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 Tamworth Regional (A), accounting for 18.4% (769 people). This share was lower than Regional NSW (18.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 5-14 year olds, which increased by 192 people and 1.9 percentage points.

Section overview

Need for assistance with core activities by age

Tamworth Regional (A) - Persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises need for assistance for Tamworth Regional (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.

Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Tamworth Regional (A), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.

Tamworth Regional (A)

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

0-4

2021 count

70

2021 rate

1.8%

Change from 2016

+0.6pp

5-14

2021 count

486

2021 rate

5.5%

Change from 2016

+1.9pp

15-19

2021 count

166

2021 rate

4.0%

Change from 2016

+1.0pp

20-24

2021 count

132

2021 rate

4.0%

Change from 2016

+1.6pp

25-34

2021 count

195

2021 rate

2.4%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

35-44

2021 count

226

2021 rate

3.1%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

45-54

2021 count

302

2021 rate

4.1%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

55-64

2021 count

466

2021 rate

6.1%

Change from 2016

+0.4pp

65-74

2021 count

663

2021 rate

9.8%

Change from 2016

+1.2pp

75-84

2021 count

769

2021 rate

18.4%

Change from 2016

+1.7pp

85+

2021 count

733

2021 rate

46.4%

Change from 2016

+5.6pp

Data table

Need for assistance for Tamworth Regional (A). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.

Need for assistance for Tamworth Regional (A). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
Need for assistance for Tamworth Regional (A). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional NSW%Count%Regional NSW%Countpp
0-4701.8%1.6%461.2%1.3%+24+0.6pp
5-144865.5%5.2%2943.6%3.8%+192+1.9pp
15-191664.0%4.2%1113.0%3.2%+55+1.0pp
20-241324.0%3.4%772.4%2.6%+55+1.6pp
25-341952.4%2.6%1492.1%2.4%+46+0.3pp
35-442263.1%2.8%2213.2%3.0%+5-0.1pp
45-543024.1%4.2%3034.0%4.4%-1+0.1pp
55-644666.1%6.0%4365.7%6.2%+30+0.4pp
65-746639.8%9.1%5278.6%8.7%+136+1.2pp
75-8476918.4%18.9%59716.7%17.8%+172+1.7pp
85+73346.4%46.5%58640.8%43.8%+147+5.6pp
Total4,2046.7%6.8%3,3415.6%6.3%+863+1.1pp