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, 85+ year olds was the most common age group among residents who needed assistance with core activities in Towong (S), accounting for 40.6% (88 people). This share was lower than Regional Vic. (46.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 65-74 year olds, which increased by 18 people and 1 percentage point.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Towong (S) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Towong (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Vic. and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Towong (S), with comparison markers for Regional Vic..
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
5
2021 rate
1.8%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
5
1.8%
+1.8pp
5-14
2021 count
26
2021 rate
3.8%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
26
3.8%
+1.0pp
15-19
2021 count
12
2021 rate
4.1%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
12
4.1%
-0.2pp
20-24
2021 count
6
2021 rate
3.0%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
6
3.0%
-1.7pp
25-34
2021 count
9
2021 rate
1.9%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
9
1.9%
-0.5pp
35-44
2021 count
20
2021 rate
3.2%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
20
3.2%
+1.3pp
45-54
2021 count
27
2021 rate
3.5%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
27
3.5%
+0.3pp
55-64
2021 count
59
2021 rate
5.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
59
5.3%
+0.1pp
65-74
2021 count
72
2021 rate
7.0%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
72
7.0%
+1.0pp
75-84
2021 count
75
2021 rate
14.1%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
75
14.1%
+0.2pp
85+
2021 count
88
2021 rate
40.6%
Change from 2016
+3.5pp
88
40.6%
+3.5pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+5
+1.8pp
5-14
+7
+1.0pp
15-19
-2
-0.2pp
20-24
-4
-1.7pp
25-34
-2
-0.5pp
35-44
+9
+1.3pp
45-54
-1
+0.3pp
55-64
+5
+0.1pp
65-74
+18
+1.0pp
75-84
+15
+0.2pp
85+
+15
+3.5pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Towong (S). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 5 | 1.8% | 1.5% | 0 | 0.0% | 1.2% | +5 | +1.8pp |
| 5-14 | 26 | 3.8% | 5.5% | 19 | 2.8% | 3.9% | +7 | +1.0pp |
| 15-19 | 12 | 4.1% | 4.6% | 14 | 4.3% | 3.4% | -2 | -0.2pp |
| 20-24 | 6 | 3.0% | 3.7% | 10 | 4.7% | 2.9% | -4 | -1.7pp |
| 25-34 | 9 | 1.9% | 2.8% | 11 | 2.4% | 2.4% | -2 | -0.5pp |
| 35-44 | 20 | 3.2% | 3.1% | 11 | 1.9% | 3.0% | +9 | +1.3pp |
| 45-54 | 27 | 3.5% | 4.3% | 28 | 3.2% | 4.2% | -1 | +0.3pp |
| 55-64 | 59 | 5.3% | 6.0% | 54 | 5.2% | 5.8% | +5 | +0.1pp |
| 65-74 | 72 | 7.0% | 8.8% | 54 | 6.0% | 8.1% | +18 | +1.0pp |
| 75-84 | 75 | 14.1% | 18.7% | 60 | 13.9% | 17.0% | +15 | +0.2pp |
| 85+ | 88 | 40.6% | 46.4% | 73 | 37.1% | 42.3% | +15 | +3.5pp |
| Total | 394 | 6.3% | 6.9% | 339 | 5.7% | 6.0% | +55 | +0.6pp |