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LEARN MORE ABOUT .idIn 2021, 122,348 people (or 4.6% of the population) in Western Australia reported needing help in their day-to-day lives due to disability. This was a percentage increase from 2016.
Western Australia's disability statistics relate directly to need for assistance due to a severe or profound disability. The information may be used in the planning of local facilities, services such as day-care and occasional care and in the provision of information and support to carers. Western Australia's disability statistics help in understanding the prevalence of people who need support in the community, and along with information on Unpaid Care to a person with a disability, how that support is provided.
Please note: A person's reported need for assistance is based on a subjective assessment and should therefore be treated with caution. See the specific data notes for further detail.
Q:
Derived from the Census questions:
'Does the person ever need someone to help with, or be with them for, self care activities?', 'Does the person ever need someone to help with, or be with them for, body movement activities?', 'Does the person ever need someone to help with, or be with them for, communication activities?', and 'What are the reasons for the need for assistance or supervision shown in questions 20, 21 and 22?' (as per above).
| Need for assistance with core activities by age | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Australia - Persons (Usual residence) | 2021 | 2016 | Change | ||||
| Assistance needed by age group (years) | Number | % of total age group | Australia % | Number | % of total age group | Australia % | 2016 to 2021 |
| 0 to 4 | 1,943 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 1,557 | 1.0 | 1.1 | +386 |
| 5 to 9 | 6,169 | 3.6 | 4.4 | 4,185 | 2.5 | 3.2 | +1,984 |
| 10 to 19 | 11,069 | 3.4 | 4.0 | 7,141 | 2.4 | 3.0 | +3,928 |
| 20 to 59 | 30,310 | 2.1 | 2.7 | 25,413 | 1.9 | 2.6 | +4,897 |
| 60 to 64 | 7,331 | 4.9 | 6.4 | 6,353 | 4.8 | 6.5 | +978 |
| 65 to 69 | 8,117 | 6.1 | 8.1 | 7,232 | 6.2 | 7.8 | +885 |
| 70 to 74 | 10,279 | 8.9 | 11.2 | 7,213 | 8.7 | 10.5 | +3,066 |
| 75 to 79 | 11,174 | 14.3 | 16.8 | 8,546 | 13.9 | 16.0 | +2,628 |
| 80 to 84 | 12,961 | 24.4 | 27.7 | 9,909 | 23.3 | 26.4 | +3,052 |
| 85 and over | 22,592 | 45.6 | 48.9 | 18,108 | 42.7 | 46.8 | +4,484 |
| Total persons needing assistance | 122,348 | 4.6 | 5.8 | 95,653 | 3.9 | 5.1 | +26,695 |
| Need for assistance with core activities summary | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Australia - Total persons (Usual residence) | 2021 | 2016 | Change | ||||
| Assistance needed by age group (years) | Number | % | Australia % | Number | % | Australia % | 2016 to 2021 |
| Total persons needing assistance | 122,348 | 4.6 | 5.8 | 95,653 | 3.9 | 5.1 | +26,695 |
| Total persons not needing assistance | 2,366,843 | 89.0 | 88.4 | 2,185,295 | 88.3 | 87.7 | +181,548 |
| Not stated | 170,835 | 6.4 | 5.9 | 193,461 | 7.8 | 7.1 | -22,626 |
| Total Population | 2,660,026 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 2,474,409 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +185,617 |
Dominant groups
Analysis of the need for assistance of people in Australia compared to Australia shows that there was a lower proportion of people who reported needing assistance with core activities.
Overall, 4.6% of the population reported needing assistance with core activities, compared with 5.8% for Australia.
The major differences in the age groups reporting a need for assistance in Western Australia and Australia were:
- A smaller percentage of persons aged 85 and over (45.6% compared to 48.9%)
- A smaller percentage of persons aged 80 to 84 (24.4% compared to 27.7%)
- A smaller percentage of persons aged 75 to 79 (14.3% compared to 16.8%)
- A smaller percentage of persons aged 70 to 74 (8.9% compared to 11.2%)
Emerging groups
The major differences in the age groups reporting a need for assistance between 2016 and 2021 in Western Australia were in the age groups:
- 20 to 59 (+4,897 persons)
- 85 and over (+4,484 persons)
- 10 to 19 (+3,928 persons)
- 70 to 74 (+3,066 persons)
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