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 Whitehorse (C), accounting for 47.4% (2,593 people). This share was lower than Greater Melbourne (54%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 85+ year olds, which increased by 517 people and 5.5 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Whitehorse (C) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Whitehorse (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Melbourne and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Whitehorse (C), with comparison markers for Greater Melbourne.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
76
2021 rate
1.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
76
1.0%
0.0pp
5-14
2021 count
626
2021 rate
3.3%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
626
3.3%
+0.6pp
15-19
2021 count
264
2021 rate
2.6%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
264
2.6%
+0.8pp
20-24
2021 count
229
2021 rate
1.8%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
229
1.8%
+0.4pp
25-34
2021 count
334
2021 rate
1.4%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
334
1.4%
+0.3pp
35-44
2021 count
369
2021 rate
1.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
369
1.6%
0.0pp
45-54
2021 count
575
2021 rate
2.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
575
2.5%
0.0pp
55-64
2021 count
789
2021 rate
4.2%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
789
4.2%
+0.2pp
65-74
2021 count
1,325
2021 rate
8.7%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
1,325
8.7%
+1.5pp
75-84
2021 count
2,180
2021 rate
20.5%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
2,180
20.5%
+2.2pp
85+
2021 count
2,593
2021 rate
47.4%
Change from 2016
+5.5pp
2,593
47.4%
+5.5pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
-14
0.0pp
5-14
+126
+0.6pp
15-19
+82
+0.8pp
20-24
+48
+0.4pp
25-34
+72
+0.3pp
35-44
+13
0.0pp
45-54
+37
0.0pp
55-64
+101
+0.2pp
65-74
+346
+1.5pp
75-84
+396
+2.2pp
85+
+517
+5.5pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Whitehorse (C). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 76 | 1.0% | 1.3% | 90 | 1.0% | 1.1% | -14 | 0.0pp |
| 5-14 | 626 | 3.3% | 3.9% | 500 | 2.7% | 3.0% | +126 | +0.6pp |
| 15-19 | 264 | 2.6% | 3.1% | 182 | 1.8% | 2.2% | +82 | +0.8pp |
| 20-24 | 229 | 1.8% | 2.0% | 181 | 1.4% | 1.5% | +48 | +0.4pp |
| 25-34 | 334 | 1.4% | 1.5% | 262 | 1.1% | 1.2% | +72 | +0.3pp |
| 35-44 | 369 | 1.6% | 1.8% | 356 | 1.6% | 1.9% | +13 | 0.0pp |
| 45-54 | 575 | 2.5% | 3.2% | 538 | 2.5% | 3.2% | +37 | 0.0pp |
| 55-64 | 789 | 4.2% | 5.6% | 688 | 4.0% | 5.5% | +101 | +0.2pp |
| 65-74 | 1,325 | 8.7% | 10.5% | 979 | 7.2% | 9.5% | +346 | +1.5pp |
| 75-84 | 2,180 | 20.5% | 24.7% | 1,784 | 18.3% | 23.2% | +396 | +2.2pp |
| 85+ | 2,593 | 47.4% | 54.0% | 2,076 | 41.9% | 49.0% | +517 | +5.5pp |
| Total | 9,374 | 5.5% | 5.5% | 7,628 | 4.7% | 4.9% | +1,746 | +0.8pp |