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 Whyalla (C), accounting for 23.8% (341 people). This share was higher than Regional SA (17.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 69 people and 2.2 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Whyalla (C) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Whyalla (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional SA and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Whyalla (C), with comparison markers for Regional SA.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
16
2021 rate
1.4%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
16
1.4%
-0.5pp
5-14
2021 count
161
2021 rate
6.1%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
161
6.1%
+1.7pp
15-19
2021 count
68
2021 rate
5.6%
Change from 2016
+2.5pp
68
5.6%
+2.5pp
20-24
2021 count
49
2021 rate
4.0%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
49
4.0%
+0.8pp
25-34
2021 count
95
2021 rate
3.5%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
95
3.5%
+0.9pp
35-44
2021 count
84
2021 rate
3.6%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
84
3.6%
-0.1pp
45-54
2021 count
143
2021 rate
4.9%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
143
4.9%
-0.3pp
55-64
2021 count
221
2021 rate
7.4%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
221
7.4%
+0.1pp
65-74
2021 count
265
2021 rate
12.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
265
12.4%
-0.1pp
75-84
2021 count
341
2021 rate
23.8%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
341
23.8%
+2.2pp
85+
2021 count
211
2021 rate
46.8%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
211
46.8%
+1.1pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
-10
-0.5pp
5-14
+37
+1.7pp
15-19
+26
+2.5pp
20-24
+7
+0.8pp
25-34
+22
+0.9pp
35-44
-12
-0.1pp
45-54
-23
-0.3pp
55-64
+25
+0.1pp
65-74
+9
-0.1pp
75-84
+69
+2.2pp
85+
+15
+1.1pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Whyalla (C). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional SA.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional SA% | Count | % | Regional SA% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 16 | 1.4% | 1.6% | 26 | 1.9% | 1.3% | -10 | -0.5pp |
| 5-14 | 161 | 6.1% | 5.2% | 124 | 4.4% | 3.9% | +37 | +1.7pp |
| 15-19 | 68 | 5.6% | 4.3% | 42 | 3.1% | 3.3% | +26 | +2.5pp |
| 20-24 | 49 | 4.0% | 3.5% | 42 | 3.2% | 2.9% | +7 | +0.8pp |
| 25-34 | 95 | 3.5% | 2.7% | 73 | 2.6% | 2.3% | +22 | +0.9pp |
| 35-44 | 84 | 3.6% | 2.8% | 96 | 3.7% | 3.1% | -12 | -0.1pp |
| 45-54 | 143 | 4.9% | 4.3% | 166 | 5.2% | 4.4% | -23 | -0.3pp |
| 55-64 | 221 | 7.4% | 6.2% | 196 | 7.3% | 6.0% | +25 | +0.1pp |
| 65-74 | 265 | 12.4% | 8.7% | 256 | 12.5% | 8.5% | +9 | -0.1pp |
| 75-84 | 341 | 23.8% | 17.5% | 272 | 21.6% | 16.4% | +69 | +2.2pp |
| 85+ | 211 | 46.8% | 45.5% | 196 | 45.7% | 41.7% | +15 | +1.1pp |
| Total | 1,651 | 7.8% | 7.0% | 1,489 | 6.8% | 6.2% | +162 | +1.0pp |