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, 5-14 year olds was the most common age group among residents who needed assistance with core activities in Port Hedland (T), accounting for 2.8% (68 people). This share was lower than Regional WA (3.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 5-14 year olds, which increased by 46 people and 1.7 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Port Hedland (T) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Port Hedland (T) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Port Hedland (T), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
4
2021 rate
0.3%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
4
0.3%
-0.6pp
5-14
2021 count
68
2021 rate
2.8%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
68
2.8%
+1.7pp
15-19
2021 count
14
2021 rate
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
14
1.7%
+0.2pp
20-24
2021 count
10
2021 rate
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
10
1.2%
+0.1pp
25-34
2021 count
15
2021 rate
0.5%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
15
0.5%
-0.1pp
35-44
2021 count
21
2021 rate
0.7%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
21
0.7%
-0.1pp
45-54
2021 count
47
2021 rate
2.3%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
47
2.3%
+0.3pp
55-64
2021 count
50
2021 rate
3.1%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
50
3.1%
-0.7pp
65-74
2021 count
47
2021 rate
10.0%
Change from 2016
-2.7pp
47
10.0%
-2.7pp
75-84
2021 count
35
2021 rate
31.5%
Change from 2016
+8.4pp
35
31.5%
+8.4pp
85+
2021 count
14
2021 rate
42.4%
Change from 2016
-7.6pp
14
42.4%
-7.6pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
-8
-0.6pp
5-14
+46
+1.7pp
15-19
+4
+0.2pp
20-24
0
+0.1pp
25-34
-5
-0.1pp
35-44
+1
-0.1pp
45-54
+7
+0.3pp
55-64
+3
-0.7pp
65-74
+2
-2.7pp
75-84
+11
+8.4pp
85+
-3
-7.6pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Port Hedland (T). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional WA% | Count | % | Regional WA% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 4 | 0.3% | 1.0% | 12 | 0.9% | 0.8% | -8 | -0.6pp |
| 5-14 | 68 | 2.8% | 3.5% | 22 | 1.1% | 2.3% | +46 | +1.7pp |
| 15-19 | 14 | 1.7% | 3.0% | 10 | 1.5% | 2.2% | +4 | +0.2pp |
| 20-24 | 10 | 1.2% | 2.4% | 10 | 1.1% | 1.8% | 0 | +0.1pp |
| 25-34 | 15 | 0.5% | 1.6% | 20 | 0.6% | 1.3% | -5 | -0.1pp |
| 35-44 | 21 | 0.7% | 1.7% | 20 | 0.8% | 1.6% | +1 | -0.1pp |
| 45-54 | 47 | 2.3% | 2.7% | 40 | 2.0% | 2.5% | +7 | +0.3pp |
| 55-64 | 50 | 3.1% | 4.2% | 47 | 3.8% | 4.2% | +3 | -0.7pp |
| 65-74 | 47 | 10.0% | 7.3% | 45 | 12.7% | 7.4% | +2 | -2.7pp |
| 75-84 | 35 | 31.5% | 17.0% | 24 | 23.1% | 16.5% | +11 | +8.4pp |
| 85+ | 14 | 42.4% | 42.6% | 17 | 50.0% | 41.4% | -3 | -7.6pp |
| Total | 322 | 2.1% | 4.6% | 270 | 1.9% | 3.8% | +52 | +0.2pp |