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 Orange (C), accounting for 19.8% (498 people). This share was higher than Regional NSW (18.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 5-14 year olds, which increased by 116 people and 1.4 percentage points.

Section overview

Need for assistance with core activities by age

Orange (C) - Persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises need for assistance for Orange (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.

Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Orange (C), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.

Orange (C)

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

0-4

2021 count

37

2021 rate

1.2%

Change from 2016

+0.4pp

5-14

2021 count

311

2021 rate

4.9%

Change from 2016

+1.4pp

15-19

2021 count

109

2021 rate

4.1%

Change from 2016

+0.9pp

20-24

2021 count

92

2021 rate

3.8%

Change from 2016

+1.6pp

25-34

2021 count

118

2021 rate

2.0%

Change from 2016

-0.3pp

35-44

2021 count

164

2021 rate

3.0%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

45-54

2021 count

235

2021 rate

4.6%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

55-64

2021 count

280

2021 rate

5.9%

Change from 2016

-0.5pp

65-74

2021 count

392

2021 rate

9.2%

Change from 2016

+1.0pp

75-84

2021 count

498

2021 rate

19.8%

Change from 2016

+0.6pp

85+

2021 count

465

2021 rate

44.3%

Change from 2016

-1.5pp

Data table

Need for assistance for Orange (C). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.

Need for assistance for Orange (C). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
Need for assistance for Orange (C). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional NSW%Count%Regional NSW%Countpp
0-4371.2%1.6%230.8%1.3%+14+0.4pp
5-143114.9%5.2%1953.5%3.8%+116+1.4pp
15-191094.1%4.2%833.2%3.2%+26+0.9pp
20-24923.8%3.4%512.2%2.6%+41+1.6pp
25-341182.0%2.6%1242.3%2.4%-6-0.3pp
35-441643.0%2.8%1623.2%3.0%+2-0.2pp
45-542354.6%4.2%2274.5%4.4%+8+0.1pp
55-642805.9%6.0%2976.4%6.2%-17-0.5pp
65-743929.2%9.1%2998.2%8.7%+93+1.0pp
75-8449819.8%18.9%42519.2%17.8%+73+0.6pp
85+46544.3%46.5%42245.8%43.8%+43-1.5pp
Total2,7066.2%6.8%2,3045.7%6.3%+402+0.5pp