idc-logo
svg rectangle color
Cairns Regional CouncilCommunity profile

In 2021, 4,472 females (or 5.3% of the female population) in Cairns reported needing help in their day-to-day lives due to disability. This was a percentage increase from 2016.

Cairns'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. Cairns'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
Cairns - Females (Usual residence)20212016Change
Assistance needed by age group (years)Number% of total age groupMount Sheridan %Number% of total age groupMount Sheridan %2016 to 2021
0 to 4390.9--350.7--+4
5 to 91392.63.21001.81.3+39
10 to 192982.83.01901.90.7+108
20 to 591,2032.62.21,0632.42.0+140
60 to 643056.08.22716.15.5+34
65 to 693417.97.42717.67.9+70
70 to 7442812.213.526610.87.4+162
75 to 7946619.421.429017.820.7+176
80 to 8445632.641.432230.320.5+134
85 and over78655.440.064851.169.6+138
Total persons needing assistance4,4725.34.73,4524.33.2+1,020
Please refer to specific data notes for more information
Need for assistance with core activities summary
Cairns - Total females (Usual residence)20212016Change
Assistance needed by age group (years)Number%Mount Sheridan %Number%Mount Sheridan %2016 to 2021
Total persons needing assistance4,4725.34.73,4524.33.2+1,020
Total persons not needing assistance73,15186.590.868,46586.191.1+4,686
Not stated6,9758.24.57,5919.55.7-616
Total Population84,598100.0100.079,508100.0100.0+5,090
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 females in Cairns Regional Council compared to Mount Sheridan shows that there was a higher proportion of females who reported needing assistance with core activities.

Overall, 5.3% of the female population reported needing assistance with core activities, compared with 4.7% for Mount Sheridan.

The major differences in the female age groups reporting a need for assistance in Cairns and Mount Sheridan were:

  • A larger percentage of females aged 85 and over (55.4% compared to 40.0%)
  • A smaller percentage of females aged 80 to 84 (32.6% compared to 41.4%)
  • A smaller percentage of females aged 60 to 64 (6.0% compared to 8.2%)
  • A smaller percentage of females aged 75 to 79 (19.4% compared to 21.4%)

Emerging groups

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

  • 75 to 79 (+176 females)
  • 70 to 74 (+162 females)
  • 20 to 59 (+140 females)
  • 85 and over (+138 females)

DISCLAIMER: While all due care has been taken to ensure that the content of this website is accurate and current, there may be errors or omissions in it and no legal responsibility is accepted for the information and opinions in this website.

Please view our Privacy Policy, Terms of use and Legal notices.

ABS Data and the copyright in the ABS Data remains the property of the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The copyright in the way .id has modified, transformed or reconfigured the ABS Data as published on this website remains the property of .id. ABS Data can be accessed from the Australian Bureau of Statistics at www.abs.gov.au. ABS data can be used under license - terms published on ABS website. intermediary.management@abs.gov.au if you have any queries or wish to distribute any ABS data.