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 Unincorporated ACT, accounting for 19.6% (3,794 people). This share was similar to Australian Capital Territory (19.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 834 people, while its share fell by 1 percentage point.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Unincorporated ACT - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Unincorporated ACT in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Australian Capital Territory and change since 2016.
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Unincorporated ACT, with comparison markers for Australian Capital Territory.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
270
2021 rate
1.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
270
1.0%
0.0pp
5-14
2021 count
2,302
2021 rate
4.1%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
2,302
4.1%
+0.7pp
15-19
2021 count
853
2021 rate
3.2%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
853
3.2%
+0.5pp
20-24
2021 count
816
2021 rate
2.4%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
816
2.4%
+0.9pp
25-34
2021 count
1,293
2021 rate
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
1,293
1.7%
+0.3pp
35-44
2021 count
1,378
2021 rate
2.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
1,378
2.0%
0.0pp
45-54
2021 count
1,652
2021 rate
2.9%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
1,652
2.9%
-0.1pp
55-64
2021 count
2,051
2021 rate
4.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
2,051
4.5%
+0.1pp
65-74
2021 count
2,827
2021 rate
7.9%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
2,827
7.9%
+0.4pp
75-84
2021 count
3,794
2021 rate
19.6%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
3,794
19.6%
-1.0pp
85+
2021 count
3,511
2021 rate
48.9%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
3,511
48.9%
-1.8pp
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
-9
0.0pp
5-14
+682
+0.7pp
15-19
+202
+0.5pp
20-24
+343
+0.9pp
25-34
+382
+0.3pp
35-44
+232
0.0pp
45-54
+110
-0.1pp
55-64
+234
+0.1pp
65-74
+625
+0.4pp
75-84
+834
-1.0pp
85+
+391
-1.8pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Unincorporated ACT. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Australian Capital Territory.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Australian Capital Territory% | Count | % | Australian Capital Territory% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 270 | 1.0% | 1.0% | 279 | 1.0% | 1.0% | -9 | 0.0pp |
| 5-14 | 2,302 | 4.1% | 4.1% | 1,620 | 3.4% | 3.4% | +682 | +0.7pp |
| 15-19 | 853 | 3.2% | 3.2% | 651 | 2.7% | 2.7% | +202 | +0.5pp |
| 20-24 | 816 | 2.4% | 2.4% | 473 | 1.5% | 1.5% | +343 | +0.9pp |
| 25-34 | 1,293 | 1.7% | 1.7% | 911 | 1.4% | 1.4% | +382 | +0.3pp |
| 35-44 | 1,378 | 2.0% | 2.0% | 1,146 | 2.0% | 2.0% | +232 | 0.0pp |
| 45-54 | 1,652 | 2.9% | 2.9% | 1,542 | 3.0% | 3.0% | +110 | -0.1pp |
| 55-64 | 2,051 | 4.5% | 4.5% | 1,817 | 4.4% | 4.4% | +234 | +0.1pp |
| 65-74 | 2,827 | 7.9% | 7.9% | 2,202 | 7.5% | 7.5% | +625 | +0.4pp |
| 75-84 | 3,794 | 19.6% | 19.6% | 2,960 | 20.6% | 20.6% | +834 | -1.0pp |
| 85+ | 3,511 | 48.9% | 48.9% | 3,120 | 50.7% | 50.7% | +391 | -1.8pp |
| Total | 20,749 | 4.6% | 4.6% | 16,719 | 4.2% | 4.2% | +4,030 | +0.4pp |