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 Willoughby (C), accounting for 52.4% (1,023 people). This share was higher than Greater Sydney (48.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 85+ year olds, which increased by 137 people and 1.2 percentage points.

Section overview

Need for assistance with core activities by age

Willoughby (C) - Persons (Usual residence)

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

Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Willoughby (C), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.

Willoughby (C)

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

0-4

2021 count

35

2021 rate

0.9%

Change from 2016

+0.4pp

5-14

2021 count

161

2021 rate

1.6%

Change from 2016

+0.4pp

15-19

2021 count

66

2021 rate

1.6%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

20-24

2021 count

48

2021 rate

1.2%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

25-34

2021 count

77

2021 rate

0.8%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

35-44

2021 count

103

2021 rate

0.8%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

45-54

2021 count

129

2021 rate

1.2%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

55-64

2021 count

191

2021 rate

2.3%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

65-74

2021 count

408

2021 rate

6.3%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

75-84

2021 count

708

2021 rate

19.6%

Change from 2016

+0.6pp

85+

2021 count

1,023

2021 rate

52.4%

Change from 2016

+1.2pp

Data table

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

Need for assistance for Willoughby (C). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
Need for assistance for Willoughby (C). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
Category20212016Change
Count%Greater Sydney%Count%Greater Sydney%Countpp
0-4350.9%1.3%250.5%1.1%+10+0.4pp
5-141611.6%3.4%1161.2%2.7%+45+0.4pp
15-19661.6%2.7%681.7%2.2%-2-0.1pp
20-24481.2%1.8%431.0%1.5%+5+0.2pp
25-34770.8%1.3%730.6%1.2%+4+0.2pp
35-441030.8%1.6%1100.9%1.8%-7-0.1pp
45-541291.2%2.9%1231.2%3.2%+60.0pp
55-641912.3%5.5%1872.5%5.7%+4-0.2pp
65-744086.3%10.5%3406.3%9.9%+680.0pp
75-8470819.6%23.1%57319.0%23.4%+135+0.6pp
85+1,02352.4%48.7%88651.2%50.4%+137+1.2pp
Total2,9573.9%5.2%2,5383.4%4.9%+419+0.5pp