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, 65-74 year olds was the most common age group among residents who needed assistance with core activities in Penrith (C), accounting for 11.3% (1,974 people). This share was higher than Greater Sydney (10.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 5-14 year olds, which increased by 522 people and 1.2 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Penrith (C) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Penrith (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Sydney and change since 2016.
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Penrith (C), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
281
2021 rate
1.8%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
281
1.8%
+0.3pp
5-14
2021 count
1,708
2021 rate
5.6%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
1,708
5.6%
+1.2pp
15-19
2021 count
517
2021 rate
3.8%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
517
3.8%
+0.7pp
20-24
2021 count
400
2021 rate
2.7%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
400
2.7%
+0.4pp
25-34
2021 count
683
2021 rate
2.1%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
683
2.1%
+0.3pp
35-44
2021 count
757
2021 rate
2.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
757
2.4%
-0.1pp
45-54
2021 count
1,040
2021 rate
3.9%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
1,040
3.9%
+0.2pp
55-64
2021 count
1,501
2021 rate
6.4%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
1,501
6.4%
+0.3pp
65-74
2021 count
1,974
2021 rate
11.3%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
1,974
11.3%
+0.3pp
75-84
2021 count
1,939
2021 rate
23.8%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
1,939
23.8%
-1.9pp
85+
2021 count
1,240
2021 rate
45.7%
Change from 2016
-12.3pp
1,240
45.7%
-12.3pp
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+63
+0.3pp
5-14
+522
+1.2pp
15-19
+111
+0.7pp
20-24
+72
+0.4pp
25-34
+139
+0.3pp
35-44
+78
-0.1pp
45-54
+120
+0.2pp
55-64
+146
+0.3pp
65-74
+378
+0.3pp
75-84
+366
-1.9pp
85+
-104
-12.3pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Penrith (C). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 281 | 1.8% | 1.3% | 218 | 1.5% | 1.1% | +63 | +0.3pp |
| 5-14 | 1,708 | 5.6% | 3.4% | 1,186 | 4.4% | 2.7% | +522 | +1.2pp |
| 15-19 | 517 | 3.8% | 2.7% | 406 | 3.1% | 2.2% | +111 | +0.7pp |
| 20-24 | 400 | 2.7% | 1.8% | 328 | 2.3% | 1.5% | +72 | +0.4pp |
| 25-34 | 683 | 2.1% | 1.3% | 544 | 1.8% | 1.2% | +139 | +0.3pp |
| 35-44 | 757 | 2.4% | 1.6% | 679 | 2.5% | 1.8% | +78 | -0.1pp |
| 45-54 | 1,040 | 3.9% | 2.9% | 920 | 3.7% | 3.2% | +120 | +0.2pp |
| 55-64 | 1,501 | 6.4% | 5.5% | 1,355 | 6.1% | 5.7% | +146 | +0.3pp |
| 65-74 | 1,974 | 11.3% | 10.5% | 1,596 | 11.0% | 9.9% | +378 | +0.3pp |
| 75-84 | 1,939 | 23.8% | 23.1% | 1,573 | 25.7% | 23.4% | +366 | -1.9pp |
| 85+ | 1,240 | 45.7% | 48.7% | 1,344 | 58.0% | 50.4% | -104 | -12.3pp |
| Total | 12,041 | 5.5% | 5.2% | 10,152 | 5.2% | 4.9% | +1,889 | +0.3pp |