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 Penrith, accounting for 24.4% (251 people). This share was higher than Penrith (C) (23.8%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 85+ year olds, which decreased by 83 people and 25.6 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Penrith - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Penrith 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 Penrith, with comparison markers for Penrith (C).
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
19
2021 rate
1.8%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
19
1.8%
+0.5pp
5-14
2021 count
105
2021 rate
6.4%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
105
6.4%
+0.3pp
15-19
2021 count
38
2021 rate
5.1%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
38
5.1%
+1.2pp
20-24
2021 count
49
2021 rate
2.9%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
49
2.9%
-0.1pp
25-34
2021 count
94
2021 rate
2.6%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
94
2.6%
+0.6pp
35-44
2021 count
106
2021 rate
4.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
106
4.3%
0.0pp
45-54
2021 count
125
2021 rate
6.2%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
125
6.2%
+0.8pp
55-64
2021 count
160
2021 rate
9.1%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
160
9.1%
-0.1pp
65-74
2021 count
220
2021 rate
14.9%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
220
14.9%
-1.1pp
75-84
2021 count
251
2021 rate
24.4%
Change from 2016
-2.2pp
251
24.4%
-2.2pp
85+
2021 count
185
2021 rate
32.9%
Change from 2016
-25.6pp
185
32.9%
-25.6pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+8
+0.5pp
5-14
+23
+0.3pp
15-19
+10
+1.2pp
20-24
+19
-0.1pp
25-34
+47
+0.6pp
35-44
+31
0.0pp
45-54
+38
+0.8pp
55-64
+32
-0.1pp
65-74
+40
-1.1pp
75-84
+53
-2.2pp
85+
-83
-25.6pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Penrith. 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 | 19 | 1.8% | 1.8% | 11 | 1.3% | 1.5% | +8 | +0.5pp |
| 5-14 | 105 | 6.4% | 5.6% | 82 | 6.1% | 4.4% | +23 | +0.3pp |
| 15-19 | 38 | 5.1% | 3.8% | 28 | 3.9% | 3.1% | +10 | +1.2pp |
| 20-24 | 49 | 2.9% | 2.7% | 30 | 3.0% | 2.3% | +19 | -0.1pp |
| 25-34 | 94 | 2.6% | 2.1% | 47 | 2.0% | 1.8% | +47 | +0.6pp |
| 35-44 | 106 | 4.3% | 2.4% | 75 | 4.3% | 2.5% | +31 | 0.0pp |
| 45-54 | 125 | 6.2% | 3.9% | 87 | 5.4% | 3.7% | +38 | +0.8pp |
| 55-64 | 160 | 9.1% | 6.4% | 128 | 9.2% | 6.1% | +32 | -0.1pp |
| 65-74 | 220 | 14.9% | 11.3% | 180 | 16.0% | 11.0% | +40 | -1.1pp |
| 75-84 | 251 | 24.4% | 23.8% | 198 | 26.6% | 25.7% | +53 | -2.2pp |
| 85+ | 185 | 32.9% | 45.7% | 268 | 58.5% | 58.0% | -83 | -25.6pp |
| Total | 1,348 | 7.5% | 5.5% | 1,127 | 8.5% | 5.2% | +221 | -1.0pp |