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 Wakefield (DC), accounting for 13.3% (116 people). This share was higher than Regional SA (8.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 65-74 year olds, which increased by 34 people and 2.9 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Wakefield (DC) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Wakefield (DC) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional SA and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Wakefield (DC), with comparison markers for Regional SA.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
8
2021 rate
2.1%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
8
2.1%
-1.0pp
5-14
2021 count
66
2021 rate
7.3%
Change from 2016
+3.4pp
66
7.3%
+3.4pp
15-19
2021 count
28
2021 rate
6.8%
Change from 2016
+3.3pp
28
6.8%
+3.3pp
20-24
2021 count
6
2021 rate
1.9%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
6
1.9%
-1.2pp
25-34
2021 count
17
2021 rate
2.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
17
2.6%
0.0pp
35-44
2021 count
20
2021 rate
2.8%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
20
2.8%
-1.8pp
45-54
2021 count
55
2021 rate
6.3%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
55
6.3%
+1.3pp
55-64
2021 count
81
2021 rate
8.0%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
81
8.0%
-0.2pp
65-74
2021 count
116
2021 rate
13.3%
Change from 2016
+2.9pp
116
13.3%
+2.9pp
75-84
2021 count
88
2021 rate
19.4%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
88
19.4%
+0.9pp
85+
2021 count
96
2021 rate
52.2%
Change from 2016
+9.7pp
96
52.2%
+9.7pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
-6
-1.0pp
5-14
+32
+3.4pp
15-19
+14
+3.3pp
20-24
-4
-1.2pp
25-34
-1
0.0pp
35-44
-15
-1.8pp
45-54
+8
+1.3pp
55-64
-1
-0.2pp
65-74
+34
+2.9pp
75-84
+17
+0.9pp
85+
+11
+9.7pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Wakefield (DC). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional SA.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional SA% | Count | % | Regional SA% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 8 | 2.1% | 1.6% | 14 | 3.1% | 1.3% | -6 | -1.0pp |
| 5-14 | 66 | 7.3% | 5.2% | 34 | 3.9% | 3.9% | +32 | +3.4pp |
| 15-19 | 28 | 6.8% | 4.3% | 14 | 3.5% | 3.3% | +14 | +3.3pp |
| 20-24 | 6 | 1.9% | 3.5% | 10 | 3.1% | 2.9% | -4 | -1.2pp |
| 25-34 | 17 | 2.6% | 2.7% | 18 | 2.6% | 2.3% | -1 | 0.0pp |
| 35-44 | 20 | 2.8% | 2.8% | 35 | 4.6% | 3.1% | -15 | -1.8pp |
| 45-54 | 55 | 6.3% | 4.3% | 47 | 5.0% | 4.4% | +8 | +1.3pp |
| 55-64 | 81 | 8.0% | 6.2% | 82 | 8.2% | 6.0% | -1 | -0.2pp |
| 65-74 | 116 | 13.3% | 8.7% | 82 | 10.4% | 8.5% | +34 | +2.9pp |
| 75-84 | 88 | 19.4% | 17.5% | 71 | 18.5% | 16.4% | +17 | +0.9pp |
| 85+ | 96 | 52.2% | 45.5% | 85 | 42.5% | 41.7% | +11 | +9.7pp |
| Total | 585 | 8.6% | 7.0% | 503 | 7.4% | 6.2% | +82 | +1.2pp |