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, 5-14 year olds was the most common age group among residents who needed assistance with core activities in Doreen (part), accounting for 5.2% (261 people). This share was higher than Whittlesea (C) (4.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 5-14 year olds, which increased by 261 people and 5.2 percentage points.

Section overview

Need for assistance with core activities by age

Doreen (part) - Persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises need for assistance for Doreen (part) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Whittlesea (C) and change since 2016.

Need for assistance with core activities by age change

Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.

2016
2021

0-4

+46

+2.0pp

5-14

+261

+5.2pp

15-19

+77

+4.2pp

20-24

+43

+3.2pp

25-34

+57

+1.5pp

35-44

+99

+2.0pp

45-54

+97

+2.8pp

55-64

+91

+4.4pp

65-74

+155

+10.0pp

75-84

+117

+18.8pp

85+

+48

+53.3pp

Data table

Need for assistance for Doreen (part). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Whittlesea (C).

Need for assistance for Doreen (part). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Whittlesea (C).
Need for assistance for Doreen (part). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Whittlesea (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Whittlesea (C)%Count%Whittlesea (C)%Countpp
0-4462.0%1.3%00.0%1.2%+46+2.0pp
5-142615.2%4.1%00.0%3.1%+261+5.2pp
15-19774.2%3.3%00.0%2.5%+77+4.2pp
20-24433.2%2.3%00.0%1.6%+43+3.2pp
25-34571.5%1.6%00.0%1.4%+57+1.5pp
35-44992.0%2.1%00.0%2.4%+99+2.0pp
45-54972.8%4.6%00.0%4.6%+97+2.8pp
55-64914.4%8.4%00.0%8.3%+91+4.4pp
65-7415510.0%15.5%00.0%14.6%+155+10.0pp
75-8411718.8%32.6%00.0%32.6%+117+18.8pp
85+4853.3%59.7%00.0%61.9%+48+53.3pp
Total1,0954.0%6.3%00.0%5.7%+1,095+4.0pp