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 South Arm (Nambucca Valley - NSW), accounting for 12% (3 people). This share was higher than Nambucca (A) (7.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 45-54 year olds, which decreased by 4 people and 10.8 percentage points.

Section overview

Need for assistance with core activities by age

South Arm (Nambucca Valley - NSW) - Persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises need for assistance for South Arm (Nambucca Valley - NSW) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Nambucca (A) and change since 2016.

Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot

2021 distribution by category for South Arm (Nambucca Valley - NSW), with comparison markers for Nambucca (A).

South Arm (Nambucca Valley - NSW)

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

0-4

2021 count

0

2021 rate

0.0%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

5-14

2021 count

3

2021 rate

12.0%

Change from 2016

+12.0pp

15-19

2021 count

0

2021 rate

0.0%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

20-24

2021 count

0

2021 rate

0.0%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

25-34

2021 count

0

2021 rate

0.0%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

35-44

2021 count

3

2021 rate

21.4%

Change from 2016

+21.4pp

45-54

2021 count

0

2021 rate

0.0%

Change from 2016

-10.8pp

55-64

2021 count

0

2021 rate

0.0%

Change from 2016

-3.7pp

65-74

2021 count

3

2021 rate

4.8%

Change from 2016

-4.9pp

75-84

2021 count

3

2021 rate

15.8%

Change from 2016

+15.8pp

85+

2021 count

0

2021 rate

0.0%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Data table

Need for assistance for South Arm (Nambucca Valley - NSW). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Nambucca (A).

Need for assistance for South Arm (Nambucca Valley - NSW). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Nambucca (A).
Need for assistance for South Arm (Nambucca Valley - NSW). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Nambucca (A).
Category20212016Change
Count%Nambucca (A)%Count%Nambucca (A)%Countpp
0-400.0%1.1%00.0%1.6%00.0pp
5-14312.0%7.1%00.0%4.2%+3+12.0pp
15-1900.0%6.1%00.0%3.7%00.0pp
20-2400.0%3.5%00.0%3.8%00.0pp
25-3400.0%3.5%00.0%4.6%00.0pp
35-44321.4%4.1%00.0%4.1%+3+21.4pp
45-5400.0%5.6%410.8%6.8%-4-10.8pp
55-6400.0%7.9%33.7%8.4%-3-3.7pp
65-7434.8%10.7%39.7%10.2%0-4.9pp
75-84315.8%19.9%00.0%15.2%+3+15.8pp
85+00.0%49.9%00.0%32.6%00.0pp
Total206.4%9.3%258.0%8.0%-5-1.6pp