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AustraliaCommunity profile

Regional NSW

Need for assistance

In 2021, 193,513 people (or 6.8% of the population) in Regional NSW reported needing help in their day-to-day lives due to disability. This was a percentage increase from 2016.

Regional NSW'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. Regional NSW'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
Regional NSW - Persons (Usual residence)20212016Change
Assistance needed by age group (years)Number% of total age groupAustralia %Number% of total age groupAustralia %2016 to 2021
0 to 42,4081.61.41,9341.31.1+474
5 to 98,6475.04.46,4403.83.2+2,207
10 to 1916,2574.84.011,4293.63.0+4,828
20 to 5947,4263.52.745,6533.62.6+1,773
60 to 6412,6986.56.412,2927.06.5+406
65 to 6914,2147.88.113,4177.97.8+797
70 to 7417,42010.411.212,8349.610.5+4,586
75 to 7918,02014.916.813,92214.116.0+4,098
80 to 8420,08924.827.716,10023.126.4+3,989
85 and over35,79346.248.931,27043.846.8+4,523
Total persons needing assistance193,5136.85.8165,2966.35.1+28,217
Please refer to specific data notes for more information
Need for assistance with core activities summary
Regional NSW - Total persons (Usual residence)20212016Change
Assistance needed by age group (years)Number%Australia %Number%Australia %2016 to 2021
Total persons needing assistance193,5136.85.8165,2966.35.1+28,217
Total persons not needing assistance2,444,58586.488.42,271,22085.987.7+173,365
Not stated191,5356.85.9207,0217.87.1-15,486
Total Population2,829,633100.0100.02,643,537100.0100.0+186,096
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2016 and 2021. Compiled and presented by .id (informed decisions).
Please refer to specific data notes for more information

Dominant groups

Analysis of the need for assistance of people in Australia compared to Australia shows that there was a higher proportion of people who reported needing assistance with core activities.

Overall, 6.8% 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 Regional NSW and Australia were:

  • A smaller percentage of persons aged 80 to 84 (24.8% compared to 27.7%)
  • A smaller percentage of persons aged 85 and over (46.2% compared to 48.9%)
  • A smaller percentage of persons aged 75 to 79 (14.9% compared to 16.8%)

Emerging groups

The major differences in the age groups reporting a need for assistance between 2016 and 2021 in Regional NSW were in the age groups:

  • 10 to 19 (+4,828 persons)
  • 70 to 74 (+4,586 persons)
  • 85 and over (+4,523 persons)
  • 75 to 79 (+4,098 persons)

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