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 Townsville (C), accounting for 24.1% (1,996 people). This share was higher than Regional Qld (20.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 533 people and 1.3 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Townsville (C) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Townsville (C) 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 Townsville (C), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
213
2021 rate
1.9%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
213
1.9%
+0.5pp
5-14
2021 count
1,360
2021 rate
5.3%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
1,360
5.3%
+1.6pp
15-19
2021 count
437
2021 rate
3.4%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
437
3.4%
+0.6pp
20-24
2021 count
356
2021 rate
2.4%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
356
2.4%
+0.8pp
25-34
2021 count
586
2021 rate
2.1%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
586
2.1%
+0.2pp
35-44
2021 count
716
2021 rate
2.8%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
716
2.8%
0.0pp
45-54
2021 count
1,063
2021 rate
4.3%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
1,063
4.3%
+0.2pp
55-64
2021 count
1,445
2021 rate
6.4%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
1,445
6.4%
+0.4pp
65-74
2021 count
1,825
2021 rate
11.0%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
1,825
11.0%
+0.4pp
75-84
2021 count
1,996
2021 rate
24.1%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
1,996
24.1%
+1.3pp
85+
2021 count
1,368
2021 rate
51.7%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
1,368
51.7%
+1.5pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+33
+0.5pp
5-14
+436
+1.6pp
15-19
+72
+0.6pp
20-24
+111
+0.8pp
25-34
+72
+0.2pp
35-44
+31
0.0pp
45-54
+70
+0.2pp
55-64
+221
+0.4pp
65-74
+370
+0.4pp
75-84
+533
+1.3pp
85+
+211
+1.5pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Townsville (C). 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 | 213 | 1.9% | 1.5% | 180 | 1.4% | 1.2% | +33 | +0.5pp |
| 5-14 | 1,360 | 5.3% | 5.0% | 924 | 3.7% | 3.5% | +436 | +1.6pp |
| 15-19 | 437 | 3.4% | 4.0% | 365 | 2.8% | 2.9% | +72 | +0.6pp |
| 20-24 | 356 | 2.4% | 2.8% | 245 | 1.6% | 2.2% | +111 | +0.8pp |
| 25-34 | 586 | 2.1% | 2.1% | 514 | 1.9% | 1.9% | +72 | +0.2pp |
| 35-44 | 716 | 2.8% | 2.5% | 685 | 2.8% | 2.5% | +31 | 0.0pp |
| 45-54 | 1,063 | 4.3% | 3.8% | 993 | 4.1% | 3.8% | +70 | +0.2pp |
| 55-64 | 1,445 | 6.4% | 6.0% | 1,224 | 6.0% | 6.0% | +221 | +0.4pp |
| 65-74 | 1,825 | 11.0% | 9.6% | 1,455 | 10.6% | 9.1% | +370 | +0.4pp |
| 75-84 | 1,996 | 24.1% | 20.4% | 1,463 | 22.8% | 19.3% | +533 | +1.3pp |
| 85+ | 1,368 | 51.7% | 47.7% | 1,157 | 50.2% | 46.7% | +211 | +1.5pp |
| Total | 11,362 | 5.9% | 6.3% | 9,207 | 4.9% | 5.5% | +2,155 | +1.0pp |