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 Emu Plains, accounting for 53% (115 people). This share was higher than Penrith (C) (45.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 85+ year olds, which increased by 83 people and 3.8 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Emu Plains - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Emu Plains in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Penrith (C) and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Emu Plains, with comparison markers for Penrith (C).
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
5
2021 rate
1.1%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
5
1.1%
+1.1pp
5-14
2021 count
57
2021 rate
5.3%
Change from 2016
+3.3pp
57
5.3%
+3.3pp
15-19
2021 count
10
2021 rate
2.1%
Change from 2016
+2.1pp
10
2.1%
+2.1pp
20-24
2021 count
7
2021 rate
1.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
7
1.4%
-0.1pp
25-34
2021 count
18
2021 rate
2.1%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
18
2.1%
-0.2pp
35-44
2021 count
28
2021 rate
2.6%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
28
2.6%
+0.4pp
45-54
2021 count
42
2021 rate
4.0%
Change from 2016
+2.3pp
42
4.0%
+2.3pp
55-64
2021 count
52
2021 rate
5.8%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
52
5.8%
+1.0pp
65-74
2021 count
89
2021 rate
8.9%
Change from 2016
-2.5pp
89
8.9%
-2.5pp
75-84
2021 count
109
2021 rate
20.0%
Change from 2016
-7.4pp
109
20.0%
-7.4pp
85+
2021 count
115
2021 rate
53.0%
Change from 2016
+3.8pp
115
53.0%
+3.8pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+5
+1.1pp
5-14
+51
+3.3pp
15-19
+10
+2.1pp
20-24
+4
-0.1pp
25-34
+8
-0.2pp
35-44
+20
+0.4pp
45-54
+35
+2.3pp
55-64
+36
+1.0pp
65-74
+63
-2.5pp
75-84
+66
-7.4pp
85+
+83
+3.8pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Emu Plains. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Penrith (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Penrith (C)% | Count | % | Penrith (C)% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 5 | 1.1% | 1.8% | 0 | 0.0% | 1.5% | +5 | +1.1pp |
| 5-14 | 57 | 5.3% | 5.6% | 6 | 2.0% | 4.4% | +51 | +3.3pp |
| 15-19 | 10 | 2.1% | 3.8% | 0 | 0.0% | 3.1% | +10 | +2.1pp |
| 20-24 | 7 | 1.4% | 2.7% | 3 | 1.5% | 2.3% | +4 | -0.1pp |
| 25-34 | 18 | 2.1% | 2.1% | 10 | 2.3% | 1.8% | +8 | -0.2pp |
| 35-44 | 28 | 2.6% | 2.4% | 8 | 2.2% | 2.5% | +20 | +0.4pp |
| 45-54 | 42 | 4.0% | 3.9% | 7 | 1.7% | 3.7% | +35 | +2.3pp |
| 55-64 | 52 | 5.8% | 6.4% | 16 | 4.8% | 6.1% | +36 | +1.0pp |
| 65-74 | 89 | 8.9% | 11.3% | 26 | 11.4% | 11.0% | +63 | -2.5pp |
| 75-84 | 109 | 20.0% | 23.8% | 43 | 27.4% | 25.7% | +66 | -7.4pp |
| 85+ | 115 | 53.0% | 45.7% | 32 | 49.2% | 58.0% | +83 | +3.8pp |
| Total | 536 | 6.6% | 5.5% | 146 | 5.2% | 5.2% | +390 | +1.4pp |