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 Tweed (A), accounting for 44.6% (1,713 people). This share was lower than Regional NSW (46.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 248 people and 1 percentage point.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Tweed (A) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Tweed (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 Tweed (A), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
66
2021 rate
1.4%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
66
1.4%
+0.2pp
5-14
2021 count
530
2021 rate
4.6%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
530
4.6%
+1.1pp
15-19
2021 count
191
2021 rate
3.7%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
191
3.7%
+0.6pp
20-24
2021 count
160
2021 rate
3.9%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
160
3.9%
+1.1pp
25-34
2021 count
222
2021 rate
2.5%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
222
2.5%
+0.2pp
35-44
2021 count
292
2021 rate
2.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
292
2.6%
0.0pp
45-54
2021 count
473
2021 rate
3.9%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
473
3.9%
-0.4pp
55-64
2021 count
763
2021 rate
5.4%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
763
5.4%
-1.1pp
65-74
2021 count
1,204
2021 rate
8.8%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
1,204
8.8%
-0.1pp
75-84
2021 count
1,607
2021 rate
19.0%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
1,607
19.0%
+1.0pp
85+
2021 count
1,713
2021 rate
44.6%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
1,713
44.6%
+0.8pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+9
+0.2pp
5-14
+166
+1.1pp
15-19
+37
+0.6pp
20-24
+49
+1.1pp
25-34
+34
+0.2pp
35-44
+24
0.0pp
45-54
-40
-0.4pp
55-64
-116
-1.1pp
65-74
+134
-0.1pp
75-84
+248
+1.0pp
85+
+145
+0.8pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Tweed (A). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 66 | 1.4% | 1.6% | 57 | 1.2% | 1.3% | +9 | +0.2pp |
| 5-14 | 530 | 4.6% | 5.2% | 364 | 3.5% | 3.8% | +166 | +1.1pp |
| 15-19 | 191 | 3.7% | 4.2% | 154 | 3.1% | 3.2% | +37 | +0.6pp |
| 20-24 | 160 | 3.9% | 3.4% | 111 | 2.8% | 2.6% | +49 | +1.1pp |
| 25-34 | 222 | 2.5% | 2.6% | 188 | 2.3% | 2.4% | +34 | +0.2pp |
| 35-44 | 292 | 2.6% | 2.8% | 268 | 2.6% | 3.0% | +24 | 0.0pp |
| 45-54 | 473 | 3.9% | 4.2% | 513 | 4.3% | 4.4% | -40 | -0.4pp |
| 55-64 | 763 | 5.4% | 6.0% | 879 | 6.5% | 6.2% | -116 | -1.1pp |
| 65-74 | 1,204 | 8.8% | 9.1% | 1,070 | 8.9% | 8.7% | +134 | -0.1pp |
| 75-84 | 1,607 | 19.0% | 18.9% | 1,359 | 18.0% | 17.8% | +248 | +1.0pp |
| 85+ | 1,713 | 44.6% | 46.5% | 1,568 | 43.8% | 43.8% | +145 | +0.8pp |
| Total | 7,241 | 7.4% | 6.8% | 6,519 | 7.1% | 6.3% | +722 | +0.3pp |