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 South Perth (C), accounting for 44.9% (554 people). This share was lower than Greater Perth (46.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 120 people and 0.2 percentage points.

Section overview

Need for assistance with core activities by age

South Perth (C) - Persons (Usual residence)

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

Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot

2021 distribution by category for South Perth (C), with comparison markers for Greater Perth.

South Perth (C)

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

0-4

2021 count

17

2021 rate

0.8%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

5-14

2021 count

111

2021 rate

2.6%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

15-19

2021 count

41

2021 rate

1.7%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

20-24

2021 count

44

2021 rate

1.3%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

25-34

2021 count

70

2021 rate

1.1%

Change from 2016

+0.6pp

35-44

2021 count

67

2021 rate

1.2%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

45-54

2021 count

93

2021 rate

1.8%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

55-64

2021 count

138

2021 rate

2.7%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

65-74

2021 count

237

2021 rate

5.0%

Change from 2016

-0.4pp

75-84

2021 count

437

2021 rate

17.5%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

85+

2021 count

554

2021 rate

44.9%

Change from 2016

-1.8pp

Data table

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

Need for assistance for South Perth (C). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Perth.
Need for assistance for South Perth (C). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Perth.
Category20212016Change
Count%Greater Perth%Count%Greater Perth%Countpp
0-4170.8%1.2%130.7%1.0%+4+0.1pp
5-141112.6%3.7%972.3%2.7%+14+0.3pp
15-19411.7%3.1%431.6%2.1%-2+0.1pp
20-24441.3%2.1%401.1%1.5%+4+0.2pp
25-34701.1%1.6%390.5%1.1%+31+0.6pp
35-44671.2%1.6%661.2%1.5%+10.0pp
45-54931.8%2.5%991.9%2.4%-6-0.1pp
55-641382.7%4.3%1342.6%4.1%+4+0.1pp
65-742375.0%7.5%1965.4%7.2%+41-0.4pp
75-8443717.5%18.8%31717.3%18.1%+120+0.2pp
85+55444.9%46.7%53146.7%43.0%+23-1.8pp
Total1,8264.2%4.6%1,5743.7%3.9%+252+0.5pp