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 5-14 year olds, which increased by 11 people and 9 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 change

Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.

2016
2021

0-4

+4

+6.8pp

5-14

+11

+9.0pp

15-19

0

0.0pp

20-24

-3

-8.3pp

25-34

-3

-3.9pp

35-44

+1

+0.9pp

45-54

-4

-2.7pp

55-64

+1

-0.8pp

65-74

+10

+5.1pp

75-84

+5

+8.1pp

85+

0

-47.7pp

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).

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).
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).
Category20212016Change
Count%Nambucca (A)%Count%Nambucca (A)%Countpp
0-446.8%1.1%00.0%1.6%+4+6.8pp
5-141512.3%7.1%43.3%4.2%+11+9.0pp
15-1900.0%6.1%00.0%3.7%00.0pp
20-2400.0%3.5%38.3%3.8%-3-8.3pp
25-3400.0%3.5%33.9%4.6%-3-3.9pp
35-4454.6%4.1%43.7%4.1%+1+0.9pp
45-5400.0%5.6%42.7%6.8%-4-2.7pp
55-64114.9%7.9%105.7%8.4%+1-0.8pp
65-741510.2%10.7%55.1%10.2%+10+5.1pp
75-84916.4%19.9%48.3%15.2%+5+8.1pp
85+327.3%49.9%375.0%32.6%0-47.7pp
Total615.8%9.3%394.2%8.0%+22+1.6pp