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 Northmead, accounting for 18.2% (138 people). This share was lower than Parramatta (C) (24.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 85+ year olds, which decreased by 30 people and 4.7 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Northmead - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Northmead in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Parramatta (C) and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Northmead, with comparison markers for Parramatta (C).
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
12
2021 rate
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
12
1.7%
+0.4pp
5-14
2021 count
38
2021 rate
2.6%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
38
2.6%
+0.7pp
15-19
2021 count
16
2021 rate
2.8%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
16
2.8%
+1.2pp
20-24
2021 count
8
2021 rate
1.5%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
8
1.5%
-0.4pp
25-34
2021 count
22
2021 rate
1.5%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
22
1.5%
+0.8pp
35-44
2021 count
23
2021 rate
1.3%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
23
1.3%
-0.5pp
45-54
2021 count
65
2021 rate
4.3%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
65
4.3%
+0.9pp
55-64
2021 count
58
2021 rate
5.3%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
58
5.3%
+1.0pp
65-74
2021 count
83
2021 rate
8.8%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
83
8.8%
+1.1pp
75-84
2021 count
138
2021 rate
18.2%
Change from 2016
-2.4pp
138
18.2%
-2.4pp
85+
2021 count
134
2021 rate
38.7%
Change from 2016
-4.7pp
134
38.7%
-4.7pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+1
+0.4pp
5-14
+14
+0.7pp
15-19
+8
+1.2pp
20-24
-2
-0.4pp
25-34
+9
+0.8pp
35-44
-8
-0.5pp
45-54
+21
+0.9pp
55-64
+14
+1.0pp
65-74
+12
+1.1pp
75-84
-10
-2.4pp
85+
-30
-4.7pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Northmead. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Parramatta (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Parramatta (C)% | Count | % | Parramatta (C)% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 12 | 1.7% | 1.0% | 11 | 1.3% | 1.0% | +1 | +0.4pp |
| 5-14 | 38 | 2.6% | 2.3% | 24 | 1.9% | 2.1% | +14 | +0.7pp |
| 15-19 | 16 | 2.8% | 2.3% | 8 | 1.6% | 1.7% | +8 | +1.2pp |
| 20-24 | 8 | 1.5% | 1.3% | 10 | 1.9% | 1.3% | -2 | -0.4pp |
| 25-34 | 22 | 1.5% | 0.8% | 13 | 0.7% | 0.8% | +9 | +0.8pp |
| 35-44 | 23 | 1.3% | 1.1% | 31 | 1.8% | 1.4% | -8 | -0.5pp |
| 45-54 | 65 | 4.3% | 2.6% | 44 | 3.4% | 3.0% | +21 | +0.9pp |
| 55-64 | 58 | 5.3% | 4.9% | 44 | 4.3% | 5.2% | +14 | +1.0pp |
| 65-74 | 83 | 8.8% | 10.0% | 71 | 7.7% | 9.7% | +12 | +1.1pp |
| 75-84 | 138 | 18.2% | 24.4% | 148 | 20.6% | 23.5% | -10 | -2.4pp |
| 85+ | 134 | 38.7% | 51.0% | 164 | 43.4% | 48.5% | -30 | -4.7pp |
| Total | 600 | 5.3% | 4.1% | 566 | 5.0% | 4.1% | +34 | +0.3pp |