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 Swan (C), accounting for 22.3% (1,159 people). This share was higher than Greater Perth (18.8%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 397 people and 3.1 percentage points.

Section overview

Need for assistance with core activities by age

Swan (C) - Persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises need for assistance for Swan (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 Swan (C), with comparison markers for Greater Perth.

Swan (C)

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

0-4

2021 count

178

2021 rate

1.6%

Change from 2016

+0.5pp

5-14

2021 count

932

2021 rate

4.2%

Change from 2016

+0.9pp

15-19

2021 count

342

2021 rate

3.6%

Change from 2016

+1.3pp

20-24

2021 count

232

2021 rate

2.4%

Change from 2016

+0.8pp

25-34

2021 count

382

2021 rate

1.6%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

35-44

2021 count

423

2021 rate

1.8%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

45-54

2021 count

589

2021 rate

3.0%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

55-64

2021 count

885

2021 rate

5.3%

Change from 2016

+0.4pp

65-74

2021 count

992

2021 rate

9.1%

Change from 2016

+0.6pp

75-84

2021 count

1,159

2021 rate

22.3%

Change from 2016

+3.1pp

85+

2021 count

879

2021 rate

49.7%

Change from 2016

+11.1pp

Data table

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

Need for assistance for Swan (C). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Perth.
Need for assistance for Swan (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
0-41781.6%1.2%1151.1%1.0%+63+0.5pp
5-149324.2%3.7%6203.3%2.7%+312+0.9pp
15-193423.6%3.1%2092.3%2.1%+133+1.3pp
20-242322.4%2.1%1461.6%1.5%+86+0.8pp
25-343821.6%1.6%2861.4%1.1%+96+0.2pp
35-444231.8%1.6%3211.7%1.5%+102+0.1pp
45-545893.0%2.5%4922.7%2.4%+97+0.3pp
55-648855.3%4.3%6694.9%4.1%+216+0.4pp
65-749929.1%7.5%7178.5%7.2%+275+0.6pp
75-841,15922.3%18.8%76219.2%18.1%+397+3.1pp
85+87949.7%46.7%53338.6%43.0%+346+11.1pp
Total6,9984.6%4.6%4,8743.6%3.9%+2,124+1.0pp