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, 55-64 year olds was the most common age group among residents who needed assistance with core activities in Oxley Park, accounting for 11.7% (41 people). This share was higher than Penrith (C) (6.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 85+ year olds, which decreased by 115 people, while its share rose by 3.4 percentage points.

Section overview

Need for assistance with core activities by age

Oxley Park - Persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises need for assistance for Oxley Park 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 Oxley Park, with comparison markers for Penrith (C).

Oxley Park

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

0-4

2021 count

9

2021 rate

2.1%

Change from 2016

+2.1pp

5-14

2021 count

18

2021 rate

2.6%

Change from 2016

-0.3pp

15-19

2021 count

10

2021 rate

4.5%

Change from 2016

+2.1pp

20-24

2021 count

11

2021 rate

4.5%

Change from 2016

+3.0pp

25-34

2021 count

12

2021 rate

1.5%

Change from 2016

-0.4pp

35-44

2021 count

10

2021 rate

1.6%

Change from 2016

+0.6pp

45-54

2021 count

13

2021 rate

3.3%

Change from 2016

+1.3pp

55-64

2021 count

41

2021 rate

11.7%

Change from 2016

+9.2pp

65-74

2021 count

40

2021 rate

15.4%

Change from 2016

+3.8pp

75-84

2021 count

30

2021 rate

23.1%

Change from 2016

-0.4pp

85+

2021 count

17

2021 rate

58.6%

Change from 2016

+3.4pp

Data table

Need for assistance for Oxley Park. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Penrith (C).

Need for assistance for Oxley Park. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Penrith (C).
Need for assistance for Oxley Park. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Penrith (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Penrith (C)%Count%Penrith (C)%Countpp
0-492.1%1.8%00.0%1.5%+9+2.1pp
5-14182.6%5.6%122.9%4.4%+6-0.3pp
15-19104.5%3.8%62.4%3.1%+4+2.1pp
20-24114.5%2.7%31.5%2.3%+8+3.0pp
25-34121.5%2.1%71.9%1.8%+5-0.4pp
35-44101.6%2.4%41.0%2.5%+6+0.6pp
45-54133.3%3.9%92.0%3.7%+4+1.3pp
55-644111.7%6.4%102.5%6.1%+31+9.2pp
65-744015.4%11.3%3811.6%11.0%+2+3.8pp
75-843023.1%23.8%7323.5%25.7%-43-0.4pp
85+1758.6%45.7%13255.2%58.0%-115+3.4pp
Total2074.9%5.5%2838.0%5.2%-76-3.1pp