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 Dalby, accounting for 54.3% (151 people). This share was higher than Western Downs (R) (44.8%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 85+ year olds, which increased by 151 people and 54.3 percentage points.

Section overview

Need for assistance with core activities by age

Dalby - Persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises need for assistance for Dalby in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Western Downs (R) and change since 2016.

Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Dalby, with comparison markers for Western Downs (R).

Dalby

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

0-4

2021 count

13

2021 rate

1.6%

Change from 2016

+1.6pp

5-14

2021 count

119

2021 rate

5.8%

Change from 2016

+5.8pp

15-19

2021 count

43

2021 rate

4.9%

Change from 2016

+4.9pp

20-24

2021 count

30

2021 rate

3.6%

Change from 2016

+3.6pp

25-34

2021 count

38

2021 rate

2.3%

Change from 2016

+2.3pp

35-44

2021 count

47

2021 rate

3.1%

Change from 2016

+3.1pp

45-54

2021 count

78

2021 rate

4.8%

Change from 2016

+4.8pp

55-64

2021 count

103

2021 rate

7.3%

Change from 2016

+7.3pp

65-74

2021 count

117

2021 rate

10.9%

Change from 2016

+10.9pp

75-84

2021 count

124

2021 rate

20.2%

Change from 2016

+20.2pp

85+

2021 count

151

2021 rate

54.3%

Change from 2016

+54.3pp

Data table

Need for assistance for Dalby. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Western Downs (R).

Need for assistance for Dalby. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Western Downs (R).
Need for assistance for Dalby. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Western Downs (R).
Category20212016Change
Count%Western Downs (R)%Count%Western Downs (R)%Countpp
0-4131.6%1.5%00.0%1.1%+13+1.6pp
5-141195.8%5.4%00.0%3.4%+119+5.8pp
15-19434.9%5.0%00.0%2.8%+43+4.9pp
20-24303.6%3.4%00.0%2.7%+30+3.6pp
25-34382.3%2.4%00.0%1.7%+38+2.3pp
35-44473.1%2.9%00.0%2.4%+47+3.1pp
45-54784.8%4.6%00.0%4.9%+78+4.8pp
55-641037.3%7.6%00.0%6.7%+103+7.3pp
65-7411710.9%10.5%00.0%7.6%+117+10.9pp
75-8412420.2%18.2%00.0%16.0%+124+20.2pp
85+15154.3%44.8%00.0%45.6%+151+54.3pp
Total8676.8%6.4%00.0%5.2%+867+6.8pp