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 Thomastown, accounting for 38% (607 people). This share was higher than Whittlesea (C) (32.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 607 people and 38 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Thomastown - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Thomastown 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 Thomastown, with comparison markers for Whittlesea (C).
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
18
2021 rate
1.6%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
18
1.6%
+1.6pp
5-14
2021 count
72
2021 rate
3.5%
Change from 2016
+3.5pp
72
3.5%
+3.5pp
15-19
2021 count
25
2021 rate
2.5%
Change from 2016
+2.5pp
25
2.5%
+2.5pp
20-24
2021 count
20
2021 rate
1.5%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
20
1.5%
+1.5pp
25-34
2021 count
76
2021 rate
2.4%
Change from 2016
+2.4pp
76
2.4%
+2.4pp
35-44
2021 count
102
2021 rate
3.8%
Change from 2016
+3.8pp
102
3.8%
+3.8pp
45-54
2021 count
147
2021 rate
6.6%
Change from 2016
+6.6pp
147
6.6%
+6.6pp
55-64
2021 count
261
2021 rate
11.8%
Change from 2016
+11.8pp
261
11.8%
+11.8pp
65-74
2021 count
466
2021 rate
20.5%
Change from 2016
+20.5pp
466
20.5%
+20.5pp
75-84
2021 count
607
2021 rate
38.0%
Change from 2016
+38.0pp
607
38.0%
+38.0pp
85+
2021 count
361
2021 rate
66.5%
Change from 2016
+66.5pp
361
66.5%
+66.5pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+18
+1.6pp
5-14
+72
+3.5pp
15-19
+25
+2.5pp
20-24
+20
+1.5pp
25-34
+76
+2.4pp
35-44
+102
+3.8pp
45-54
+147
+6.6pp
55-64
+261
+11.8pp
65-74
+466
+20.5pp
75-84
+607
+38.0pp
85+
+361
+66.5pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Thomastown. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Whittlesea (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Whittlesea (C)% | Count | % | Whittlesea (C)% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 18 | 1.6% | 1.3% | 0 | 0.0% | 1.2% | +18 | +1.6pp |
| 5-14 | 72 | 3.5% | 4.1% | 0 | 0.0% | 3.1% | +72 | +3.5pp |
| 15-19 | 25 | 2.5% | 3.3% | 0 | 0.0% | 2.5% | +25 | +2.5pp |
| 20-24 | 20 | 1.5% | 2.3% | 0 | 0.0% | 1.6% | +20 | +1.5pp |
| 25-34 | 76 | 2.4% | 1.6% | 0 | 0.0% | 1.4% | +76 | +2.4pp |
| 35-44 | 102 | 3.8% | 2.1% | 0 | 0.0% | 2.4% | +102 | +3.8pp |
| 45-54 | 147 | 6.6% | 4.6% | 0 | 0.0% | 4.6% | +147 | +6.6pp |
| 55-64 | 261 | 11.8% | 8.4% | 0 | 0.0% | 8.3% | +261 | +11.8pp |
| 65-74 | 466 | 20.5% | 15.5% | 0 | 0.0% | 14.6% | +466 | +20.5pp |
| 75-84 | 607 | 38.0% | 32.6% | 0 | 0.0% | 32.6% | +607 | +38.0pp |
| 85+ | 361 | 66.5% | 59.7% | 0 | 0.0% | 61.9% | +361 | +66.5pp |
| Total | 2,164 | 10.7% | 6.3% | 0 | 0.0% | 5.7% | +2,164 | +10.7pp |