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 Western Downs (R), accounting for 10.5% (349 people). This share was higher than Regional Qld (9.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 65-74 year olds, which increased by 117 people and 2.9 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Western Downs (R) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Western Downs (R) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Qld and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Western Downs (R), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
34
2021 rate
1.5%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
34
1.5%
+0.4pp
5-14
2021 count
270
2021 rate
5.4%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
270
5.4%
+2.0pp
15-19
2021 count
103
2021 rate
5.0%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
103
5.0%
+2.2pp
20-24
2021 count
65
2021 rate
3.4%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
65
3.4%
+0.7pp
25-34
2021 count
104
2021 rate
2.4%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
104
2.4%
+0.7pp
35-44
2021 count
116
2021 rate
2.9%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
116
2.9%
+0.5pp
45-54
2021 count
200
2021 rate
4.6%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
200
4.6%
-0.3pp
55-64
2021 count
319
2021 rate
7.6%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
319
7.6%
+0.9pp
65-74
2021 count
349
2021 rate
10.5%
Change from 2016
+2.9pp
349
10.5%
+2.9pp
75-84
2021 count
333
2021 rate
18.2%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
333
18.2%
+2.2pp
85+
2021 count
280
2021 rate
44.8%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
280
44.8%
-0.8pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+8
+0.4pp
5-14
+100
+2.0pp
15-19
+43
+2.2pp
20-24
+14
+0.7pp
25-34
+34
+0.7pp
35-44
+16
+0.5pp
45-54
-20
-0.3pp
55-64
+55
+0.9pp
65-74
+117
+2.9pp
75-84
+80
+2.2pp
85+
+7
-0.8pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Western Downs (R). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 34 | 1.5% | 1.5% | 26 | 1.1% | 1.2% | +8 | +0.4pp |
| 5-14 | 270 | 5.4% | 5.0% | 170 | 3.4% | 3.5% | +100 | +2.0pp |
| 15-19 | 103 | 5.0% | 4.0% | 60 | 2.8% | 2.9% | +43 | +2.2pp |
| 20-24 | 65 | 3.4% | 2.8% | 51 | 2.7% | 2.2% | +14 | +0.7pp |
| 25-34 | 104 | 2.4% | 2.1% | 70 | 1.7% | 1.9% | +34 | +0.7pp |
| 35-44 | 116 | 2.9% | 2.5% | 100 | 2.4% | 2.5% | +16 | +0.5pp |
| 45-54 | 200 | 4.6% | 3.8% | 220 | 4.9% | 3.8% | -20 | -0.3pp |
| 55-64 | 319 | 7.6% | 6.0% | 264 | 6.7% | 6.0% | +55 | +0.9pp |
| 65-74 | 349 | 10.5% | 9.6% | 232 | 7.6% | 9.1% | +117 | +2.9pp |
| 75-84 | 333 | 18.2% | 20.4% | 253 | 16.0% | 19.3% | +80 | +2.2pp |
| 85+ | 280 | 44.8% | 47.7% | 273 | 45.6% | 46.7% | +7 | -0.8pp |
| Total | 2,182 | 6.4% | 6.3% | 1,723 | 5.2% | 5.5% | +459 | +1.2pp |