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, 65-74 year olds was the most common age group among residents who needed assistance with core activities in Unincorporated NT, accounting for 6.9% (29 people). This share was lower than Regional NT (12.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 12 people and 10.5 percentage points.

Section overview

Need for assistance with core activities by age

Unincorporated NT - Persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises need for assistance for Unincorporated NT in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NT and change since 2016.

Need for assistance with core activities by age change

Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.

2016
2021

0-4

-3

-0.6pp

5-14

+11

+1.0pp

15-19

+4

+0.9pp

20-24

0

+0.1pp

25-34

-1

0.0pp

35-44

-1

-0.1pp

45-54

-8

-0.7pp

55-64

0

0.0pp

65-74

-4

-2.6pp

75-84

+12

+10.5pp

85+

+8

+66.7pp

Data table

Need for assistance for Unincorporated NT. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NT.

Need for assistance for Unincorporated NT. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NT.
Need for assistance for Unincorporated NT. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NT.
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional NT%Count%Regional NT%Countpp
0-400.0%0.8%30.6%0.6%-3-0.6pp
5-14282.7%2.0%171.7%1.4%+11+1.0pp
15-1972.0%1.4%31.1%1.5%+4+0.9pp
20-2430.8%1.5%30.7%1.0%0+0.1pp
25-3430.3%0.9%40.3%1.1%-10.0pp
35-44100.8%1.8%110.9%1.8%-1-0.1pp
45-54121.2%3.8%201.9%4.0%-8-0.7pp
55-64212.7%6.3%212.7%6.1%00.0pp
65-74296.9%12.7%339.5%14.0%-4-2.6pp
75-841618.8%26.5%48.3%26.4%+12+10.5pp
85+866.7%55.2%00.0%49.0%+8+66.7pp
Total1362.0%3.4%1181.7%3.2%+18+0.3pp