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, 55-64 year olds was the most common age group among residents who needed assistance with core activities in Lightning Ridge, accounting for 12.7% (45 people). This share was higher than Walgett (A) (8.3%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 45-54 year olds, which decreased by 11 people and 0.7 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Lightning Ridge - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Lightning Ridge in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Walgett (A) and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Lightning Ridge, with comparison markers for Walgett (A).
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
0
2021 rate
0.0%
Change from 2016
-4.7pp
0
0.0%
-4.7pp
5-14
2021 count
9
2021 rate
4.7%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
9
4.7%
+0.4pp
15-19
2021 count
5
2021 rate
5.7%
Change from 2016
+2.3pp
5
5.7%
+2.3pp
20-24
2021 count
0
2021 rate
0.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
0
0.0%
0.0pp
25-34
2021 count
4
2021 rate
2.1%
Change from 2016
-2.2pp
4
2.1%
-2.2pp
35-44
2021 count
9
2021 rate
5.2%
Change from 2016
+2.1pp
9
5.2%
+2.1pp
45-54
2021 count
19
2021 rate
8.6%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
19
8.6%
-0.7pp
55-64
2021 count
45
2021 rate
12.7%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
45
12.7%
+0.2pp
65-74
2021 count
43
2021 rate
14.0%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
43
14.0%
+0.5pp
75-84
2021 count
37
2021 rate
17.4%
Change from 2016
-3.0pp
37
17.4%
-3.0pp
85+
2021 count
24
2021 rate
50.0%
Change from 2016
+14.1pp
24
50.0%
+14.1pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
-5
-4.7pp
5-14
-1
+0.4pp
15-19
+2
+2.3pp
20-24
0
0.0pp
25-34
-5
-2.2pp
35-44
+2
+2.1pp
45-54
-11
-0.7pp
55-64
-1
+0.2pp
65-74
-9
+0.5pp
75-84
-5
-3.0pp
85+
+10
+14.1pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Lightning Ridge. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Walgett (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Walgett (A)% | Count | % | Walgett (A)% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 5 | 4.7% | 2.0% | -5 | -4.7pp |
| 5-14 | 9 | 4.7% | 2.6% | 10 | 4.3% | 2.0% | -1 | +0.4pp |
| 15-19 | 5 | 5.7% | 3.6% | 3 | 3.4% | 3.0% | +2 | +2.3pp |
| 20-24 | 0 | 0.0% | 1.3% | 0 | 0.0% | 2.3% | 0 | 0.0pp |
| 25-34 | 4 | 2.1% | 0.6% | 9 | 4.3% | 1.9% | -5 | -2.2pp |
| 35-44 | 9 | 5.2% | 2.1% | 7 | 3.1% | 3.4% | +2 | +2.1pp |
| 45-54 | 19 | 8.6% | 4.5% | 30 | 9.3% | 6.5% | -11 | -0.7pp |
| 55-64 | 45 | 12.7% | 8.3% | 46 | 12.5% | 9.1% | -1 | +0.2pp |
| 65-74 | 43 | 14.0% | 11.5% | 52 | 13.5% | 11.8% | -9 | +0.5pp |
| 75-84 | 37 | 17.4% | 17.3% | 42 | 20.4% | 19.3% | -5 | -3.0pp |
| 85+ | 24 | 50.0% | 33.7% | 14 | 35.9% | 42.9% | +10 | +14.1pp |
| Total | 201 | 10.3% | 6.1% | 218 | 9.5% | 6.3% | -17 | +0.8pp |