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 Waverley (A), accounting for 40% (553 people). This share was lower than Greater Sydney (48.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 85+ year olds, which decreased by 132 people and 5.3 percentage points.

Section overview

Need for assistance with core activities by age

Waverley (A) - Persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises need for assistance for Waverley (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Sydney and change since 2016.

Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Waverley (A), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.

Waverley (A)

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

0-4

2021 count

32

2021 rate

0.8%

Change from 2016

+0.4pp

5-14

2021 count

134

2021 rate

1.9%

Change from 2016

+0.5pp

15-19

2021 count

47

2021 rate

1.6%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

20-24

2021 count

32

2021 rate

1.0%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

25-34

2021 count

72

2021 rate

0.4%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

35-44

2021 count

79

2021 rate

0.7%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

45-54

2021 count

126

2021 rate

1.4%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

55-64

2021 count

143

2021 rate

2.3%

Change from 2016

-0.4pp

65-74

2021 count

250

2021 rate

5.4%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

75-84

2021 count

499

2021 rate

17.5%

Change from 2016

-1.2pp

85+

2021 count

553

2021 rate

40.0%

Change from 2016

-5.3pp

Data table

Need for assistance for Waverley (A). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.

Need for assistance for Waverley (A). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
Need for assistance for Waverley (A). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
Category20212016Change
Count%Greater Sydney%Count%Greater Sydney%Countpp
0-4320.8%1.3%180.4%1.1%+14+0.4pp
5-141341.9%3.4%901.4%2.7%+44+0.5pp
15-19471.6%2.7%401.6%2.2%+70.0pp
20-24321.0%1.8%260.7%1.5%+6+0.3pp
25-34720.4%1.3%460.3%1.2%+26+0.1pp
35-44790.7%1.6%840.7%1.8%-50.0pp
45-541261.4%2.9%1141.4%3.2%+120.0pp
55-641432.3%5.5%1532.7%5.7%-10-0.4pp
65-742505.4%10.5%2445.6%9.9%+6-0.2pp
75-8449917.5%23.1%48818.7%23.4%+11-1.2pp
85+55340.0%48.7%68545.3%50.4%-132-5.3pp
Total1,9512.8%5.2%1,9903.0%4.9%-39-0.2pp