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, 75-84 year olds was the most common age group among residents who needed assistance with core activities in Whitsunday (R), accounting for 21.2% (379 people). This share was higher than Regional Qld (20.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 132 people and 2.3 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Whitsunday (R) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Whitsunday (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 Whitsunday (R), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
30
2021 rate
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
30
1.6%
+0.9pp
5-14
2021 count
197
2021 rate
4.4%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
197
4.4%
+1.0pp
15-19
2021 count
54
2021 rate
2.8%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
54
2.8%
+0.9pp
20-24
2021 count
24
2021 rate
1.1%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
24
1.1%
-0.5pp
25-34
2021 count
78
2021 rate
1.4%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
78
1.4%
+0.3pp
35-44
2021 count
97
2021 rate
2.0%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
97
2.0%
+0.1pp
45-54
2021 count
156
2021 rate
3.1%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
156
3.1%
-0.4pp
55-64
2021 count
259
2021 rate
5.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
259
5.0%
-0.1pp
65-74
2021 count
352
2021 rate
8.9%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
352
8.9%
+1.4pp
75-84
2021 count
379
2021 rate
21.2%
Change from 2016
+2.3pp
379
21.2%
+2.3pp
85+
2021 count
247
2021 rate
49.1%
Change from 2016
+3.9pp
247
49.1%
+3.9pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+15
+0.9pp
5-14
+58
+1.0pp
15-19
+23
+0.9pp
20-24
-10
-0.5pp
25-34
+19
+0.3pp
35-44
+11
+0.1pp
45-54
-5
-0.4pp
55-64
+25
-0.1pp
65-74
+115
+1.4pp
75-84
+132
+2.3pp
85+
+48
+3.9pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Whitsunday (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 | 30 | 1.6% | 1.5% | 15 | 0.7% | 1.2% | +15 | +0.9pp |
| 5-14 | 197 | 4.4% | 5.0% | 139 | 3.4% | 3.5% | +58 | +1.0pp |
| 15-19 | 54 | 2.8% | 4.0% | 31 | 1.9% | 2.9% | +23 | +0.9pp |
| 20-24 | 24 | 1.1% | 2.8% | 34 | 1.6% | 2.2% | -10 | -0.5pp |
| 25-34 | 78 | 1.4% | 2.1% | 59 | 1.1% | 1.9% | +19 | +0.3pp |
| 35-44 | 97 | 2.0% | 2.5% | 86 | 1.9% | 2.5% | +11 | +0.1pp |
| 45-54 | 156 | 3.1% | 3.8% | 161 | 3.5% | 3.8% | -5 | -0.4pp |
| 55-64 | 259 | 5.0% | 6.0% | 234 | 5.1% | 6.0% | +25 | -0.1pp |
| 65-74 | 352 | 8.9% | 9.6% | 237 | 7.5% | 9.1% | +115 | +1.4pp |
| 75-84 | 379 | 21.2% | 20.4% | 247 | 18.9% | 19.3% | +132 | +2.3pp |
| 85+ | 247 | 49.1% | 47.7% | 199 | 45.2% | 46.7% | +48 | +3.9pp |
| Total | 1,876 | 5.0% | 6.3% | 1,442 | 4.3% | 5.5% | +434 | +0.7pp |