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 Playford, accounting for 16% (30 people). This share was lower than Whyalla (C) (23.8%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 30 people and 16 percentage points.

Section overview

Need for assistance with core activities by age

Whyalla Playford - Persons (Usual residence)

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

Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Whyalla Playford, with comparison markers for Whyalla (C).

Whyalla Playford

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

0-4

2021 count

0

2021 rate

0.0%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

5-14

2021 count

25

2021 rate

8.6%

Change from 2016

+8.6pp

15-19

2021 count

3

2021 rate

2.4%

Change from 2016

+2.4pp

20-24

2021 count

3

2021 rate

2.8%

Change from 2016

+2.8pp

25-34

2021 count

4

2021 rate

1.2%

Change from 2016

+1.2pp

35-44

2021 count

6

2021 rate

2.1%

Change from 2016

+2.1pp

45-54

2021 count

6

2021 rate

1.7%

Change from 2016

+1.7pp

55-64

2021 count

23

2021 rate

6.0%

Change from 2016

+6.0pp

65-74

2021 count

17

2021 rate

5.9%

Change from 2016

+5.9pp

75-84

2021 count

30

2021 rate

16.0%

Change from 2016

+16.0pp

85+

2021 count

25

2021 rate

39.1%

Change from 2016

+39.1pp

Data table

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

Need for assistance for Whyalla Playford. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Whyalla (C).
Need for assistance for Whyalla Playford. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Whyalla (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Whyalla (C)%Count%Whyalla (C)%Countpp
0-400.0%1.4%00.0%1.9%00.0pp
5-14258.6%6.1%00.0%4.4%+25+8.6pp
15-1932.4%5.6%00.0%3.1%+3+2.4pp
20-2432.8%4.0%00.0%3.2%+3+2.8pp
25-3441.2%3.5%00.0%2.6%+4+1.2pp
35-4462.1%3.6%00.0%3.7%+6+2.1pp
45-5461.7%4.9%00.0%5.2%+6+1.7pp
55-64236.0%7.4%00.0%7.3%+23+6.0pp
65-74175.9%12.4%00.0%12.5%+17+5.9pp
75-843016.0%23.8%00.0%21.6%+30+16.0pp
85+2539.1%46.8%00.0%45.7%+25+39.1pp
Total1536.0%7.8%00.0%6.8%+153+6.0pp