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 Valla (part), accounting for 12.3% (15 people). This share was higher than Nambucca (A) (7.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 85+ year olds, which decreased by 341 people and 23.4 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Valla (part) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Valla (part) 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 Valla (part), with comparison markers for Nambucca (A).
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
4
2021 rate
6.8%
Change from 2016
+6.2pp
4
6.8%
+6.2pp
5-14
2021 count
15
2021 rate
12.3%
Change from 2016
+10.7pp
15
12.3%
+10.7pp
15-19
2021 count
0
2021 rate
0.0%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
0
0.0%
-0.8pp
20-24
2021 count
0
2021 rate
0.0%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
0
0.0%
-1.7pp
25-34
2021 count
0
2021 rate
0.0%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
0
0.0%
-1.9pp
35-44
2021 count
5
2021 rate
4.6%
Change from 2016
+3.5pp
5
4.6%
+3.5pp
45-54
2021 count
0
2021 rate
0.0%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
0
0.0%
-1.4pp
55-64
2021 count
11
2021 rate
4.9%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
11
4.9%
+2.2pp
65-74
2021 count
15
2021 rate
10.2%
Change from 2016
+5.1pp
15
10.2%
+5.1pp
75-84
2021 count
9
2021 rate
16.4%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
9
16.4%
-0.2pp
85+
2021 count
3
2021 rate
27.3%
Change from 2016
-23.4pp
3
27.3%
-23.4pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
-1
+6.2pp
5-14
-25
+10.7pp
15-19
-12
-0.8pp
20-24
-17
-1.7pp
25-34
-26
-1.9pp
35-44
-18
+3.5pp
45-54
-39
-1.4pp
55-64
-43
+2.2pp
65-74
-60
+5.1pp
75-84
-169
-0.2pp
85+
-341
-23.4pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Valla (part). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Nambucca (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Nambucca (A)% | Count | % | Nambucca (A)% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 4 | 6.8% | 1.1% | 5 | 0.6% | 1.6% | -1 | +6.2pp |
| 5-14 | 15 | 12.3% | 7.1% | 40 | 1.6% | 4.2% | -25 | +10.7pp |
| 15-19 | 0 | 0.0% | 6.1% | 12 | 0.8% | 3.7% | -12 | -0.8pp |
| 20-24 | 0 | 0.0% | 3.5% | 17 | 1.7% | 3.8% | -17 | -1.7pp |
| 25-34 | 0 | 0.0% | 3.5% | 26 | 1.9% | 4.6% | -26 | -1.9pp |
| 35-44 | 5 | 4.6% | 4.1% | 23 | 1.1% | 4.1% | -18 | +3.5pp |
| 45-54 | 0 | 0.0% | 5.6% | 39 | 1.4% | 6.8% | -39 | -1.4pp |
| 55-64 | 11 | 4.9% | 7.9% | 54 | 2.7% | 8.4% | -43 | +2.2pp |
| 65-74 | 15 | 10.2% | 10.7% | 75 | 5.1% | 10.2% | -60 | +5.1pp |
| 75-84 | 9 | 16.4% | 19.9% | 178 | 16.6% | 15.2% | -169 | -0.2pp |
| 85+ | 3 | 27.3% | 49.9% | 344 | 50.7% | 32.6% | -341 | -23.4pp |
| Total | 61 | 5.8% | 9.3% | 821 | 4.7% | 8.0% | -760 | +1.1pp |