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 Sutherland Shire (A), accounting for 43.4% (2,791 people). This share was lower than Greater Sydney (48.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 348 people, while its share fell by 0.9 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Sutherland Shire (A) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Sutherland Shire (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Sydney and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Sutherland Shire (A), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
134
2021 rate
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
134
1.0%
+0.1pp
5-14
2021 count
947
2021 rate
3.2%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
947
3.2%
+0.7pp
15-19
2021 count
363
2021 rate
2.6%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
363
2.6%
+0.4pp
20-24
2021 count
246
2021 rate
1.9%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
246
1.9%
+0.3pp
25-34
2021 count
366
2021 rate
1.4%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
366
1.4%
+0.1pp
35-44
2021 count
418
2021 rate
1.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
418
1.4%
-0.1pp
45-54
2021 count
568
2021 rate
1.8%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
568
1.8%
0.0pp
55-64
2021 count
883
2021 rate
3.1%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
883
3.1%
+0.1pp
65-74
2021 count
1,406
2021 rate
6.1%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
1,406
6.1%
+0.2pp
75-84
2021 count
2,240
2021 rate
16.2%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
2,240
16.2%
-0.9pp
85+
2021 count
2,791
2021 rate
43.4%
Change from 2016
-4.0pp
2,791
43.4%
-4.0pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+11
+0.1pp
5-14
+235
+0.7pp
15-19
+71
+0.4pp
20-24
+47
+0.3pp
25-34
+36
+0.1pp
35-44
-21
-0.1pp
45-54
+13
0.0pp
55-64
+69
+0.1pp
65-74
+230
+0.2pp
75-84
+348
-0.9pp
85+
-28
-4.0pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Sutherland Shire (A). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 134 | 1.0% | 1.3% | 123 | 0.9% | 1.1% | +11 | +0.1pp |
| 5-14 | 947 | 3.2% | 3.4% | 712 | 2.5% | 2.7% | +235 | +0.7pp |
| 15-19 | 363 | 2.6% | 2.7% | 292 | 2.2% | 2.2% | +71 | +0.4pp |
| 20-24 | 246 | 1.9% | 1.8% | 199 | 1.6% | 1.5% | +47 | +0.3pp |
| 25-34 | 366 | 1.4% | 1.3% | 330 | 1.3% | 1.2% | +36 | +0.1pp |
| 35-44 | 418 | 1.4% | 1.6% | 439 | 1.5% | 1.8% | -21 | -0.1pp |
| 45-54 | 568 | 1.8% | 2.9% | 555 | 1.8% | 3.2% | +13 | 0.0pp |
| 55-64 | 883 | 3.1% | 5.5% | 814 | 3.0% | 5.7% | +69 | +0.1pp |
| 65-74 | 1,406 | 6.1% | 10.5% | 1,176 | 5.9% | 9.9% | +230 | +0.2pp |
| 75-84 | 2,240 | 16.2% | 23.1% | 1,892 | 17.1% | 23.4% | +348 | -0.9pp |
| 85+ | 2,791 | 43.4% | 48.7% | 2,819 | 47.4% | 50.4% | -28 | -4.0pp |
| Total | 10,369 | 4.5% | 5.2% | 9,352 | 4.3% | 4.9% | +1,017 | +0.2pp |