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 St Clair (Penrith - NSW), accounting for 11.8% (219 people). This share was higher than Penrith (C) (11.3%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 65-74 year olds, which increased by 211 people and 0.4 percentage points.

Section overview

Need for assistance with core activities by age

St Clair (Penrith - NSW) - Persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises need for assistance for St Clair (Penrith - NSW) 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 St Clair (Penrith - NSW), with comparison markers for Penrith (C).

St Clair (Penrith - NSW)

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

0-4

2021 count

24

2021 rate

1.8%

Change from 2016

-4.3pp

5-14

2021 count

139

2021 rate

4.9%

Change from 2016

+4.9pp

15-19

2021 count

42

2021 rate

3.2%

Change from 2016

-9.8pp

20-24

2021 count

32

2021 rate

2.6%

Change from 2016

+2.6pp

25-34

2021 count

53

2021 rate

1.9%

Change from 2016

+1.9pp

35-44

2021 count

62

2021 rate

2.2%

Change from 2016

-3.3pp

45-54

2021 count

83

2021 rate

3.5%

Change from 2016

-0.8pp

55-64

2021 count

166

2021 rate

6.1%

Change from 2016

-1.1pp

65-74

2021 count

219

2021 rate

11.8%

Change from 2016

+0.4pp

75-84

2021 count

151

2021 rate

27.3%

Change from 2016

+17.3pp

85+

2021 count

81

2021 rate

59.6%

Change from 2016

+15.2pp

Data table

Need for assistance for St Clair (Penrith - NSW). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Penrith (C).

Need for assistance for St Clair (Penrith - NSW). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Penrith (C).
Need for assistance for St Clair (Penrith - NSW). 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
0-4241.8%1.8%36.1%1.5%+21-4.3pp
5-141394.9%5.6%00.0%4.4%+139+4.9pp
15-19423.2%3.8%313.0%3.1%+39-9.8pp
20-24322.6%2.7%00.0%2.3%+32+2.6pp
25-34531.9%2.1%00.0%1.8%+53+1.9pp
35-44622.2%2.4%35.5%2.5%+59-3.3pp
45-54833.5%3.9%34.3%3.7%+80-0.8pp
55-641666.1%6.4%77.2%6.1%+159-1.1pp
65-7421911.8%11.3%811.4%11.0%+211+0.4pp
75-8415127.3%23.8%310.0%25.7%+148+17.3pp
85+8159.6%45.7%444.4%58.0%+77+15.2pp
Total1,0525.3%5.5%376.7%5.2%+1,015-1.4pp