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, 85+ year olds was the most common age group among residents who needed assistance with core activities in Perth (C), accounting for 43.3% (116 people). This share was lower than Greater Perth (46.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 85+ year olds, which increased by 61 people and 8.9 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Perth (C) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Perth (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Perth and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Perth (C), with comparison markers for Greater Perth.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
14
2021 rate
1.5%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
14
1.5%
+0.6pp
5-14
2021 count
33
2021 rate
3.1%
Change from 2016
+2.5pp
33
3.1%
+2.5pp
15-19
2021 count
10
2021 rate
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
10
0.8%
+0.5pp
20-24
2021 count
30
2021 rate
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
30
0.8%
+0.3pp
25-34
2021 count
64
2021 rate
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
64
0.7%
+0.3pp
35-44
2021 count
37
2021 rate
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
37
0.8%
+0.2pp
45-54
2021 count
43
2021 rate
1.6%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
43
1.6%
-0.2pp
55-64
2021 count
68
2021 rate
2.7%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
68
2.7%
-0.2pp
65-74
2021 count
90
2021 rate
4.7%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
90
4.7%
-0.2pp
75-84
2021 count
109
2021 rate
12.1%
Change from 2016
-4.3pp
109
12.1%
-4.3pp
85+
2021 count
116
2021 rate
43.3%
Change from 2016
+8.9pp
116
43.3%
+8.9pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+8
+0.6pp
5-14
+30
+2.5pp
15-19
+7
+0.5pp
20-24
+17
+0.3pp
25-34
+34
+0.3pp
35-44
+17
+0.2pp
45-54
+6
-0.2pp
55-64
+13
-0.2pp
65-74
+23
-0.2pp
75-84
+13
-4.3pp
85+
+61
+8.9pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Perth (C). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Perth.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Perth% | Count | % | Greater Perth% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 14 | 1.5% | 1.2% | 6 | 0.9% | 1.0% | +8 | +0.6pp |
| 5-14 | 33 | 3.1% | 3.7% | 3 | 0.6% | 2.7% | +30 | +2.5pp |
| 15-19 | 10 | 0.8% | 3.1% | 3 | 0.3% | 2.1% | +7 | +0.5pp |
| 20-24 | 30 | 0.8% | 2.1% | 13 | 0.5% | 1.5% | +17 | +0.3pp |
| 25-34 | 64 | 0.7% | 1.6% | 30 | 0.4% | 1.1% | +34 | +0.3pp |
| 35-44 | 37 | 0.8% | 1.6% | 20 | 0.6% | 1.5% | +17 | +0.2pp |
| 45-54 | 43 | 1.6% | 2.5% | 37 | 1.8% | 2.4% | +6 | -0.2pp |
| 55-64 | 68 | 2.7% | 4.3% | 55 | 2.9% | 4.1% | +13 | -0.2pp |
| 65-74 | 90 | 4.7% | 7.5% | 67 | 4.9% | 7.2% | +23 | -0.2pp |
| 75-84 | 109 | 12.1% | 18.8% | 96 | 16.4% | 18.1% | +13 | -4.3pp |
| 85+ | 116 | 43.3% | 46.7% | 55 | 34.4% | 43.0% | +61 | +8.9pp |
| Total | 624 | 2.2% | 4.6% | 379 | 1.7% | 3.9% | +245 | +0.5pp |