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 Merriwa (WA), accounting for 53.1% (213 people). This share was higher than Wanneroo (C) (49.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 85+ year olds, which increased by 213 people and 53.1 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Merriwa (WA) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Merriwa (WA) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Wanneroo (C) and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Merriwa (WA), with comparison markers for Wanneroo (C).
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
3
2021 rate
0.9%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
3
0.9%
+0.9pp
5-14
2021 count
47
2021 rate
6.1%
Change from 2016
+6.1pp
47
6.1%
+6.1pp
15-19
2021 count
15
2021 rate
4.4%
Change from 2016
+4.4pp
15
4.4%
+4.4pp
20-24
2021 count
17
2021 rate
5.2%
Change from 2016
+5.2pp
17
5.2%
+5.2pp
25-34
2021 count
16
2021 rate
2.4%
Change from 2016
+2.4pp
16
2.4%
+2.4pp
35-44
2021 count
8
2021 rate
1.2%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
8
1.2%
+1.2pp
45-54
2021 count
31
2021 rate
4.9%
Change from 2016
+4.9pp
31
4.9%
+4.9pp
55-64
2021 count
35
2021 rate
7.5%
Change from 2016
+7.5pp
35
7.5%
+7.5pp
65-74
2021 count
45
2021 rate
9.9%
Change from 2016
+9.9pp
45
9.9%
+9.9pp
75-84
2021 count
136
2021 rate
26.2%
Change from 2016
+26.2pp
136
26.2%
+26.2pp
85+
2021 count
213
2021 rate
53.1%
Change from 2016
+53.1pp
213
53.1%
+53.1pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+3
+0.9pp
5-14
+47
+6.1pp
15-19
+15
+4.4pp
20-24
+17
+5.2pp
25-34
+16
+2.4pp
35-44
+8
+1.2pp
45-54
+31
+4.9pp
55-64
+35
+7.5pp
65-74
+45
+9.9pp
75-84
+136
+26.2pp
85+
+213
+53.1pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Merriwa (WA). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Wanneroo (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Wanneroo (C)% | Count | % | Wanneroo (C)% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 3 | 0.9% | 1.4% | 0 | 0.0% | 1.1% | +3 | +0.9pp |
| 5-14 | 47 | 6.1% | 4.2% | 0 | 0.0% | 2.8% | +47 | +6.1pp |
| 15-19 | 15 | 4.4% | 3.4% | 0 | 0.0% | 2.1% | +15 | +4.4pp |
| 20-24 | 17 | 5.2% | 2.5% | 0 | 0.0% | 1.7% | +17 | +5.2pp |
| 25-34 | 16 | 2.4% | 1.7% | 0 | 0.0% | 1.2% | +16 | +2.4pp |
| 35-44 | 8 | 1.2% | 1.6% | 0 | 0.0% | 1.4% | +8 | +1.2pp |
| 45-54 | 31 | 4.9% | 2.6% | 0 | 0.0% | 2.4% | +31 | +4.9pp |
| 55-64 | 35 | 7.5% | 4.7% | 0 | 0.0% | 4.7% | +35 | +7.5pp |
| 65-74 | 45 | 9.9% | 8.9% | 0 | 0.0% | 8.3% | +45 | +9.9pp |
| 75-84 | 136 | 26.2% | 19.9% | 0 | 0.0% | 19.0% | +136 | +26.2pp |
| 85+ | 213 | 53.1% | 49.7% | 0 | 0.0% | 49.0% | +213 | +53.1pp |
| Total | 568 | 10.2% | 4.4% | 3 | 2.1% | 3.5% | +565 | +8.1pp |