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, 75-84 year olds was the most common age group among residents who needed assistance with core activities in Nillumbik (S), accounting for 15.9% (463 people). This share was lower than Greater Melbourne (24.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 132 people, while its share fell by 1.1 percentage points.

Section overview

Need for assistance with core activities by age

Nillumbik (S) - Persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises need for assistance for Nillumbik (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Melbourne and change since 2016.

Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Nillumbik (S), with comparison markers for Greater Melbourne.

Nillumbik (S)

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

0-4

2021 count

44

2021 rate

1.4%

Change from 2016

+0.5pp

5-14

2021 count

295

2021 rate

3.5%

Change from 2016

+0.5pp

15-19

2021 count

144

2021 rate

3.1%

Change from 2016

+1.2pp

20-24

2021 count

92

2021 rate

2.4%

Change from 2016

+0.4pp

25-34

2021 count

142

2021 rate

2.5%

Change from 2016

+0.5pp

35-44

2021 count

127

2021 rate

1.7%

Change from 2016

+0.6pp

45-54

2021 count

149

2021 rate

1.5%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

55-64

2021 count

235

2021 rate

2.5%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

65-74

2021 count

362

2021 rate

5.4%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

75-84

2021 count

463

2021 rate

15.9%

Change from 2016

-1.1pp

85+

2021 count

461

2021 rate

52.4%

Change from 2016

+3.2pp

Data table

Need for assistance for Nillumbik (S). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.

Need for assistance for Nillumbik (S). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
Need for assistance for Nillumbik (S). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
Category20212016Change
Count%Greater Melbourne%Count%Greater Melbourne%Countpp
0-4441.4%1.3%310.9%1.1%+13+0.5pp
5-142953.5%3.9%2683.0%3.0%+27+0.5pp
15-191443.1%3.1%881.9%2.2%+56+1.2pp
20-24922.4%2.0%792.0%1.5%+13+0.4pp
25-341422.5%1.5%1112.0%1.2%+31+0.5pp
35-441271.7%1.8%851.1%1.9%+42+0.6pp
45-541491.5%3.2%1541.5%3.2%-50.0pp
55-642352.5%5.6%1932.2%5.5%+42+0.3pp
65-743625.4%10.5%3025.6%9.5%+60-0.2pp
75-8446315.9%24.7%33117.0%23.2%+132-1.1pp
85+46152.4%54.0%34749.2%49.0%+114+3.2pp
Total2,5234.0%5.5%1,9953.3%4.9%+528+0.7pp