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 West Wimmera (S), accounting for 42.6% (60 people). This share was lower than Regional Vic. (46.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 55-64 year olds, which increased by 17 people and 1.9 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
West Wimmera (S) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for West Wimmera (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Vic. and change since 2016.
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for West Wimmera (S), with comparison markers for Regional Vic..
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
4
2021 rate
1.7%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
4
1.7%
+1.7pp
5-14
2021 count
16
2021 rate
3.7%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
16
3.7%
+1.1pp
15-19
2021 count
15
2021 rate
9.3%
Change from 2016
+6.0pp
15
9.3%
+6.0pp
20-24
2021 count
6
2021 rate
4.3%
Change from 2016
+4.3pp
6
4.3%
+4.3pp
25-34
2021 count
9
2021 rate
2.5%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
9
2.5%
+1.7pp
35-44
2021 count
15
2021 rate
3.8%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
15
3.8%
+0.7pp
45-54
2021 count
28
2021 rate
5.5%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
28
5.5%
+0.8pp
55-64
2021 count
39
2021 rate
5.6%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
39
5.6%
+1.9pp
65-74
2021 count
36
2021 rate
5.8%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
36
5.8%
-0.2pp
75-84
2021 count
45
2021 rate
14.1%
Change from 2016
+2.3pp
45
14.1%
+2.3pp
85+
2021 count
60
2021 rate
42.6%
Change from 2016
+4.7pp
60
42.6%
+4.7pp
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+4
+1.7pp
5-14
+4
+1.1pp
15-19
+8
+6.0pp
20-24
+6
+4.3pp
25-34
+6
+1.7pp
35-44
+4
+0.7pp
45-54
0
+0.8pp
55-64
+17
+1.9pp
65-74
+5
-0.2pp
75-84
+8
+2.3pp
85+
+10
+4.7pp
Data table
Need for assistance for West Wimmera (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 | 4 | 1.7% | 1.5% | 0 | 0.0% | 1.2% | +4 | +1.7pp |
| 5-14 | 16 | 3.7% | 5.5% | 12 | 2.6% | 3.9% | +4 | +1.1pp |
| 15-19 | 15 | 9.3% | 4.6% | 7 | 3.3% | 3.4% | +8 | +6.0pp |
| 20-24 | 6 | 4.3% | 3.7% | 0 | 0.0% | 2.9% | +6 | +4.3pp |
| 25-34 | 9 | 2.5% | 2.8% | 3 | 0.8% | 2.4% | +6 | +1.7pp |
| 35-44 | 15 | 3.8% | 3.1% | 11 | 3.1% | 3.0% | +4 | +0.7pp |
| 45-54 | 28 | 5.5% | 4.3% | 28 | 4.7% | 4.2% | 0 | +0.8pp |
| 55-64 | 39 | 5.6% | 6.0% | 22 | 3.7% | 5.8% | +17 | +1.9pp |
| 65-74 | 36 | 5.8% | 8.8% | 31 | 6.0% | 8.1% | +5 | -0.2pp |
| 75-84 | 45 | 14.1% | 18.7% | 37 | 11.8% | 17.0% | +8 | +2.3pp |
| 85+ | 60 | 42.6% | 46.4% | 50 | 37.9% | 42.3% | +10 | +4.7pp |
| Total | 267 | 6.7% | 6.9% | 196 | 5.0% | 6.0% | +71 | +1.7pp |