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 Sydney (C), accounting for 21% (1,256 people). This share was lower than Greater Sydney (23.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 223 people, while its share fell by 0.3 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Sydney (C) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Sydney (C) 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 Sydney (C), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
56
2021 rate
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
56
0.8%
+0.3pp
5-14
2021 count
242
2021 rate
2.8%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
242
2.8%
+1.0pp
15-19
2021 count
85
2021 rate
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
85
1.6%
+0.8pp
20-24
2021 count
130
2021 rate
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
130
0.6%
+0.3pp
25-34
2021 count
314
2021 rate
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
314
0.5%
+0.1pp
35-44
2021 count
404
2021 rate
1.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
404
1.0%
-0.1pp
45-54
2021 count
524
2021 rate
2.3%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
524
2.3%
-0.5pp
55-64
2021 count
811
2021 rate
4.5%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
811
4.5%
-0.6pp
65-74
2021 count
1,034
2021 rate
8.4%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
1,034
8.4%
+0.4pp
75-84
2021 count
1,256
2021 rate
21.0%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
1,256
21.0%
-0.3pp
85+
2021 count
944
2021 rate
46.3%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
944
46.3%
+0.8pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+24
+0.3pp
5-14
+117
+1.0pp
15-19
+20
+0.8pp
20-24
+45
+0.3pp
25-34
+21
+0.1pp
35-44
+44
-0.1pp
45-54
-75
-0.5pp
55-64
-16
-0.6pp
65-74
+194
+0.4pp
75-84
+223
-0.3pp
85+
+130
+0.8pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Sydney (C). 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 | 56 | 0.8% | 1.3% | 32 | 0.5% | 1.1% | +24 | +0.3pp |
| 5-14 | 242 | 2.8% | 3.4% | 125 | 1.8% | 2.7% | +117 | +1.0pp |
| 15-19 | 85 | 1.6% | 2.7% | 65 | 0.8% | 2.2% | +20 | +0.8pp |
| 20-24 | 130 | 0.6% | 1.8% | 85 | 0.3% | 1.5% | +45 | +0.3pp |
| 25-34 | 314 | 0.5% | 1.3% | 293 | 0.4% | 1.2% | +21 | +0.1pp |
| 35-44 | 404 | 1.0% | 1.6% | 360 | 1.1% | 1.8% | +44 | -0.1pp |
| 45-54 | 524 | 2.3% | 2.9% | 599 | 2.8% | 3.2% | -75 | -0.5pp |
| 55-64 | 811 | 4.5% | 5.5% | 827 | 5.1% | 5.7% | -16 | -0.6pp |
| 65-74 | 1,034 | 8.4% | 10.5% | 840 | 8.0% | 9.9% | +194 | +0.4pp |
| 75-84 | 1,256 | 21.0% | 23.1% | 1,033 | 21.3% | 23.4% | +223 | -0.3pp |
| 85+ | 944 | 46.3% | 48.7% | 814 | 45.5% | 50.4% | +130 | +0.8pp |
| Total | 5,812 | 2.7% | 5.2% | 5,096 | 2.4% | 4.9% | +716 | +0.3pp |