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 Chatswood West (part), accounting for 58.5% (24 people). This share was higher than Willoughby (C) (52.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 85+ year olds, which decreased by 264 people, while its share rose by 3 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Chatswood West (part) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Chatswood West (part) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Willoughby (C) and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Chatswood West (part), with comparison markers for Willoughby (C).
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
0
2021 rate
0.0%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
0
0.0%
-1.0pp
5-14
2021 count
4
2021 rate
1.8%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
4
1.8%
+0.5pp
15-19
2021 count
0
2021 rate
0.0%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
0
0.0%
-1.9pp
20-24
2021 count
0
2021 rate
0.0%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
0
0.0%
-0.4pp
25-34
2021 count
0
2021 rate
0.0%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
0
0.0%
-0.3pp
35-44
2021 count
0
2021 rate
0.0%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
0
0.0%
-0.9pp
45-54
2021 count
0
2021 rate
0.0%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
0
0.0%
-1.2pp
55-64
2021 count
7
2021 rate
3.7%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
7
3.7%
+1.1pp
65-74
2021 count
10
2021 rate
6.2%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
10
6.2%
-1.9pp
75-84
2021 count
10
2021 rate
10.5%
Change from 2016
-11.4pp
10
10.5%
-11.4pp
85+
2021 count
24
2021 rate
58.5%
Change from 2016
+3.0pp
24
58.5%
+3.0pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
-16
-1.0pp
5-14
-29
+0.5pp
15-19
-26
-1.9pp
20-24
-9
-0.4pp
25-34
-17
-0.3pp
35-44
-37
-0.9pp
45-54
-35
-1.2pp
55-64
-52
+1.1pp
65-74
-127
-1.9pp
75-84
-202
-11.4pp
85+
-264
+3.0pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Chatswood West (part). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Willoughby (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Willoughby (C)% | Count | % | Willoughby (C)% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 0 | 0.0% | 0.9% | 16 | 1.0% | 0.5% | -16 | -1.0pp |
| 5-14 | 4 | 1.8% | 1.6% | 33 | 1.3% | 1.2% | -29 | +0.5pp |
| 15-19 | 0 | 0.0% | 1.6% | 26 | 1.9% | 1.7% | -26 | -1.9pp |
| 20-24 | 0 | 0.0% | 1.2% | 9 | 0.4% | 1.0% | -9 | -0.4pp |
| 25-34 | 0 | 0.0% | 0.8% | 17 | 0.3% | 0.6% | -17 | -0.3pp |
| 35-44 | 0 | 0.0% | 0.8% | 37 | 0.9% | 0.9% | -37 | -0.9pp |
| 45-54 | 0 | 0.0% | 1.2% | 35 | 1.2% | 1.2% | -35 | -1.2pp |
| 55-64 | 7 | 3.7% | 2.3% | 59 | 2.6% | 2.5% | -52 | +1.1pp |
| 65-74 | 10 | 6.2% | 6.3% | 137 | 8.1% | 6.3% | -127 | -1.9pp |
| 75-84 | 10 | 10.5% | 19.6% | 212 | 21.9% | 19.0% | -202 | -11.4pp |
| 85+ | 24 | 58.5% | 52.4% | 288 | 55.5% | 51.2% | -264 | +3.0pp |
| Total | 58 | 3.8% | 3.9% | 868 | 3.5% | 3.4% | -810 | +0.3pp |