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 Upper Hunter Shire (A), accounting for 46.6% (189 people). This share was similar to Regional NSW (46.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 55 people and 4.3 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Upper Hunter Shire (A) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Upper Hunter Shire (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 Upper Hunter Shire (A), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
12
2021 rate
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
12
1.6%
+0.7pp
5-14
2021 count
76
2021 rate
4.0%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
76
4.0%
+1.6pp
15-19
2021 count
22
2021 rate
2.7%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
22
2.7%
+1.1pp
20-24
2021 count
16
2021 rate
2.4%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
16
2.4%
+1.6pp
25-34
2021 count
21
2021 rate
1.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
21
1.3%
0.0pp
35-44
2021 count
34
2021 rate
2.0%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
34
2.0%
-0.3pp
45-54
2021 count
58
2021 rate
3.2%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
58
3.2%
+0.5pp
55-64
2021 count
95
2021 rate
4.9%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
95
4.9%
+0.1pp
65-74
2021 count
141
2021 rate
8.5%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
141
8.5%
-0.6pp
75-84
2021 count
164
2021 rate
17.4%
Change from 2016
+4.3pp
164
17.4%
+4.3pp
85+
2021 count
189
2021 rate
46.6%
Change from 2016
+4.6pp
189
46.6%
+4.6pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+4
+0.7pp
5-14
+27
+1.6pp
15-19
+9
+1.1pp
20-24
+11
+1.6pp
25-34
0
0.0pp
35-44
-6
-0.3pp
45-54
+7
+0.5pp
55-64
+6
+0.1pp
65-74
+11
-0.6pp
75-84
+55
+4.3pp
85+
+41
+4.6pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Upper Hunter Shire (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 | 12 | 1.6% | 1.6% | 8 | 0.9% | 1.3% | +4 | +0.7pp |
| 5-14 | 76 | 4.0% | 5.2% | 49 | 2.4% | 3.8% | +27 | +1.6pp |
| 15-19 | 22 | 2.7% | 4.2% | 13 | 1.6% | 3.2% | +9 | +1.1pp |
| 20-24 | 16 | 2.4% | 3.4% | 5 | 0.8% | 2.6% | +11 | +1.6pp |
| 25-34 | 21 | 1.3% | 2.6% | 21 | 1.3% | 2.4% | 0 | 0.0pp |
| 35-44 | 34 | 2.0% | 2.8% | 40 | 2.3% | 3.0% | -6 | -0.3pp |
| 45-54 | 58 | 3.2% | 4.2% | 51 | 2.7% | 4.4% | +7 | +0.5pp |
| 55-64 | 95 | 4.9% | 6.0% | 89 | 4.8% | 6.2% | +6 | +0.1pp |
| 65-74 | 141 | 8.5% | 9.1% | 130 | 9.1% | 8.7% | +11 | -0.6pp |
| 75-84 | 164 | 17.4% | 18.9% | 109 | 13.1% | 17.8% | +55 | +4.3pp |
| 85+ | 189 | 46.6% | 46.5% | 148 | 42.0% | 43.8% | +41 | +4.6pp |
| Total | 827 | 5.8% | 6.8% | 669 | 4.7% | 6.3% | +158 | +1.1pp |