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 North St Marys, accounting for 27.5% (58 people). This share was higher than Penrith (C) (23.8%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 5-14 year olds, which increased by 46 people and 4 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
North St Marys - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for North St Marys 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 North St Marys, with comparison markers for Penrith (C).
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
15
2021 rate
5.5%
Change from 2016
+5.5pp
15
5.5%
+5.5pp
5-14
2021 count
50
2021 rate
8.3%
Change from 2016
+4.0pp
50
8.3%
+4.0pp
15-19
2021 count
17
2021 rate
6.2%
Change from 2016
+5.0pp
17
6.2%
+5.0pp
20-24
2021 count
11
2021 rate
3.7%
Change from 2016
+3.0pp
11
3.7%
+3.0pp
25-34
2021 count
23
2021 rate
3.8%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
23
3.8%
+2.0pp
35-44
2021 count
17
2021 rate
3.5%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
17
3.5%
+1.6pp
45-54
2021 count
33
2021 rate
6.7%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
33
6.7%
-0.8pp
55-64
2021 count
55
2021 rate
12.3%
Change from 2016
+5.3pp
55
12.3%
+5.3pp
65-74
2021 count
46
2021 rate
15.3%
Change from 2016
+3.9pp
46
15.3%
+3.9pp
75-84
2021 count
58
2021 rate
27.5%
Change from 2016
-6.7pp
58
27.5%
-6.7pp
85+
2021 count
36
2021 rate
25.5%
Change from 2016
-46.2pp
36
25.5%
-46.2pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+15
+5.5pp
5-14
+46
+4.0pp
15-19
+13
+5.0pp
20-24
+7
+3.0pp
25-34
+13
+2.0pp
35-44
+13
+1.6pp
45-54
+16
-0.8pp
55-64
+38
+5.3pp
65-74
+29
+3.9pp
75-84
+33
-6.7pp
85+
+3
-46.2pp
Data table
Need for assistance for North St Marys. 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 | 15 | 5.5% | 1.8% | 0 | 0.0% | 1.5% | +15 | +5.5pp |
| 5-14 | 50 | 8.3% | 5.6% | 4 | 4.3% | 4.4% | +46 | +4.0pp |
| 15-19 | 17 | 6.2% | 3.8% | 4 | 1.2% | 3.1% | +13 | +5.0pp |
| 20-24 | 11 | 3.7% | 2.7% | 4 | 0.7% | 2.3% | +7 | +3.0pp |
| 25-34 | 23 | 3.8% | 2.1% | 10 | 1.8% | 1.8% | +13 | +2.0pp |
| 35-44 | 17 | 3.5% | 2.4% | 4 | 1.9% | 2.5% | +13 | +1.6pp |
| 45-54 | 33 | 6.7% | 3.9% | 17 | 7.5% | 3.7% | +16 | -0.8pp |
| 55-64 | 55 | 12.3% | 6.4% | 17 | 7.0% | 6.1% | +38 | +5.3pp |
| 65-74 | 46 | 15.3% | 11.3% | 17 | 11.4% | 11.0% | +29 | +3.9pp |
| 75-84 | 58 | 27.5% | 23.8% | 25 | 34.2% | 25.7% | +33 | -6.7pp |
| 85+ | 36 | 25.5% | 45.7% | 33 | 71.7% | 58.0% | +3 | -46.2pp |
| Total | 360 | 8.7% | 5.5% | 128 | 4.9% | 5.2% | +232 | +3.8pp |