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, 55-64 year olds was the most common age group among residents who needed assistance with core activities in Southern Midlands (M), accounting for 9.8% (106 people). This share was higher than Regional Tas. (6.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 45-54 year olds, which decreased by 20 people and 1.6 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Southern Midlands (M) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Southern Midlands (M) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Tas. and change since 2016.
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Southern Midlands (M), with comparison markers for Regional Tas..
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
3
2021 rate
0.8%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
3
0.8%
-0.2pp
5-14
2021 count
47
2021 rate
5.9%
Change from 2016
+2.3pp
47
5.9%
+2.3pp
15-19
2021 count
21
2021 rate
5.4%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
21
5.4%
+0.4pp
20-24
2021 count
17
2021 rate
4.6%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
17
4.6%
+1.7pp
25-34
2021 count
21
2021 rate
2.8%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
21
2.8%
-0.4pp
35-44
2021 count
36
2021 rate
4.8%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
36
4.8%
+0.8pp
45-54
2021 count
55
2021 rate
6.1%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
55
6.1%
-1.6pp
55-64
2021 count
106
2021 rate
9.8%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
106
9.8%
+0.5pp
65-74
2021 count
91
2021 rate
11.1%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
91
11.1%
-0.4pp
75-84
2021 count
72
2021 rate
19.6%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
72
19.6%
-0.2pp
85+
2021 count
36
2021 rate
41.9%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
36
41.9%
-1.1pp
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
0
-0.2pp
5-14
+17
+2.3pp
15-19
+1
+0.4pp
20-24
+9
+1.7pp
25-34
+2
-0.4pp
35-44
+10
+0.8pp
45-54
-20
-1.6pp
55-64
+15
+0.5pp
65-74
+12
-0.4pp
75-84
+19
-0.2pp
85+
-1
-1.1pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Southern Midlands (M). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Tas..
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Tas.% | Count | % | Regional Tas.% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 3 | 0.8% | 1.7% | 3 | 1.0% | 1.1% | 0 | -0.2pp |
| 5-14 | 47 | 5.9% | 5.6% | 30 | 3.6% | 4.0% | +17 | +2.3pp |
| 15-19 | 21 | 5.4% | 4.9% | 20 | 5.0% | 3.6% | +1 | +0.4pp |
| 20-24 | 17 | 4.6% | 3.8% | 8 | 2.9% | 3.0% | +9 | +1.7pp |
| 25-34 | 21 | 2.8% | 2.8% | 19 | 3.2% | 2.6% | +2 | -0.4pp |
| 35-44 | 36 | 4.8% | 3.3% | 26 | 4.0% | 3.5% | +10 | +0.8pp |
| 45-54 | 55 | 6.1% | 5.2% | 75 | 7.7% | 5.2% | -20 | -1.6pp |
| 55-64 | 106 | 9.8% | 6.9% | 91 | 9.3% | 7.1% | +15 | +0.5pp |
| 65-74 | 91 | 11.1% | 10.0% | 79 | 11.5% | 9.6% | +12 | -0.4pp |
| 75-84 | 72 | 19.6% | 18.9% | 53 | 19.8% | 18.3% | +19 | -0.2pp |
| 85+ | 36 | 41.9% | 45.1% | 37 | 43.0% | 46.2% | -1 | -1.1pp |
| Total | 503 | 7.6% | 7.3% | 436 | 7.2% | 6.7% | +67 | +0.4pp |