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 Northern Areas (DC), accounting for 51.5% (67 people). This share was higher than Regional SA (45.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 45-54 year olds, which decreased by 11 people and 1.2 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Northern Areas (DC) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Northern Areas (DC) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional SA and change since 2016.
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Northern Areas (DC), with comparison markers for Regional SA.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
4
2021 rate
1.6%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
4
1.6%
+1.6pp
5-14
2021 count
21
2021 rate
3.7%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
21
3.7%
+0.4pp
15-19
2021 count
4
2021 rate
2.0%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
4
2.0%
-1.1pp
20-24
2021 count
8
2021 rate
4.1%
Change from 2016
+2.7pp
8
4.1%
+2.7pp
25-34
2021 count
14
2021 rate
3.6%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
14
3.6%
+1.6pp
35-44
2021 count
7
2021 rate
1.5%
Change from 2016
-2.0pp
7
1.5%
-2.0pp
45-54
2021 count
24
2021 rate
4.5%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
24
4.5%
-1.2pp
55-64
2021 count
55
2021 rate
7.4%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
55
7.4%
+0.1pp
65-74
2021 count
59
2021 rate
8.7%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
59
8.7%
+0.7pp
75-84
2021 count
63
2021 rate
16.6%
Change from 2016
-3.4pp
63
16.6%
-3.4pp
85+
2021 count
67
2021 rate
51.5%
Change from 2016
+5.7pp
67
51.5%
+5.7pp
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+4
+1.6pp
5-14
+4
+0.4pp
15-19
-3
-1.1pp
20-24
+5
+2.7pp
25-34
+6
+1.6pp
35-44
-9
-2.0pp
45-54
-11
-1.2pp
55-64
+1
+0.1pp
65-74
+9
+0.7pp
75-84
+4
-3.4pp
85+
+1
+5.7pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Northern Areas (DC). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional SA.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional SA% | Count | % | Regional SA% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 4 | 1.6% | 1.6% | 0 | 0.0% | 1.3% | +4 | +1.6pp |
| 5-14 | 21 | 3.7% | 5.2% | 17 | 3.3% | 3.9% | +4 | +0.4pp |
| 15-19 | 4 | 2.0% | 4.3% | 7 | 3.1% | 3.3% | -3 | -1.1pp |
| 20-24 | 8 | 4.1% | 3.5% | 3 | 1.4% | 2.9% | +5 | +2.7pp |
| 25-34 | 14 | 3.6% | 2.7% | 8 | 2.0% | 2.3% | +6 | +1.6pp |
| 35-44 | 7 | 1.5% | 2.8% | 16 | 3.5% | 3.1% | -9 | -2.0pp |
| 45-54 | 24 | 4.5% | 4.3% | 35 | 5.7% | 4.4% | -11 | -1.2pp |
| 55-64 | 55 | 7.4% | 6.2% | 54 | 7.3% | 6.0% | +1 | +0.1pp |
| 65-74 | 59 | 8.7% | 8.7% | 50 | 8.0% | 8.5% | +9 | +0.7pp |
| 75-84 | 63 | 16.6% | 17.5% | 59 | 20.0% | 16.4% | +4 | -3.4pp |
| 85+ | 67 | 51.5% | 45.5% | 66 | 45.8% | 41.7% | +1 | +5.7pp |
| Total | 320 | 7.0% | 7.0% | 306 | 6.8% | 6.2% | +14 | +0.2pp |