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 Whittlesea (C), accounting for 32.6% (2,934 people). This share was higher than Greater Melbourne (24.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 65-74 year olds, which increased by 692 people and 0.9 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Whittlesea (C) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Whittlesea (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Melbourne and change since 2016.
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Whittlesea (C), with comparison markers for Greater Melbourne.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
219
2021 rate
1.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
219
1.3%
+0.1pp
5-14
2021 count
1,309
2021 rate
4.1%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
1,309
4.1%
+1.0pp
15-19
2021 count
427
2021 rate
3.3%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
427
3.3%
+0.8pp
20-24
2021 count
335
2021 rate
2.3%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
335
2.3%
+0.7pp
25-34
2021 count
574
2021 rate
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
574
1.6%
+0.2pp
35-44
2021 count
785
2021 rate
2.1%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
785
2.1%
-0.3pp
45-54
2021 count
1,286
2021 rate
4.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
1,286
4.6%
0.0pp
55-64
2021 count
1,900
2021 rate
8.4%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
1,900
8.4%
+0.1pp
65-74
2021 count
2,667
2021 rate
15.5%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
2,667
15.5%
+0.9pp
75-84
2021 count
2,934
2021 rate
32.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
2,934
32.6%
0.0pp
85+
2021 count
1,988
2021 rate
59.7%
Change from 2016
-2.2pp
1,988
59.7%
-2.2pp
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+24
+0.1pp
5-14
+503
+1.0pp
15-19
+138
+0.8pp
20-24
+112
+0.7pp
25-34
+108
+0.2pp
35-44
+71
-0.3pp
45-54
+153
0.0pp
55-64
+281
+0.1pp
65-74
+692
+0.9pp
75-84
+552
0.0pp
85+
+531
-2.2pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Whittlesea (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 | 219 | 1.3% | 1.3% | 195 | 1.2% | 1.1% | +24 | +0.1pp |
| 5-14 | 1,309 | 4.1% | 3.9% | 806 | 3.1% | 3.0% | +503 | +1.0pp |
| 15-19 | 427 | 3.3% | 3.1% | 289 | 2.5% | 2.2% | +138 | +0.8pp |
| 20-24 | 335 | 2.3% | 2.0% | 223 | 1.6% | 1.5% | +112 | +0.7pp |
| 25-34 | 574 | 1.6% | 1.5% | 466 | 1.4% | 1.2% | +108 | +0.2pp |
| 35-44 | 785 | 2.1% | 1.8% | 714 | 2.4% | 1.9% | +71 | -0.3pp |
| 45-54 | 1,286 | 4.6% | 3.2% | 1,133 | 4.6% | 3.2% | +153 | 0.0pp |
| 55-64 | 1,900 | 8.4% | 5.6% | 1,619 | 8.3% | 5.5% | +281 | +0.1pp |
| 65-74 | 2,667 | 15.5% | 10.5% | 1,975 | 14.6% | 9.5% | +692 | +0.9pp |
| 75-84 | 2,934 | 32.6% | 24.7% | 2,382 | 32.6% | 23.2% | +552 | 0.0pp |
| 85+ | 1,988 | 59.7% | 54.0% | 1,457 | 61.9% | 49.0% | +531 | -2.2pp |
| Total | 14,419 | 6.3% | 5.5% | 11,263 | 5.7% | 4.9% | +3,156 | +0.6pp |