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 West Coast (M), accounting for 13.1% (76 people). This share was higher than Regional Tas. (10%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 5-14 year olds, which increased by 19 people and 4.4 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
West Coast (M) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for West Coast (M) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Tas. and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for West Coast (M), with comparison markers for Regional Tas..
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
3
2021 rate
1.4%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
3
1.4%
+1.4pp
5-14
2021 count
39
2021 rate
8.4%
Change from 2016
+4.4pp
39
8.4%
+4.4pp
15-19
2021 count
15
2021 rate
8.7%
Change from 2016
+4.7pp
15
8.7%
+4.7pp
20-24
2021 count
16
2021 rate
8.0%
Change from 2016
+8.0pp
16
8.0%
+8.0pp
25-34
2021 count
9
2021 rate
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
9
1.7%
+0.2pp
35-44
2021 count
27
2021 rate
5.9%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
27
5.9%
+0.5pp
45-54
2021 count
56
2021 rate
8.9%
Change from 2016
+2.4pp
56
8.9%
+2.4pp
55-64
2021 count
68
2021 rate
9.4%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
68
9.4%
+0.4pp
65-74
2021 count
76
2021 rate
13.1%
Change from 2016
-2.3pp
76
13.1%
-2.3pp
75-84
2021 count
59
2021 rate
23.2%
Change from 2016
+2.8pp
59
23.2%
+2.8pp
85+
2021 count
16
2021 rate
27.1%
Change from 2016
-4.5pp
16
27.1%
-4.5pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+3
+1.4pp
5-14
+19
+4.4pp
15-19
+8
+4.7pp
20-24
+16
+8.0pp
25-34
+2
+0.2pp
35-44
0
+0.5pp
45-54
+13
+2.4pp
55-64
+8
+0.4pp
65-74
+8
-2.3pp
75-84
+13
+2.8pp
85+
+4
-4.5pp
Data table
Need for assistance for West Coast (M). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Tas..
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Tas.% | Count | % | Regional Tas.% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 3 | 1.4% | 1.7% | 0 | 0.0% | 1.1% | +3 | +1.4pp |
| 5-14 | 39 | 8.4% | 5.6% | 20 | 4.0% | 4.0% | +19 | +4.4pp |
| 15-19 | 15 | 8.7% | 4.9% | 7 | 4.0% | 3.6% | +8 | +4.7pp |
| 20-24 | 16 | 8.0% | 3.8% | 0 | 0.0% | 3.0% | +16 | +8.0pp |
| 25-34 | 9 | 1.7% | 2.8% | 7 | 1.5% | 2.6% | +2 | +0.2pp |
| 35-44 | 27 | 5.9% | 3.3% | 27 | 5.4% | 3.5% | 0 | +0.5pp |
| 45-54 | 56 | 8.9% | 5.2% | 43 | 6.5% | 5.2% | +13 | +2.4pp |
| 55-64 | 68 | 9.4% | 6.9% | 60 | 9.0% | 7.1% | +8 | +0.4pp |
| 65-74 | 76 | 13.1% | 10.0% | 68 | 15.4% | 9.6% | +8 | -2.3pp |
| 75-84 | 59 | 23.2% | 18.9% | 46 | 20.4% | 18.3% | +13 | +2.8pp |
| 85+ | 16 | 27.1% | 45.1% | 12 | 31.6% | 46.2% | +4 | -4.5pp |
| Total | 394 | 9.2% | 7.3% | 291 | 7.0% | 6.7% | +103 | +2.2pp |