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, 85+ year olds was the most common age group among residents who needed assistance with core activities in Newcastle (C), accounting for 52.3% (2,312 people). This share was higher than Regional NSW (46.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 613 people and 4 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Newcastle (C) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Newcastle (C) 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 Newcastle (C), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
142
2021 rate
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
142
1.6%
+0.2pp
5-14
2021 count
805
2021 rate
4.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
805
4.3%
+0.1pp
15-19
2021 count
377
2021 rate
3.9%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
377
3.9%
+0.5pp
20-24
2021 count
355
2021 rate
2.5%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
355
2.5%
+0.6pp
25-34
2021 count
530
2021 rate
2.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
530
2.0%
0.0pp
35-44
2021 count
561
2021 rate
2.6%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
561
2.6%
-0.2pp
45-54
2021 count
787
2021 rate
3.8%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
787
3.8%
-1.1pp
55-64
2021 count
1,184
2021 rate
6.1%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
1,184
6.1%
-1.1pp
65-74
2021 count
1,578
2021 rate
10.3%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
1,578
10.3%
+0.5pp
75-84
2021 count
2,117
2021 rate
23.6%
Change from 2016
+4.0pp
2,117
23.6%
+4.0pp
85+
2021 count
2,312
2021 rate
52.3%
Change from 2016
+10.5pp
2,312
52.3%
+10.5pp
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+18
+0.2pp
5-14
+88
+0.1pp
15-19
+73
+0.5pp
20-24
+97
+0.6pp
25-34
+60
0.0pp
35-44
+8
-0.2pp
45-54
-171
-1.1pp
55-64
-120
-1.1pp
65-74
+314
+0.5pp
75-84
+613
+4.0pp
85+
+577
+10.5pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Newcastle (C). 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 | 142 | 1.6% | 1.6% | 124 | 1.4% | 1.3% | +18 | +0.2pp |
| 5-14 | 805 | 4.3% | 5.2% | 717 | 4.2% | 3.8% | +88 | +0.1pp |
| 15-19 | 377 | 3.9% | 4.2% | 304 | 3.4% | 3.2% | +73 | +0.5pp |
| 20-24 | 355 | 2.5% | 3.4% | 258 | 1.9% | 2.6% | +97 | +0.6pp |
| 25-34 | 530 | 2.0% | 2.6% | 470 | 2.0% | 2.4% | +60 | 0.0pp |
| 35-44 | 561 | 2.6% | 2.8% | 553 | 2.8% | 3.0% | +8 | -0.2pp |
| 45-54 | 787 | 3.8% | 4.2% | 958 | 4.9% | 4.4% | -171 | -1.1pp |
| 55-64 | 1,184 | 6.1% | 6.0% | 1,304 | 7.2% | 6.2% | -120 | -1.1pp |
| 65-74 | 1,578 | 10.3% | 9.1% | 1,264 | 9.8% | 8.7% | +314 | +0.5pp |
| 75-84 | 2,117 | 23.6% | 18.9% | 1,504 | 19.6% | 17.8% | +613 | +4.0pp |
| 85+ | 2,312 | 52.3% | 46.5% | 1,735 | 41.8% | 43.8% | +577 | +10.5pp |
| Total | 10,752 | 6.4% | 6.8% | 9,197 | 5.9% | 6.3% | +1,555 | +0.5pp |