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, 85+ year olds was the most common age group among residents who needed assistance with core activities in Snowy Valleys (A), accounting for 49.5% (197 people). This share was higher than Regional NSW (46.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 85+ year olds, which increased by 51 people and 15.5 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Snowy Valleys (A) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Snowy Valleys (A) 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 Snowy Valleys (A), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
13
2021 rate
1.6%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
13
1.6%
+1.2pp
5-14
2021 count
75
2021 rate
3.9%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
75
3.9%
+1.2pp
15-19
2021 count
23
2021 rate
2.8%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
23
2.8%
-0.5pp
20-24
2021 count
25
2021 rate
3.8%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
25
3.8%
+1.7pp
25-34
2021 count
28
2021 rate
1.9%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
28
1.9%
+0.2pp
35-44
2021 count
58
2021 rate
3.4%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
58
3.4%
+0.9pp
45-54
2021 count
64
2021 rate
3.5%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
64
3.5%
+0.2pp
55-64
2021 count
105
2021 rate
4.8%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
105
4.8%
-0.4pp
65-74
2021 count
153
2021 rate
8.0%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
153
8.0%
+1.6pp
75-84
2021 count
164
2021 rate
14.4%
Change from 2016
+2.5pp
164
14.4%
+2.5pp
85+
2021 count
197
2021 rate
49.5%
Change from 2016
+15.5pp
197
49.5%
+15.5pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+10
+1.2pp
5-14
+26
+1.2pp
15-19
-3
-0.5pp
20-24
+11
+1.7pp
25-34
+4
+0.2pp
35-44
+18
+0.9pp
45-54
0
+0.2pp
55-64
-7
-0.4pp
65-74
+39
+1.6pp
75-84
+47
+2.5pp
85+
+51
+15.5pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Snowy Valleys (A). 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 | 13 | 1.6% | 1.6% | 3 | 0.4% | 1.3% | +10 | +1.2pp |
| 5-14 | 75 | 3.9% | 5.2% | 49 | 2.7% | 3.8% | +26 | +1.2pp |
| 15-19 | 23 | 2.8% | 4.2% | 26 | 3.3% | 3.2% | -3 | -0.5pp |
| 20-24 | 25 | 3.8% | 3.4% | 14 | 2.1% | 2.6% | +11 | +1.7pp |
| 25-34 | 28 | 1.9% | 2.6% | 24 | 1.7% | 2.4% | +4 | +0.2pp |
| 35-44 | 58 | 3.4% | 2.8% | 40 | 2.5% | 3.0% | +18 | +0.9pp |
| 45-54 | 64 | 3.5% | 4.2% | 64 | 3.3% | 4.4% | 0 | +0.2pp |
| 55-64 | 105 | 4.8% | 6.0% | 112 | 5.2% | 6.2% | -7 | -0.4pp |
| 65-74 | 153 | 8.0% | 9.1% | 114 | 6.4% | 8.7% | +39 | +1.6pp |
| 75-84 | 164 | 14.4% | 18.9% | 117 | 11.9% | 17.8% | +47 | +2.5pp |
| 85+ | 197 | 49.5% | 46.5% | 146 | 34.0% | 43.8% | +51 | +15.5pp |
| Total | 909 | 6.1% | 6.8% | 703 | 4.9% | 6.3% | +206 | +1.2pp |