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 Cooloongup, accounting for 34.3% (146 people). This share was higher than Rockingham (C) (19%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 146 people and 34.3 percentage points.

Section overview

Need for assistance with core activities by age

Cooloongup - Persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises need for assistance for Cooloongup in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Rockingham (C) and change since 2016.

Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Cooloongup, with comparison markers for Rockingham (C).

Cooloongup

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

0-4

2021 count

4

2021 rate

1.1%

Change from 2016

+1.1pp

5-14

2021 count

47

2021 rate

5.9%

Change from 2016

+5.9pp

15-19

2021 count

8

2021 rate

2.1%

Change from 2016

-5.6pp

20-24

2021 count

16

2021 rate

4.4%

Change from 2016

+4.4pp

25-34

2021 count

32

2021 rate

3.7%

Change from 2016

+3.7pp

35-44

2021 count

29

2021 rate

4.0%

Change from 2016

+4.0pp

45-54

2021 count

52

2021 rate

6.2%

Change from 2016

+6.2pp

55-64

2021 count

77

2021 rate

7.9%

Change from 2016

+0.9pp

65-74

2021 count

102

2021 rate

12.9%

Change from 2016

+2.6pp

75-84

2021 count

146

2021 rate

34.3%

Change from 2016

+34.3pp

85+

2021 count

96

2021 rate

58.5%

Change from 2016

+58.5pp

Data table

Need for assistance for Cooloongup. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Rockingham (C).

Need for assistance for Cooloongup. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Rockingham (C).
Need for assistance for Cooloongup. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Rockingham (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Rockingham (C)%Count%Rockingham (C)%Countpp
0-441.1%1.4%00.0%1.2%+4+1.1pp
5-14475.9%5.0%00.0%3.2%+47+5.9pp
15-1982.1%3.7%37.7%2.6%+5-5.6pp
20-24164.4%2.7%00.0%1.7%+16+4.4pp
25-34323.7%2.0%00.0%1.4%+32+3.7pp
35-44294.0%1.9%00.0%1.7%+29+4.0pp
45-54526.2%3.1%00.0%2.9%+52+6.2pp
55-64777.9%5.3%37.0%5.4%+74+0.9pp
65-7410212.9%9.9%310.3%9.4%+99+2.6pp
75-8414634.3%19.0%00.0%18.8%+146+34.3pp
85+9658.5%40.8%00.0%40.2%+96+58.5pp
Total6119.1%5.1%133.4%4.2%+598+5.7pp