp
25-34
+9
+0.3pp
35-44
+19
+0.9pp
45-54
+19
+0.8pp
55-64
+23
+0.5pp
65-74
+51
+1.0pp
75-84
+61
+1.3pp
85+
+52
+2.7pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Murray (S). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional WA% | Count | % | Regional WA% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 15 | 1.6% | 1.0% | 12 | 1.3% | 0.8% | +3 | +0.3pp |
| 5-14 | 124 | 5.3% | 3.5% | 96 | 4.3% | 2.3% | +28 | +1.0pp |
| 15-19 | 56 | 5.3% | 3.0% | 28 | 2.8% | 2.2% | +28 | +2.5pp |
| 20-24 | 22 | 2.7% | 2.4% | 17 | 2.1% | 1.8% | +5 | +0.6pp |
| 25-34 | 38 | 2.1% | 1.6% | 29 | 1.8% | 1.3% | +9 | +0.3pp |
| 35-44 | 58 | 2.9% | 1.7% | 39 | 2.0% | 1.6% | +19 | +0.9pp |
| 45-54 | 89 | 3.9% | 2.7% | 70 | 3.1% | 2.5% | +19 | +0.8pp |
| 55-64 | 142 | 5.7% | 4.2% | 119 | 5.2% | 4.2% | +23 | +0.5pp |
| 65-74 | 220 | 8.8% | 7.3% | 169 | 7.8% | 7.4% | +51 | +1.0pp |
| 75-84 | 233 | 16.3% | 17.0% | 172 | 15.0% | 16.5% | +61 | +1.3pp |
| 85+ | 162 | 39.6% | 42.6% | 110 | 36.9% | 41.4% | +52 | +2.7pp |
| Total | 1,153 | 6.4% | 4.6% | 848 | 5.1% | 3.8% | +305 | +1.3pp |