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 Southern Downs (R), accounting for 18.6% (571 people). This share was lower than Regional Qld (20.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 133 people and 0.7 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Southern Downs (R) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Southern Downs (R) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Qld and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Southern Downs (R), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
26
2021 rate
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
26
1.6%
+0.4pp
5-14
2021 count
249
2021 rate
5.5%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
249
5.5%
+1.9pp
15-19
2021 count
91
2021 rate
4.4%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
91
4.4%
+1.1pp
20-24
2021 count
58
2021 rate
3.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
58
3.6%
+0.2pp
25-34
2021 count
97
2021 rate
2.8%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
97
2.8%
+0.1pp
35-44
2021 count
129
2021 rate
3.7%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
129
3.7%
-0.4pp
45-54
2021 count
257
2021 rate
5.7%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
257
5.7%
+0.5pp
55-64
2021 count
392
2021 rate
7.2%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
392
7.2%
-0.2pp
65-74
2021 count
541
2021 rate
9.9%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
541
9.9%
+0.1pp
75-84
2021 count
571
2021 rate
18.6%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
571
18.6%
+0.7pp
85+
2021 count
471
2021 rate
46.9%
Change from 2016
-2.3pp
471
46.9%
-2.3pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+2
+0.4pp
5-14
+85
+1.9pp
15-19
+19
+1.1pp
20-24
0
+0.2pp
25-34
+11
+0.1pp
35-44
-22
-0.4pp
45-54
+18
+0.5pp
55-64
+6
-0.2pp
65-74
+76
+0.1pp
75-84
+133
+0.7pp
85+
+27
-2.3pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Southern Downs (R). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 26 | 1.6% | 1.5% | 24 | 1.2% | 1.2% | +2 | +0.4pp |
| 5-14 | 249 | 5.5% | 5.0% | 164 | 3.6% | 3.5% | +85 | +1.9pp |
| 15-19 | 91 | 4.4% | 4.0% | 72 | 3.3% | 2.9% | +19 | +1.1pp |
| 20-24 | 58 | 3.6% | 2.8% | 58 | 3.4% | 2.2% | 0 | +0.2pp |
| 25-34 | 97 | 2.8% | 2.1% | 86 | 2.7% | 1.9% | +11 | +0.1pp |
| 35-44 | 129 | 3.7% | 2.5% | 151 | 4.1% | 2.5% | -22 | -0.4pp |
| 45-54 | 257 | 5.7% | 3.8% | 239 | 5.2% | 3.8% | +18 | +0.5pp |
| 55-64 | 392 | 7.2% | 6.0% | 386 | 7.4% | 6.0% | +6 | -0.2pp |
| 65-74 | 541 | 9.9% | 9.6% | 465 | 9.8% | 9.1% | +76 | +0.1pp |
| 75-84 | 571 | 18.6% | 20.4% | 438 | 17.9% | 19.3% | +133 | +0.7pp |
| 85+ | 471 | 46.9% | 47.7% | 444 | 49.2% | 46.7% | +27 | -2.3pp |
| Total | 2,881 | 7.9% | 6.3% | 2,527 | 7.2% | 5.5% | +354 | +0.7pp |