This variable records the number of people who have a profound or severe core activity limitation. People with core activity limitations need help in their daily lives with self‑care, mobility or communication because of:
a long‑term health condition (lasting six months or more)
a disability (lasting six months or more)
old age
Scope
All persons
Categories
Code
Category
1
Has need for assistance with core activities
2
Does not have need for assistance with core activities
Does the person ever need someone to help with, or be with them for, self-care activities?
Image
Description
This image shows a question from the 2026 Census online form. This question asks: Does Person 1 ever need someone to help with, or be with them for, self-care activities?
Underneath the question text, the instructional text states: For example: doing everyday activities such as eating, showering, dressing or toileting.
Underneath the instructional text, is a clickable More Information header. Once clicked, the More Information is shown, and states: This question refers to the extra help or supervision needed by someone because of a disability, long-term illness or old age. If Person 1 cannot do a task at all, for example, cannot dress themselves, select 'Yes, always'. For young children who have a similar need for assistance as most other children of the same age, select the most appropriate response for their situation.
The response options are: Yes, always; Yes, sometimes; No.
Does the person ever need someone to help with, or be with them for, body movement activities?
Image
Description
This image shows a question from the 2026 Census online form. This question asks: Does Person 1 ever need someone to help with, or be with them for, body movement activities?
Underneath the question text, the instructional text states: For example: getting out of bed, moving around at home or at places away from home.
Underneath the instructional text, is a clickable More Information header. Once clicked, the More Information is shown, and states: This question refers to the extra help or supervision needed by someone because of a disability, long-term illness or old age. If Person 1 cannot do a task at all, for example, is confined to bed, select 'Yes, always'. For young children who have a similar need for assistance as most other children of the same age, select the most appropriate response for their situation.
The response options are: Yes, always; Yes, sometimes; No.
Does the person ever need someone to help with, or be with them for, communication activities?
Image
Description
This image shows a question from the 2026 Census online form. This question asks: Does Person 1 ever need someone to help with, or be with them for, communication activities?
Underneath the question text, the instructional text states: For example: understanding, or being understood by, others.
Underneath the instructional text, is a clickable More Information header. Once clicked, the More Information is shown, and states: This question refers to the extra help or supervision needed by someone because of a disability, long-term illness or old age. If Person 1 cannot do a task at all, for example, cannot communicate, select 'Yes, always'. For young children who have a similar need for assistance as most other children of the same age, select the most appropriate response for their situation.
The response options are: Yes, always; Yes, sometimes; No.
What are the reasons for the need for assistance or supervision?
Image
Description
This image shows a question from the 2026 Census online form. This question asks: What are the reasons for the need for assistance or supervision?
Underneath the question text, the instructional text states: Select all applicable reasons.
Underneath the instructional text, is a clickable More Information header. Once clicked, the More Information is shown, and states: For young children, select ‘Old or young age' if the need for assistance is similar to most other children of the same age. Where a person needs assistance with communication due to difficulties with English, and if the need for assistance would not be present when communicating in their own language, select 'Difficulty with English language'.
The response options are: No need for assistance; Short-term health condition (lasting less than six months); Long-term health condition (lasting six months or more); Disability (lasting six months or more); Old or young age; Difficulty with English language; Other reason.
How this variable is created
The Census determines this variable using four needs for assistance questions . Responses are automatically captured from mark boxes; this reduces processing errors.
Coding rules
To determine whether a person’s need for assistance in one or more of the three core activity areas is due to a long-term health condition, disability or old age, the Census form asks: 'What are the reasons for the need for assistance or supervision?'
A person is coded to ‘Has need for assistance with core activities’ if they report one or more of the following:
long-term health condition (lasting six months or more)
disability (lasting six months or more)
A person is coded to ‘Does not have need for assistance with core activities’ if the reported reasons are limited to the following:
no need for assistance
short-term health condition (lasting less than six months)
difficulty with English language
other reason
If ‘Old or young age’ is the only reported reason, the person is coded:
‘Does not have need for assistance with core activities’if aged under 40 years
‘Has need for assistance with core activities’if aged 40 years or over
History and changes
A question about core activity need for assistance was first asked in the 2006 Census to measure disability across different areas and groups in Australia.
