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 Surf Coast (S), accounting for 43.8% (323 people). This share was lower than Regional Vic. (46.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 93 people, while its share fell by 0.5 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Surf Coast (S) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Surf Coast (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Vic. and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Surf Coast (S), with comparison markers for Regional Vic..
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
18
2021 rate
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
18
0.8%
+0.6pp
5-14
2021 count
155
2021 rate
3.0%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
155
3.0%
+1.0pp
15-19
2021 count
61
2021 rate
2.9%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
61
2.9%
+1.1pp
20-24
2021 count
34
2021 rate
2.2%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
34
2.2%
-0.6pp
25-34
2021 count
57
2021 rate
1.6%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
57
1.6%
-0.4pp
35-44
2021 count
60
2021 rate
1.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
60
1.1%
0.0pp
45-54
2021 count
79
2021 rate
1.5%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
79
1.5%
-0.2pp
55-64
2021 count
109
2021 rate
2.2%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
109
2.2%
-0.7pp
65-74
2021 count
201
2021 rate
4.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
201
4.3%
0.0pp
75-84
2021 count
298
2021 rate
14.2%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
298
14.2%
-0.5pp
85+
2021 count
323
2021 rate
43.8%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
323
43.8%
-1.4pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+14
+0.6pp
5-14
+71
+1.0pp
15-19
+31
+1.1pp
20-24
0
-0.6pp
25-34
-2
-0.4pp
35-44
+14
0.0pp
45-54
+8
-0.2pp
55-64
-8
-0.7pp
65-74
+64
0.0pp
75-84
+93
-0.5pp
85+
+67
-1.4pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Surf Coast (S). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 18 | 0.8% | 1.5% | 4 | 0.2% | 1.2% | +14 | +0.6pp |
| 5-14 | 155 | 3.0% | 5.5% | 84 | 2.0% | 3.9% | +71 | +1.0pp |
| 15-19 | 61 | 2.9% | 4.6% | 30 | 1.8% | 3.4% | +31 | +1.1pp |
| 20-24 | 34 | 2.2% | 3.7% | 34 | 2.8% | 2.9% | 0 | -0.6pp |
| 25-34 | 57 | 1.6% | 2.8% | 59 | 2.0% | 2.4% | -2 | -0.4pp |
| 35-44 | 60 | 1.1% | 3.1% | 46 | 1.1% | 3.0% | +14 | 0.0pp |
| 45-54 | 79 | 1.5% | 4.3% | 71 | 1.7% | 4.2% | +8 | -0.2pp |
| 55-64 | 109 | 2.2% | 6.0% | 117 | 2.9% | 5.8% | -8 | -0.7pp |
| 65-74 | 201 | 4.3% | 8.8% | 137 | 4.3% | 8.1% | +64 | 0.0pp |
| 75-84 | 298 | 14.2% | 18.7% | 205 | 14.7% | 17.0% | +93 | -0.5pp |
| 85+ | 323 | 43.8% | 46.4% | 256 | 45.2% | 42.3% | +67 | -1.4pp |
| Total | 1,409 | 3.7% | 6.9% | 1,043 | 3.5% | 6.0% | +366 | +0.2pp |