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 Toowoomba (R), accounting for 21% (2,360 people). This share was higher than Regional Qld (20.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 676 people and 2.2 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Toowoomba (R) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Toowoomba (R) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Qld and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Toowoomba (R), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
148
2021 rate
1.5%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
148
1.5%
+0.3pp
5-14
2021 count
1,223
2021 rate
5.2%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
1,223
5.2%
+1.4pp
15-19
2021 count
498
2021 rate
4.4%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
498
4.4%
+0.9pp
20-24
2021 count
356
2021 rate
3.4%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
356
3.4%
+1.1pp
25-34
2021 count
586
2021 rate
2.7%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
586
2.7%
+0.4pp
35-44
2021 count
682
2021 rate
3.4%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
682
3.4%
+0.5pp
45-54
2021 count
947
2021 rate
4.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
947
4.5%
+0.1pp
55-64
2021 count
1,397
2021 rate
6.8%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
1,397
6.8%
+1.0pp
65-74
2021 count
1,880
2021 rate
10.4%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
1,880
10.4%
+1.2pp
75-84
2021 count
2,360
2021 rate
21.0%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
2,360
21.0%
+2.2pp
85+
2021 count
2,116
2021 rate
48.3%
Change from 2016
+4.1pp
2,116
48.3%
+4.1pp
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
+381
+1.4pp
15-19
+125
+0.9pp
20-24
+119
+1.1pp
25-34
+137
+0.4pp
35-44
+125
+0.5pp
45-54
+42
+0.1pp
55-64
+268
+1.0pp
65-74
+432
+1.2pp
75-84
+676
+2.2pp
85+
+434
+4.1pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Toowoomba (R). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 148 | 1.5% | 1.5% | 124 | 1.2% | 1.2% | +24 | +0.3pp |
| 5-14 | 1,223 | 5.2% | 5.0% | 842 | 3.8% | 3.5% | +381 | +1.4pp |
| 15-19 | 498 | 4.4% | 4.0% | 373 | 3.5% | 2.9% | +125 | +0.9pp |
| 20-24 | 356 | 3.4% | 2.8% | 237 | 2.3% | 2.2% | +119 | +1.1pp |
| 25-34 | 586 | 2.7% | 2.1% | 449 | 2.3% | 1.9% | +137 | +0.4pp |
| 35-44 | 682 | 3.4% | 2.5% | 557 | 2.9% | 2.5% | +125 | +0.5pp |
| 45-54 | 947 | 4.5% | 3.8% | 905 | 4.4% | 3.8% | +42 | +0.1pp |
| 55-64 | 1,397 | 6.8% | 6.0% | 1,129 | 5.8% | 6.0% | +268 | +1.0pp |
| 65-74 | 1,880 | 10.4% | 9.6% | 1,448 | 9.2% | 9.1% | +432 | +1.2pp |
| 75-84 | 2,360 | 21.0% | 20.4% | 1,684 | 18.8% | 19.3% | +676 | +2.2pp |
| 85+ | 2,116 | 48.3% | 47.7% | 1,682 | 44.2% | 46.7% | +434 | +4.1pp |
| Total | 12,181 | 7.0% | 6.3% | 9,427 | 5.9% | 5.5% | +2,754 | +1.1pp |