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, 85+ year olds was the most common age group among residents who needed assistance with core activities in Whittlesea, accounting for 59.4% (129 people). This share was lower than Whittlesea (C) (59.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 85+ year olds, which increased by 35 people, while its share fell by 1.6 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Whittlesea - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Whittlesea 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 Whittlesea, with comparison markers for Whittlesea (C).
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
3
2021 rate
0.9%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
3
0.9%
-0.3pp
5-14
2021 count
51
2021 rate
6.3%
Change from 2016
+3.0pp
51
6.3%
+3.0pp
15-19
2021 count
19
2021 rate
4.4%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
19
4.4%
+2.2pp
20-24
2021 count
19
2021 rate
4.9%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
19
4.9%
+1.8pp
25-34
2021 count
13
2021 rate
1.9%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
13
1.9%
0.0pp
35-44
2021 count
26
2021 rate
3.7%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
26
3.7%
+0.6pp
45-54
2021 count
50
2021 rate
5.8%
Change from 2016
+2.5pp
50
5.8%
+2.5pp
55-64
2021 count
37
2021 rate
5.6%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
37
5.6%
+1.8pp
65-74
2021 count
71
2021 rate
10.7%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
71
10.7%
+0.7pp
75-84
2021 count
91
2021 rate
24.1%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
91
24.1%
+0.5pp
85+
2021 count
129
2021 rate
59.4%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
129
59.4%
-1.6pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
-1
-0.3pp
5-14
+24
+3.0pp
15-19
+10
+2.2pp
20-24
+9
+1.8pp
25-34
+1
0.0pp
35-44
+3
+0.6pp
45-54
+24
+2.5pp
55-64
+14
+1.8pp
65-74
+18
+0.7pp
75-84
+18
+0.5pp
85+
+35
-1.6pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Whittlesea. 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 | 3 | 0.9% | 1.3% | 4 | 1.2% | 1.2% | -1 | -0.3pp |
| 5-14 | 51 | 6.3% | 4.1% | 27 | 3.3% | 3.1% | +24 | +3.0pp |
| 15-19 | 19 | 4.4% | 3.3% | 9 | 2.2% | 2.5% | +10 | +2.2pp |
| 20-24 | 19 | 4.9% | 2.3% | 10 | 3.1% | 1.6% | +9 | +1.8pp |
| 25-34 | 13 | 1.9% | 1.6% | 12 | 1.9% | 1.4% | +1 | 0.0pp |
| 35-44 | 26 | 3.7% | 2.1% | 23 | 3.1% | 2.4% | +3 | +0.6pp |
| 45-54 | 50 | 5.8% | 4.6% | 26 | 3.3% | 4.6% | +24 | +2.5pp |
| 55-64 | 37 | 5.6% | 8.4% | 23 | 3.8% | 8.3% | +14 | +1.8pp |
| 65-74 | 71 | 10.7% | 15.5% | 53 | 10.0% | 14.6% | +18 | +0.7pp |
| 75-84 | 91 | 24.1% | 32.6% | 73 | 23.6% | 32.6% | +18 | +0.5pp |
| 85+ | 129 | 59.4% | 59.7% | 94 | 61.0% | 61.9% | +35 | -1.6pp |
| Total | 506 | 8.3% | 6.3% | 358 | 6.4% | 5.7% | +148 | +1.9pp |