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 Wagga Wagga (C), accounting for 46.8% (733 people). This share was higher than Regional NSW (46.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 187 people and 2.8 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Wagga Wagga (C) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Wagga Wagga (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Wagga Wagga (C), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
73
2021 rate
1.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
73
1.6%
0.0pp
5-14
2021 count
463
2021 rate
5.0%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
463
5.0%
+1.3pp
15-19
2021 count
160
2021 rate
3.5%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
160
3.5%
+0.3pp
20-24
2021 count
164
2021 rate
3.2%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
164
3.2%
+1.3pp
25-34
2021 count
256
2021 rate
2.6%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
256
2.6%
+0.7pp
35-44
2021 count
191
2021 rate
2.3%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
191
2.3%
-0.1pp
45-54
2021 count
322
2021 rate
4.3%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
322
4.3%
+0.9pp
55-64
2021 count
396
2021 rate
5.4%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
396
5.4%
+0.6pp
65-74
2021 count
555
2021 rate
9.1%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
555
9.1%
+1.2pp
75-84
2021 count
679
2021 rate
19.3%
Change from 2016
+2.8pp
679
19.3%
+2.8pp
85+
2021 count
733
2021 rate
46.8%
Change from 2016
+5.3pp
733
46.8%
+5.3pp
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+4
0.0pp
5-14
+151
+1.3pp
15-19
+19
+0.3pp
20-24
+69
+1.3pp
25-34
+90
+0.7pp
35-44
+8
-0.1pp
45-54
+63
+0.9pp
55-64
+49
+0.6pp
65-74
+150
+1.2pp
75-84
+187
+2.8pp
85+
+164
+5.3pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Wagga Wagga (C). 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 | 73 | 1.6% | 1.6% | 69 | 1.6% | 1.3% | +4 | 0.0pp |
| 5-14 | 463 | 5.0% | 5.2% | 312 | 3.7% | 3.8% | +151 | +1.3pp |
| 15-19 | 160 | 3.5% | 4.2% | 141 | 3.2% | 3.2% | +19 | +0.3pp |
| 20-24 | 164 | 3.2% | 3.4% | 95 | 1.9% | 2.6% | +69 | +1.3pp |
| 25-34 | 256 | 2.6% | 2.6% | 166 | 1.9% | 2.4% | +90 | +0.7pp |
| 35-44 | 191 | 2.3% | 2.8% | 183 | 2.4% | 3.0% | +8 | -0.1pp |
| 45-54 | 322 | 4.3% | 4.2% | 259 | 3.4% | 4.4% | +63 | +0.9pp |
| 55-64 | 396 | 5.4% | 6.0% | 347 | 4.8% | 6.2% | +49 | +0.6pp |
| 65-74 | 555 | 9.1% | 9.1% | 405 | 7.9% | 8.7% | +150 | +1.2pp |
| 75-84 | 679 | 19.3% | 18.9% | 492 | 16.5% | 17.8% | +187 | +2.8pp |
| 85+ | 733 | 46.8% | 46.5% | 569 | 41.5% | 43.8% | +164 | +5.3pp |
| Total | 3,998 | 5.9% | 6.8% | 3,038 | 4.9% | 6.3% | +960 | +1.0pp |