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 Yarra (C), accounting for 25% (801 people). This share was higher than Greater Melbourne (24.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 85+ year olds, which increased by 192 people and 7.1 percentage points.

Section overview

Need for assistance with core activities by age

Yarra (C) - Persons (Usual residence)

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

Need for assistance with core activities by age change

Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.

2016
2021

0-4

-6

-0.1pp

5-14

+34

+0.5pp

15-19

+25

+1.0pp

20-24

-3

0.0pp

25-34

+95

+0.4pp

35-44

+52

+0.3pp

45-54

-20

-0.3pp

55-64

+32

0.0pp

65-74

+104

+0.4pp

75-84

+1

-4.4pp

85+

+192

+7.1pp

Data table

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

Need for assistance for Yarra (C). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
Need for assistance for Yarra (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
0-4260.7%1.3%320.8%1.1%-6-0.1pp
5-141452.5%3.9%1112.0%3.0%+34+0.5pp
15-19602.3%3.1%351.3%2.2%+25+1.0pp
20-24671.0%2.0%701.0%1.5%-30.0pp
25-342380.9%1.5%1430.5%1.2%+95+0.4pp
35-442131.4%1.8%1611.1%1.9%+52+0.3pp
45-542632.6%3.2%2832.9%3.2%-20-0.3pp
55-644134.9%5.6%3814.9%5.5%+320.0pp
65-745609.0%10.5%4568.6%9.5%+104+0.4pp
75-8480125.0%24.7%80029.4%23.2%+1-4.4pp
85+76160.0%54.0%56952.9%49.0%+192+7.1pp
Total3,5443.9%5.5%3,0433.5%4.9%+501+0.4pp