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 Mill Park, accounting for 37.6% (456 people). This share was higher than Whittlesea (C) (32.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 456 people and 37.6 percentage points.

Section overview

Need for assistance with core activities by age

Mill Park - Persons (Usual residence)

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

Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Mill Park, with comparison markers for Whittlesea (C).

Mill Park

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

0-4

2021 count

10

2021 rate

0.7%

Change from 2016

+0.7pp

5-14

2021 count

129

2021 rate

4.3%

Change from 2016

+4.3pp

15-19

2021 count

59

2021 rate

3.6%

Change from 2016

+3.6pp

20-24

2021 count

44

2021 rate

2.2%

Change from 2016

+2.2pp

25-34

2021 count

88

2021 rate

2.1%

Change from 2016

+2.1pp

35-44

2021 count

93

2021 rate

2.5%

Change from 2016

+2.5pp

45-54

2021 count

149

2021 rate

4.0%

Change from 2016

+4.0pp

55-64

2021 count

258

2021 rate

5.8%

Change from 2016

+5.8pp

65-74

2021 count

392

2021 rate

13.3%

Change from 2016

+13.3pp

75-84

2021 count

456

2021 rate

37.6%

Change from 2016

+37.6pp

85+

2021 count

304

2021 rate

72.9%

Change from 2016

+72.9pp

Data table

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

Need for assistance for Mill Park. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Whittlesea (C).
Need for assistance for Mill Park. 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
0-4100.7%1.3%00.0%1.2%+10+0.7pp
5-141294.3%4.1%00.0%3.1%+129+4.3pp
15-19593.6%3.3%00.0%2.5%+59+3.6pp
20-24442.2%2.3%00.0%1.6%+44+2.2pp
25-34882.1%1.6%00.0%1.4%+88+2.1pp
35-44932.5%2.1%00.0%2.4%+93+2.5pp
45-541494.0%4.6%00.0%4.6%+149+4.0pp
55-642585.8%8.4%00.0%8.3%+258+5.8pp
65-7439213.3%15.5%00.0%14.6%+392+13.3pp
75-8445637.6%32.6%00.0%32.6%+456+37.6pp
85+30472.9%59.7%00.0%61.9%+304+72.9pp
Total1,9816.9%6.3%00.0%5.7%+1,981+6.9pp