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 Wellington (S), accounting for 9.3% (601 people). This share was higher than Regional Vic. (8.8%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 177 people and 2.8 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Wellington (S) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Wellington (S) 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 Wellington (S), with comparison markers for Regional Vic..
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
35
2021 rate
1.5%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
35
1.5%
+0.6pp
5-14
2021 count
277
2021 rate
5.2%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
277
5.2%
+1.5pp
15-19
2021 count
111
2021 rate
4.4%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
111
4.4%
+0.3pp
20-24
2021 count
107
2021 rate
4.9%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
107
4.9%
+1.7pp
25-34
2021 count
165
2021 rate
3.2%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
165
3.2%
+1.2pp
35-44
2021 count
177
2021 rate
3.4%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
177
3.4%
+0.3pp
45-54
2021 count
285
2021 rate
5.1%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
285
5.1%
+0.3pp
55-64
2021 count
435
2021 rate
6.5%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
435
6.5%
+0.8pp
65-74
2021 count
601
2021 rate
9.3%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
601
9.3%
+0.7pp
75-84
2021 count
585
2021 rate
18.8%
Change from 2016
+2.8pp
585
18.8%
+2.8pp
85+
2021 count
465
2021 rate
44.8%
Change from 2016
+5.7pp
465
44.8%
+5.7pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+12
+0.6pp
5-14
+84
+1.5pp
15-19
+8
+0.3pp
20-24
+38
+1.7pp
25-34
+69
+1.2pp
35-44
+26
+0.3pp
45-54
+11
+0.3pp
55-64
+65
+0.8pp
65-74
+162
+0.7pp
75-84
+177
+2.8pp
85+
+61
+5.7pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Wellington (S). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 35 | 1.5% | 1.5% | 23 | 0.9% | 1.2% | +12 | +0.6pp |
| 5-14 | 277 | 5.2% | 5.5% | 193 | 3.7% | 3.9% | +84 | +1.5pp |
| 15-19 | 111 | 4.4% | 4.6% | 103 | 4.1% | 3.4% | +8 | +0.3pp |
| 20-24 | 107 | 4.9% | 3.7% | 69 | 3.2% | 2.9% | +38 | +1.7pp |
| 25-34 | 165 | 3.2% | 2.8% | 96 | 2.0% | 2.4% | +69 | +1.2pp |
| 35-44 | 177 | 3.4% | 3.1% | 151 | 3.1% | 3.0% | +26 | +0.3pp |
| 45-54 | 285 | 5.1% | 4.3% | 274 | 4.8% | 4.2% | +11 | +0.3pp |
| 55-64 | 435 | 6.5% | 6.0% | 370 | 5.7% | 5.8% | +65 | +0.8pp |
| 65-74 | 601 | 9.3% | 8.8% | 439 | 8.6% | 8.1% | +162 | +0.7pp |
| 75-84 | 585 | 18.8% | 18.7% | 408 | 16.0% | 17.0% | +177 | +2.8pp |
| 85+ | 465 | 44.8% | 46.4% | 404 | 39.1% | 42.3% | +61 | +5.7pp |
| Total | 3,236 | 7.1% | 6.9% | 2,544 | 5.9% | 6.0% | +692 | +1.2pp |