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 Shellharbour (C), accounting for 23.3% (1,038 people). This share was higher than Regional NSW (18.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 5-14 year olds, which increased by 218 people and 1.8 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Shellharbour (C) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Shellharbour (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Shellharbour (C), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
77
2021 rate
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
77
1.7%
+0.4pp
5-14
2021 count
576
2021 rate
5.7%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
576
5.7%
+1.8pp
15-19
2021 count
227
2021 rate
4.7%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
227
4.7%
+1.3pp
20-24
2021 count
164
2021 rate
3.6%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
164
3.6%
+0.8pp
25-34
2021 count
280
2021 rate
2.9%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
280
2.9%
+0.3pp
35-44
2021 count
303
2021 rate
3.2%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
303
3.2%
-0.4pp
45-54
2021 count
437
2021 rate
4.5%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
437
4.5%
-0.2pp
55-64
2021 count
671
2021 rate
6.9%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
671
6.9%
+0.1pp
65-74
2021 count
885
2021 rate
11.3%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
885
11.3%
-0.2pp
75-84
2021 count
1,038
2021 rate
23.3%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
1,038
23.3%
-0.7pp
85+
2021 count
735
2021 rate
43.4%
Change from 2016
-11.6pp
735
43.4%
-11.6pp
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+22
+0.4pp
5-14
+218
+1.8pp
15-19
+65
+1.3pp
20-24
+45
+0.8pp
25-34
+68
+0.3pp
35-44
-6
-0.4pp
45-54
+5
-0.2pp
55-64
+90
+0.1pp
65-74
+131
-0.2pp
75-84
+178
-0.7pp
85+
-22
-11.6pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Shellharbour (C). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 77 | 1.7% | 1.6% | 55 | 1.3% | 1.3% | +22 | +0.4pp |
| 5-14 | 576 | 5.7% | 5.2% | 358 | 3.9% | 3.8% | +218 | +1.8pp |
| 15-19 | 227 | 4.7% | 4.2% | 162 | 3.4% | 3.2% | +65 | +1.3pp |
| 20-24 | 164 | 3.6% | 3.4% | 119 | 2.8% | 2.6% | +45 | +0.8pp |
| 25-34 | 280 | 2.9% | 2.6% | 212 | 2.6% | 2.4% | +68 | +0.3pp |
| 35-44 | 303 | 3.2% | 2.8% | 309 | 3.6% | 3.0% | -6 | -0.4pp |
| 45-54 | 437 | 4.5% | 4.2% | 432 | 4.7% | 4.4% | +5 | -0.2pp |
| 55-64 | 671 | 6.9% | 6.0% | 581 | 6.8% | 6.2% | +90 | +0.1pp |
| 65-74 | 885 | 11.3% | 9.1% | 754 | 11.5% | 8.7% | +131 | -0.2pp |
| 75-84 | 1,038 | 23.3% | 18.9% | 860 | 24.0% | 17.8% | +178 | -0.7pp |
| 85+ | 735 | 43.4% | 46.5% | 757 | 55.0% | 43.8% | -22 | -11.6pp |
| Total | 5,392 | 7.1% | 6.8% | 4,593 | 6.7% | 6.3% | +799 | +0.4pp |