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 Rockhampton (R), accounting for 25.9% (1,126 people). This share was higher than Regional Qld (20.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 5-14 year olds, which increased by 304 people and 2.4 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Rockhampton (R) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Rockhampton (R) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Qld and change since 2016.
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Rockhampton (R), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
123
2021 rate
2.4%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
123
2.4%
+0.8pp
5-14
2021 count
836
2021 rate
7.2%
Change from 2016
+2.4pp
836
7.2%
+2.4pp
15-19
2021 count
272
2021 rate
5.1%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
272
5.1%
+1.7pp
20-24
2021 count
187
2021 rate
3.6%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
187
3.6%
+0.7pp
25-34
2021 count
278
2021 rate
2.5%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
278
2.5%
+0.4pp
35-44
2021 count
323
2021 rate
3.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
323
3.1%
0.0pp
45-54
2021 count
478
2021 rate
4.9%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
478
4.9%
+0.4pp
55-64
2021 count
728
2021 rate
7.4%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
728
7.4%
+0.6pp
65-74
2021 count
867
2021 rate
11.6%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
867
11.6%
+0.7pp
75-84
2021 count
1,126
2021 rate
25.9%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
1,126
25.9%
+2.0pp
85+
2021 count
969
2021 rate
54.6%
Change from 2016
+5.4pp
969
54.6%
+5.4pp
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+36
+0.8pp
5-14
+304
+2.4pp
15-19
+82
+1.7pp
20-24
+32
+0.7pp
25-34
+40
+0.4pp
35-44
+31
0.0pp
45-54
+16
+0.4pp
55-64
+97
+0.6pp
65-74
+168
+0.7pp
75-84
+196
+2.0pp
85+
+178
+5.4pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Rockhampton (R). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 123 | 2.4% | 1.5% | 87 | 1.6% | 1.2% | +36 | +0.8pp |
| 5-14 | 836 | 7.2% | 5.0% | 532 | 4.8% | 3.5% | +304 | +2.4pp |
| 15-19 | 272 | 5.1% | 4.0% | 190 | 3.4% | 2.9% | +82 | +1.7pp |
| 20-24 | 187 | 3.6% | 2.8% | 155 | 2.9% | 2.2% | +32 | +0.7pp |
| 25-34 | 278 | 2.5% | 2.1% | 238 | 2.1% | 1.9% | +40 | +0.4pp |
| 35-44 | 323 | 3.1% | 2.5% | 292 | 3.1% | 2.5% | +31 | 0.0pp |
| 45-54 | 478 | 4.9% | 3.8% | 462 | 4.5% | 3.8% | +16 | +0.4pp |
| 55-64 | 728 | 7.4% | 6.0% | 631 | 6.8% | 6.0% | +97 | +0.6pp |
| 65-74 | 867 | 11.6% | 9.6% | 699 | 10.9% | 9.1% | +168 | +0.7pp |
| 75-84 | 1,126 | 25.9% | 20.4% | 930 | 23.9% | 19.3% | +196 | +2.0pp |
| 85+ | 969 | 54.6% | 47.7% | 791 | 49.2% | 46.7% | +178 | +5.4pp |
| Total | 6,180 | 7.5% | 6.3% | 5,007 | 6.3% | 5.5% | +1,173 | +1.2pp |