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 Rockingham (WA), accounting for 18.8% (268 people). This share was similar to Rockingham (C) (19%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 85+ year olds, which increased by 58 people and 0.4 percentage points.

Section overview

Need for assistance with core activities by age

Rockingham (WA) - Persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises need for assistance for Rockingham (WA) 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 Rockingham (WA), with comparison markers for Rockingham (C).

Rockingham (WA)

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

0-4

2021 count

15

2021 rate

2.4%

Change from 2016

+1.4pp

5-14

2021 count

79

2021 rate

5.9%

Change from 2016

+2.1pp

15-19

2021 count

30

2021 rate

4.4%

Change from 2016

+1.5pp

20-24

2021 count

25

2021 rate

2.8%

Change from 2016

+1.0pp

25-34

2021 count

49

2021 rate

2.9%

Change from 2016

+0.7pp

35-44

2021 count

47

2021 rate

2.9%

Change from 2016

-0.3pp

45-54

2021 count

92

2021 rate

4.7%

Change from 2016

+0.9pp

55-64

2021 count

156

2021 rate

6.7%

Change from 2016

+0.5pp

65-74

2021 count

221

2021 rate

10.5%

Change from 2016

+0.6pp

75-84

2021 count

268

2021 rate

18.8%

Change from 2016

-1.7pp

85+

2021 count

258

2021 rate

41.6%

Change from 2016

+0.4pp

Data table

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

Need for assistance for Rockingham (WA). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Rockingham (C).
Need for assistance for Rockingham (WA). 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
0-4152.4%1.4%71.0%1.2%+8+1.4pp
5-14795.9%5.0%503.8%3.2%+29+2.1pp
15-19304.4%3.7%212.9%2.6%+9+1.5pp
20-24252.8%2.7%151.8%1.7%+10+1.0pp
25-34492.9%2.0%362.2%1.4%+13+0.7pp
35-44472.9%1.9%523.2%1.7%-5-0.3pp
45-54924.7%3.1%763.8%2.9%+16+0.9pp
55-641566.7%5.3%1276.2%5.4%+29+0.5pp
65-7422110.5%9.9%1769.9%9.4%+45+0.6pp
75-8426818.8%19.0%26120.5%18.8%+7-1.7pp
85+25841.6%40.8%20041.2%40.2%+58+0.4pp
Total1,2278.0%5.1%1,0287.1%4.2%+199+0.9pp