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 Shoalhaven (C), accounting for 19.2% (1,891 people). This share was higher than Regional NSW (18.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 403 people and 1.1 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Shoalhaven (C) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Shoalhaven (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Shoalhaven (C), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
98
2021 rate
1.8%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
98
1.8%
+0.1pp
5-14
2021 count
678
2021 rate
5.7%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
678
5.7%
+1.1pp
15-19
2021 count
295
2021 rate
5.4%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
295
5.4%
+1.3pp
20-24
2021 count
212
2021 rate
4.5%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
212
4.5%
+0.6pp
25-34
2021 count
376
2021 rate
3.4%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
376
3.4%
+0.3pp
35-44
2021 count
391
2021 rate
3.5%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
391
3.5%
+0.2pp
45-54
2021 count
585
2021 rate
4.8%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
585
4.8%
-0.8pp
55-64
2021 count
1,093
2021 rate
6.8%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
1,093
6.8%
-0.2pp
65-74
2021 count
1,555
2021 rate
9.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
1,555
9.1%
0.0pp
75-84
2021 count
1,891
2021 rate
19.2%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
1,891
19.2%
+1.1pp
85+
2021 count
1,606
2021 rate
45.8%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
1,606
45.8%
+1.5pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+13
+0.1pp
5-14
+165
+1.1pp
15-19
+75
+1.3pp
20-24
+32
+0.6pp
25-34
+86
+0.3pp
35-44
+54
+0.2pp
45-54
-103
-0.8pp
55-64
+11
-0.2pp
65-74
+188
0.0pp
75-84
+403
+1.1pp
85+
+206
+1.5pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Shoalhaven (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 | 98 | 1.8% | 1.6% | 85 | 1.7% | 1.3% | +13 | +0.1pp |
| 5-14 | 678 | 5.7% | 5.2% | 513 | 4.6% | 3.8% | +165 | +1.1pp |
| 15-19 | 295 | 5.4% | 4.2% | 220 | 4.1% | 3.2% | +75 | +1.3pp |
| 20-24 | 212 | 4.5% | 3.4% | 180 | 3.9% | 2.6% | +32 | +0.6pp |
| 25-34 | 376 | 3.4% | 2.6% | 290 | 3.1% | 2.4% | +86 | +0.3pp |
| 35-44 | 391 | 3.5% | 2.8% | 337 | 3.3% | 3.0% | +54 | +0.2pp |
| 45-54 | 585 | 4.8% | 4.2% | 688 | 5.6% | 4.4% | -103 | -0.8pp |
| 55-64 | 1,093 | 6.8% | 6.0% | 1,082 | 7.0% | 6.2% | +11 | -0.2pp |
| 65-74 | 1,555 | 9.1% | 9.1% | 1,367 | 9.1% | 8.7% | +188 | 0.0pp |
| 75-84 | 1,891 | 19.2% | 18.9% | 1,488 | 18.1% | 17.8% | +403 | +1.1pp |
| 85+ | 1,606 | 45.8% | 46.5% | 1,400 | 44.3% | 43.8% | +206 | +1.5pp |
| Total | 8,783 | 8.1% | 6.8% | 7,654 | 7.7% | 6.3% | +1,129 | +0.4pp |