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, 5-14 year olds was the most common age group among residents who needed assistance with core activities in Wyndham (C), accounting for 4.2% (2,021 people). This share was higher than Greater Melbourne (3.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 5-14 year olds, which increased by 763 people and 0.3 percentage points.

Section overview

Need for assistance with core activities by age

Wyndham (C) - Persons (Usual residence)

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

Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Wyndham (C), with comparison markers for Greater Melbourne.

Wyndham (C)

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

0-4

2021 count

384

2021 rate

1.5%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

5-14

2021 count

2,021

2021 rate

4.2%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

15-19

2021 count

618

2021 rate

3.9%

Change from 2016

+1.0pp

20-24

2021 count

388

2021 rate

2.2%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

25-34

2021 count

657

2021 rate

1.3%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

35-44

2021 count

811

2021 rate

1.4%

Change from 2016

-0.3pp

45-54

2021 count

1,065

2021 rate

3.4%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

55-64

2021 count

1,439

2021 rate

6.5%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

65-74

2021 count

1,912

2021 rate

13.3%

Change from 2016

+0.8pp

75-84

2021 count

1,720

2021 rate

28.4%

Change from 2016

+0.8pp

85+

2021 count

1,074

2021 rate

58.0%

Change from 2016

+7.1pp

Data table

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

Need for assistance for Wyndham (C). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
Need for assistance for Wyndham (C). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
Category20212016Change
Count%Greater Melbourne%Count%Greater Melbourne%Countpp
0-43841.5%1.3%2531.2%1.1%+131+0.3pp
5-142,0214.2%3.9%1,2583.9%3.0%+763+0.3pp
15-196183.9%3.1%3732.9%2.2%+245+1.0pp
20-243882.2%2.0%2511.9%1.5%+137+0.3pp
25-346571.3%1.5%4491.1%1.2%+208+0.2pp
35-448111.4%1.8%6061.7%1.9%+205-0.3pp
45-541,0653.4%3.2%8373.3%3.2%+228+0.1pp
55-641,4396.5%5.6%1,1786.6%5.5%+261-0.1pp
65-741,91213.3%10.5%1,31312.5%9.5%+599+0.8pp
75-841,72028.4%24.7%1,21027.6%23.2%+510+0.8pp
85+1,07458.0%54.0%73850.9%49.0%+336+7.1pp
Total12,0894.1%5.5%8,4583.9%4.9%+3,631+0.2pp