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 Wollongong (C), accounting for 22.9% (3,049 people). This share was higher than Regional NSW (18.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 5-14 year olds, which increased by 381 people and 1.4 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Wollongong (C) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Wollongong (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Wollongong (C), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
165
2021 rate
1.4%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
165
1.4%
+0.3pp
5-14
2021 count
1,173
2021 rate
4.6%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
1,173
4.6%
+1.4pp
15-19
2021 count
437
2021 rate
3.4%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
437
3.4%
+0.6pp
20-24
2021 count
433
2021 rate
2.7%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
433
2.7%
+0.7pp
25-34
2021 count
630
2021 rate
2.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
630
2.2%
0.0pp
35-44
2021 count
720
2021 rate
2.7%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
720
2.7%
0.0pp
45-54
2021 count
1,146
2021 rate
4.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
1,146
4.3%
+0.1pp
55-64
2021 count
1,569
2021 rate
6.0%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
1,569
6.0%
-0.8pp
65-74
2021 count
2,210
2021 rate
10.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
2,210
10.6%
0.0pp
75-84
2021 count
3,049
2021 rate
22.9%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
3,049
22.9%
-0.3pp
85+
2021 count
2,930
2021 rate
50.9%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
2,930
50.9%
-0.4pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+29
+0.3pp
5-14
+381
+1.4pp
15-19
+73
+0.6pp
20-24
+118
+0.7pp
25-34
+53
0.0pp
35-44
+25
0.0pp
45-54
+42
+0.1pp
55-64
-74
-0.8pp
65-74
+237
0.0pp
75-84
+263
-0.3pp
85+
+236
-0.4pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Wollongong (C). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 165 | 1.4% | 1.6% | 136 | 1.1% | 1.3% | +29 | +0.3pp |
| 5-14 | 1,173 | 4.6% | 5.2% | 792 | 3.2% | 3.8% | +381 | +1.4pp |
| 15-19 | 437 | 3.4% | 4.2% | 364 | 2.8% | 3.2% | +73 | +0.6pp |
| 20-24 | 433 | 2.7% | 3.4% | 315 | 2.0% | 2.6% | +118 | +0.7pp |
| 25-34 | 630 | 2.2% | 2.6% | 577 | 2.2% | 2.4% | +53 | 0.0pp |
| 35-44 | 720 | 2.7% | 2.8% | 695 | 2.7% | 3.0% | +25 | 0.0pp |
| 45-54 | 1,146 | 4.3% | 4.2% | 1,104 | 4.2% | 4.4% | +42 | +0.1pp |
| 55-64 | 1,569 | 6.0% | 6.0% | 1,643 | 6.8% | 6.2% | -74 | -0.8pp |
| 65-74 | 2,210 | 10.6% | 9.1% | 1,973 | 10.6% | 8.7% | +237 | 0.0pp |
| 75-84 | 3,049 | 22.9% | 18.9% | 2,786 | 23.2% | 17.8% | +263 | -0.3pp |
| 85+ | 2,930 | 50.9% | 46.5% | 2,694 | 51.3% | 43.8% | +236 | -0.4pp |
| Total | 14,458 | 6.7% | 6.8% | 13,082 | 6.4% | 6.3% | +1,376 | +0.3pp |