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, 65-74 year olds was the most common age group among residents who needed assistance with core activities in Northern Midlands (M), accounting for 9% (175 people). This share was lower than Regional Tas. (10%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 41 people and 1.5 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Northern Midlands (M) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Northern Midlands (M) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Tas. and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Northern Midlands (M), with comparison markers for Regional Tas..
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
7
2021 rate
0.9%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
7
0.9%
-0.6pp
5-14
2021 count
93
2021 rate
6.0%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
93
6.0%
+1.9pp
15-19
2021 count
32
2021 rate
4.4%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
32
4.4%
+1.8pp
20-24
2021 count
26
2021 rate
3.9%
Change from 2016
+2.1pp
26
3.9%
+2.1pp
25-34
2021 count
25
2021 rate
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
25
1.6%
+0.8pp
35-44
2021 count
33
2021 rate
2.4%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
33
2.4%
+0.4pp
45-54
2021 count
82
2021 rate
4.6%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
82
4.6%
-0.3pp
55-64
2021 count
141
2021 rate
6.9%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
141
6.9%
-0.1pp
65-74
2021 count
175
2021 rate
9.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
175
9.0%
-0.1pp
75-84
2021 count
163
2021 rate
16.4%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
163
16.4%
+1.5pp
85+
2021 count
121
2021 rate
38.9%
Change from 2016
-3.5pp
121
38.9%
-3.5pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
-4
-0.6pp
5-14
+31
+1.9pp
15-19
+13
+1.8pp
20-24
+14
+2.1pp
25-34
+15
+0.8pp
35-44
+5
+0.4pp
45-54
-10
-0.3pp
55-64
+1
-0.1pp
65-74
+23
-0.1pp
75-84
+41
+1.5pp
85+
+20
-3.5pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Northern Midlands (M). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Tas..
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Tas.% | Count | % | Regional Tas.% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 7 | 0.9% | 1.7% | 11 | 1.5% | 1.1% | -4 | -0.6pp |
| 5-14 | 93 | 6.0% | 5.6% | 62 | 4.1% | 4.0% | +31 | +1.9pp |
| 15-19 | 32 | 4.4% | 4.9% | 19 | 2.6% | 3.6% | +13 | +1.8pp |
| 20-24 | 26 | 3.9% | 3.8% | 12 | 1.8% | 3.0% | +14 | +2.1pp |
| 25-34 | 25 | 1.6% | 2.8% | 10 | 0.8% | 2.6% | +15 | +0.8pp |
| 35-44 | 33 | 2.4% | 3.3% | 28 | 2.0% | 3.5% | +5 | +0.4pp |
| 45-54 | 82 | 4.6% | 5.2% | 92 | 4.9% | 5.2% | -10 | -0.3pp |
| 55-64 | 141 | 6.9% | 6.9% | 140 | 7.0% | 7.1% | +1 | -0.1pp |
| 65-74 | 175 | 9.0% | 10.0% | 152 | 9.1% | 9.6% | +23 | -0.1pp |
| 75-84 | 163 | 16.4% | 18.9% | 122 | 14.9% | 18.3% | +41 | +1.5pp |
| 85+ | 121 | 38.9% | 45.1% | 101 | 42.4% | 46.2% | +20 | -3.5pp |
| Total | 894 | 6.5% | 7.3% | 759 | 5.9% | 6.7% | +135 | +0.6pp |