Regional WA
Need for assistance
In 2016, 20,154 people (or 3.8% of the population) in Regional WA reported needing help in their day-to-day lives due to disability. This was a similar percentage to 2011.
Regional WA'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 WA'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.
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).
Total population
| Need for assistance with core activities by age | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regional WA - Persons (Usual residence) | 2016 | 2011 | Change | |||||
| Assistance needed by age group (years) | Number | % of total age group | Greater Capital Cities % | Number | % of total age group | Greater Capital Cities % | 2011 to 2016 | |
| 0 to 4 | 294 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 8001 | 268 | 0.7 | 1.0 | +26 |
| 5 to 9 | 854 | 2.3 | 3.1 | 8011 | 614 | 1.7 | 2.5 | +240 |
| 10 to 19 | 1,437 | 2.3 | 2.7 | 8021 | 1,211 | 1.8 | 2.1 | +226 |
| 20 to 59 | 5,766 | 2.1 | 2.3 | 8031 | 5,124 | 1.8 | 2.1 | +642 |
| 60 to 64 | 1,531 | 4.8 | 6.3 | 8041 | 1,587 | 5.7 | 6.0 | -56 |
| 65 to 69 | 1,774 | 6.4 | 7.9 | 8051 | 1,224 | 6.2 | 7.4 | +550 |
| 70 to 74 | 1,664 | 8.7 | 11.0 | 8061 | 1,291 | 8.8 | 10.8 | +373 |
| 75 to 79 | 1,766 | 13.2 | 17.3 | 8071 | 1,345 | 13.1 | 17.3 | +421 |
| 80 to 84 | 1,855 | 21.6 | 28.4 | 8081 | 1,857 | 24.8 | 27.5 | -2 |
| 85 and over | 3,200 | 41.4 | 48.3 | 8091 | 2,783 | 46.9 | 48.1 | +417 |
| Total persons needing assistance | 20,154 | 3.8 | 4.8 | 17,304 | 3.4 | 4.4 | +2,850 | |
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing (opens a new window) 2011 and 2016. Compiled and presented in profile.id by .id (opens a new window)(informed decisions).
| Need for assistance with core activities summary | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regional WA - Total persons (Usual residence) | 2016 | 2011 | Change | |||||
| Assistance needed by age group (years) | Number | % | Greater Capital Cities % | Number | % | Greater Capital Cities % | 2011 to 2016 | |
| Total persons needing assistance | 20,154 | 3.8 | 4.8 | 8101 | 17,304 | 3.4 | 4.4 | +2,850 |
| Total persons not needing assistance | 447,916 | 85.5 | 88.7 | 8102 | 440,400 | 87.6 | 90.1 | +7,516 |
| Not stated | 56,100 | 10.7 | 6.5 | 8103 | 44,885 | 8.9 | 5.6 | +11,215 |
| Total Population | 524,170 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 502,589 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +21,581 | |
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing (opens a new window) 2011 and 2016. Compiled and presented by .id (opens a new window)(informed decisions).
Compiled and presented in profile.id by .id (informed decisions).
Compiled and presented in profile.id by .id (informed decisions).
Dominant groups
Analysis of the need for assistance of people in Australia compared to Greater Capital Cities shows that there was a lower proportion of people who reported needing assistance with core activities.
Overall, 3.8% of the population reported needing assistance with core activities, compared with 4.8% for Greater Capital Cities.
The major differences in the age groups reporting a need for assistance in Regional WA and Greater Capital Cities were:
- A smaller percentage of persons aged 85 and over (41.4% compared to 48.3%)
- A smaller percentage of persons aged 80 to 84 (21.6% compared to 28.4%)
- A smaller percentage of persons aged 75 to 79 (13.2% compared to 17.3%)
- A smaller percentage of persons aged 70 to 74 (8.7% compared to 11.0%)
Emerging groups
The major differences in the age groups reporting a need for assistance between 2011 and 2016 in Regional WA were in the age groups:
- 20 to 59 (+642 persons)
- 65 to 69 (+550 persons)
- 75 to 79 (+421 persons)
- 85 and over (+417 persons)