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, 5-14 year olds was the most common age group among residents who needed assistance with core activities in Muswellbrook (A), accounting for 6.1% (149 people). This share was higher than Regional NSW (5.2%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 5-14 year olds, which increased by 42 people and 1.6 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Muswellbrook (A) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Muswellbrook (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Muswellbrook (A), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
24
2021 rate
2.3%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
24
2.3%
+1.3pp
5-14
2021 count
149
2021 rate
6.1%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
149
6.1%
+1.6pp
15-19
2021 count
40
2021 rate
3.8%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
40
3.8%
+1.2pp
20-24
2021 count
27
2021 rate
3.1%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
27
3.1%
-0.2pp
25-34
2021 count
51
2021 rate
2.2%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
51
2.2%
+0.4pp
35-44
2021 count
55
2021 rate
2.6%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
55
2.6%
-0.4pp
45-54
2021 count
87
2021 rate
4.1%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
87
4.1%
+0.4pp
55-64
2021 count
141
2021 rate
7.1%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
141
7.1%
+1.0pp
65-74
2021 count
128
2021 rate
8.8%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
128
8.8%
+1.0pp
75-84
2021 count
114
2021 rate
15.3%
Change from 2016
-3.7pp
114
15.3%
-3.7pp
85+
2021 count
103
2021 rate
40.2%
Change from 2016
-2.7pp
103
40.2%
-2.7pp
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+12
+1.3pp
5-14
+42
+1.6pp
15-19
+14
+1.2pp
20-24
-5
-0.2pp
25-34
+11
+0.4pp
35-44
-7
-0.4pp
45-54
+4
+0.4pp
55-64
+31
+1.0pp
65-74
+29
+1.0pp
75-84
-3
-3.7pp
85+
+16
-2.7pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Muswellbrook (A). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 24 | 2.3% | 1.6% | 12 | 1.0% | 1.3% | +12 | +1.3pp |
| 5-14 | 149 | 6.1% | 5.2% | 107 | 4.5% | 3.8% | +42 | +1.6pp |
| 15-19 | 40 | 3.8% | 4.2% | 26 | 2.6% | 3.2% | +14 | +1.2pp |
| 20-24 | 27 | 3.1% | 3.4% | 32 | 3.3% | 2.6% | -5 | -0.2pp |
| 25-34 | 51 | 2.2% | 2.6% | 40 | 1.8% | 2.4% | +11 | +0.4pp |
| 35-44 | 55 | 2.6% | 2.8% | 62 | 3.0% | 3.0% | -7 | -0.4pp |
| 45-54 | 87 | 4.1% | 4.2% | 83 | 3.7% | 4.4% | +4 | +0.4pp |
| 55-64 | 141 | 7.1% | 6.0% | 110 | 6.1% | 6.2% | +31 | +1.0pp |
| 65-74 | 128 | 8.8% | 9.1% | 99 | 7.8% | 8.7% | +29 | +1.0pp |
| 75-84 | 114 | 15.3% | 18.9% | 117 | 19.0% | 17.8% | -3 | -3.7pp |
| 85+ | 103 | 40.2% | 46.5% | 87 | 42.9% | 43.8% | +16 | -2.7pp |
| Total | 914 | 5.6% | 6.8% | 781 | 4.9% | 6.3% | +133 | +0.7pp |