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 Warrnambool (C), accounting for 44.9% (478 people). This share was lower than Regional Vic. (46.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 65-74 year olds, which increased by 104 people and 1.4 percentage points.

Section overview

Need for assistance with core activities by age

Warrnambool (C) - Persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises need for assistance for Warrnambool (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Vic. and change since 2016.

Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Warrnambool (C), with comparison markers for Regional Vic..

Warrnambool (C)

Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.

0-4

2021 count

28

2021 rate

1.5%

Change from 2016

+0.4pp

5-14

2021 count

226

2021 rate

5.2%

Change from 2016

+1.4pp

15-19

2021 count

96

2021 rate

4.6%

Change from 2016

+2.3pp

20-24

2021 count

69

2021 rate

3.8%

Change from 2016

+0.9pp

25-34

2021 count

144

2021 rate

3.2%

Change from 2016

+1.2pp

35-44

2021 count

125

2021 rate

3.0%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

45-54

2021 count

182

2021 rate

4.1%

Change from 2016

+0.5pp

55-64

2021 count

237

2021 rate

5.2%

Change from 2016

-0.4pp

65-74

2021 count

350

2021 rate

8.6%

Change from 2016

+1.4pp

75-84

2021 count

397

2021 rate

16.8%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

85+

2021 count

478

2021 rate

44.9%

Change from 2016

+3.8pp

Data table

Need for assistance for Warrnambool (C). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..

Need for assistance for Warrnambool (C). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..
Need for assistance for Warrnambool (C). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional Vic.%Count%Regional Vic.%Countpp
0-4281.5%1.5%221.1%1.2%+6+0.4pp
5-142265.2%5.5%1573.8%3.9%+69+1.4pp
15-19964.6%4.6%512.3%3.4%+45+2.3pp
20-24693.8%3.7%652.9%2.9%+4+0.9pp
25-341443.2%2.8%802.0%2.4%+64+1.2pp
35-441253.0%3.1%1263.2%3.0%-1-0.2pp
45-541824.1%4.3%1613.6%4.2%+21+0.5pp
55-642375.2%6.0%2395.6%5.8%-2-0.4pp
65-743508.6%8.8%2467.2%8.1%+104+1.4pp
75-8439716.8%18.7%32816.5%17.0%+69+0.3pp
85+47844.9%46.4%39841.1%42.3%+80+3.8pp
Total2,3336.6%6.9%1,8625.5%6.0%+471+1.1pp