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 Burnley, accounting for 27.8% (5 people). This share was higher than Yarra (C) (25%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 65-74 year olds, which decreased by 32 people and 19.9 percentage points.

Section overview

Need for assistance with core activities by age

Burnley - Persons (Usual residence)

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

Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Burnley, with comparison markers for Yarra (C).

Burnley

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

0-4

2021 count

0

2021 rate

0.0%

Change from 2016

-0.4pp

5-14

2021 count

0

2021 rate

0.0%

Change from 2016

-2.8pp

15-19

2021 count

0

2021 rate

0.0%

Change from 2016

-1.5pp

20-24

2021 count

0

2021 rate

0.0%

Change from 2016

-2.6pp

25-34

2021 count

4

2021 rate

1.6%

Change from 2016

+0.8pp

35-44

2021 count

0

2021 rate

0.0%

Change from 2016

-1.6pp

45-54

2021 count

0

2021 rate

0.0%

Change from 2016

-3.2pp

55-64

2021 count

3

2021 rate

4.8%

Change from 2016

-3.6pp

65-74

2021 count

0

2021 rate

0.0%

Change from 2016

-19.9pp

75-84

2021 count

5

2021 rate

27.8%

Change from 2016

-14.4pp

85+

2021 count

3

2021 rate

25.0%

Change from 2016

-33.3pp

Data table

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

Need for assistance for Burnley. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Yarra (C).
Need for assistance for Burnley. Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Yarra (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Yarra (C)%Count%Yarra (C)%Countpp
0-400.0%0.7%30.4%0.8%-3-0.4pp
5-1400.0%2.5%312.8%2.0%-31-2.8pp
15-1900.0%2.3%61.5%1.3%-6-1.5pp
20-2400.0%1.0%92.6%1.0%-9-2.6pp
25-3441.6%0.9%80.8%0.5%-4+0.8pp
35-4400.0%1.4%201.6%1.1%-20-1.6pp
45-5400.0%2.6%213.2%2.9%-21-3.2pp
55-6434.8%4.9%308.4%4.9%-27-3.6pp
65-7400.0%9.0%3219.9%8.6%-32-19.9pp
75-84527.8%25.0%1942.2%29.4%-14-14.4pp
85+325.0%60.0%758.3%52.9%-4-33.3pp
Total253.1%3.9%1823.0%3.5%-157+0.1pp