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 St Marys (NSW), accounting for 26.4% (132 people). This share was higher than Penrith (C) (23.8%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 85+ year olds, which decreased by 52 people and 14.7 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
St Marys (NSW) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for St Marys (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 Marys (NSW), with comparison markers for Penrith (C).
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
17
2021 rate
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
17
1.6%
+0.7pp
5-14
2021 count
99
2021 rate
5.7%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
99
5.7%
+1.2pp
15-19
2021 count
18
2021 rate
2.7%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
18
2.7%
-0.6pp
20-24
2021 count
21
2021 rate
2.3%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
21
2.3%
-1.0pp
25-34
2021 count
47
2021 rate
2.1%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
47
2.1%
-0.6pp
35-44
2021 count
61
2021 rate
3.1%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
61
3.1%
-0.5pp
45-54
2021 count
90
2021 rate
5.6%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
90
5.6%
+0.4pp
55-64
2021 count
125
2021 rate
9.1%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
125
9.1%
+0.5pp
65-74
2021 count
125
2021 rate
12.6%
Change from 2016
-2.8pp
125
12.6%
-2.8pp
75-84
2021 count
132
2021 rate
26.4%
Change from 2016
-7.0pp
132
26.4%
-7.0pp
85+
2021 count
91
2021 rate
50.3%
Change from 2016
-14.7pp
91
50.3%
-14.7pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+8
+0.7pp
5-14
+32
+1.2pp
15-19
-5
-0.6pp
20-24
-12
-1.0pp
25-34
-9
-0.6pp
35-44
+2
-0.5pp
45-54
+16
+0.4pp
55-64
+13
+0.5pp
65-74
-7
-2.8pp
75-84
-33
-7.0pp
85+
-52
-14.7pp
Data table
Need for assistance for St Marys (NSW). 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 | 17 | 1.6% | 1.8% | 9 | 0.9% | 1.5% | +8 | +0.7pp |
| 5-14 | 99 | 5.7% | 5.6% | 67 | 4.5% | 4.4% | +32 | +1.2pp |
| 15-19 | 18 | 2.7% | 3.8% | 23 | 3.3% | 3.1% | -5 | -0.6pp |
| 20-24 | 21 | 2.3% | 2.7% | 33 | 3.3% | 2.3% | -12 | -1.0pp |
| 25-34 | 47 | 2.1% | 2.1% | 56 | 2.7% | 1.8% | -9 | -0.6pp |
| 35-44 | 61 | 3.1% | 2.4% | 59 | 3.6% | 2.5% | +2 | -0.5pp |
| 45-54 | 90 | 5.6% | 3.9% | 74 | 5.2% | 3.7% | +16 | +0.4pp |
| 55-64 | 125 | 9.1% | 6.4% | 112 | 8.6% | 6.1% | +13 | +0.5pp |
| 65-74 | 125 | 12.6% | 11.3% | 132 | 15.4% | 11.0% | -7 | -2.8pp |
| 75-84 | 132 | 26.4% | 23.8% | 165 | 33.4% | 25.7% | -33 | -7.0pp |
| 85+ | 91 | 50.3% | 45.7% | 143 | 65.0% | 58.0% | -52 | -14.7pp |
| Total | 833 | 6.3% | 5.5% | 870 | 7.1% | 5.2% | -37 | -0.8pp |