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, 5-14 year olds was the most common age group among residents who needed assistance with core activities in Palmerston (C), accounting for 5.1% (313 people). This share was higher than Greater Darwin (4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 5-14 year olds, which increased by 136 people and 1.7 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Palmerston (C) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Palmerston (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Darwin and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Palmerston (C), with comparison markers for Greater Darwin.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
57
2021 rate
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
57
1.7%
+0.6pp
5-14
2021 count
313
2021 rate
5.1%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
313
5.1%
+1.7pp
15-19
2021 count
85
2021 rate
3.7%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
85
3.7%
+1.2pp
20-24
2021 count
52
2021 rate
2.1%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
52
2.1%
+0.7pp
25-34
2021 count
85
2021 rate
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
85
1.2%
+0.4pp
35-44
2021 count
99
2021 rate
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
99
1.6%
+0.2pp
45-54
2021 count
136
2021 rate
3.0%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
136
3.0%
+0.2pp
55-64
2021 count
188
2021 rate
6.1%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
188
6.1%
+1.1pp
65-74
2021 count
222
2021 rate
13.2%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
222
13.2%
+0.4pp
75-84
2021 count
145
2021 rate
25.9%
Change from 2016
-3.6pp
145
25.9%
-3.6pp
85+
2021 count
105
2021 rate
66.0%
Change from 2016
+8.4pp
105
66.0%
+8.4pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+20
+0.6pp
5-14
+136
+1.7pp
15-19
+33
+1.2pp
20-24
+15
+0.7pp
25-34
+28
+0.4pp
35-44
+24
+0.2pp
45-54
+23
+0.2pp
55-64
+60
+1.1pp
65-74
+85
+0.4pp
75-84
+32
-3.6pp
85+
+56
+8.4pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Palmerston (C). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Darwin.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Darwin% | Count | % | Greater Darwin% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 57 | 1.7% | 1.3% | 37 | 1.1% | 1.0% | +20 | +0.6pp |
| 5-14 | 313 | 5.1% | 4.0% | 177 | 3.4% | 2.6% | +136 | +1.7pp |
| 15-19 | 85 | 3.7% | 3.0% | 52 | 2.5% | 2.2% | +33 | +1.2pp |
| 20-24 | 52 | 2.1% | 1.8% | 37 | 1.4% | 1.1% | +15 | +0.7pp |
| 25-34 | 85 | 1.2% | 1.0% | 57 | 0.8% | 0.9% | +28 | +0.4pp |
| 35-44 | 99 | 1.6% | 1.5% | 75 | 1.4% | 1.1% | +24 | +0.2pp |
| 45-54 | 136 | 3.0% | 2.5% | 113 | 2.8% | 2.1% | +23 | +0.2pp |
| 55-64 | 188 | 6.1% | 4.5% | 128 | 5.0% | 4.1% | +60 | +1.1pp |
| 65-74 | 222 | 13.2% | 9.3% | 137 | 12.8% | 8.9% | +85 | +0.4pp |
| 75-84 | 145 | 25.9% | 22.9% | 113 | 29.5% | 24.9% | +32 | -3.6pp |
| 85+ | 105 | 66.0% | 55.1% | 49 | 57.6% | 55.3% | +56 | +8.4pp |
| Total | 1,487 | 4.0% | 3.7% | 971 | 2.9% | 2.9% | +516 | +1.1pp |