2901.0 - Census of Population and Housing: Census Dictionary, 2016  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 23/08/2016   
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2016 Census Dictionary >> Glossary >> Core Activity Need for Assistance (ASSNP)

Core Activity Need for Assistance (ASSNP)

The 2006 Census was the first Census to include the variable Core Activity Need for Assistance. The Core Activity Need for Assistance variable has been developed to measure the number of people with a profound or severe disability. As with the ABS Surveys of Disability, Ageing and Carers, the Census of Population and Housing defines the profound or severe disability population as:

'Those people needing help or assistance in one or more of the three core activity areas of self-care, mobility and communication, because of a long-term health condition (lasting six months or more), a disability (lasting six months or more), or old age'.

While the concept being measured is the same in both the Surveys and the Census the output items differ to reflect the differences in the populations due to the different methodologies in the two collections.

To determine if 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 question on the Census household form asks, 'What are the reasons for the need for assistance or supervision...?'. Where the response to this question is one or more of the following answers they are coded to the category 'Does not have need for assistance with core activities'.
  • No need for help or supervision.
  • Short-term health condition (lasting less than six months) - people with this response are coded to 'Does not have need for assistance with core activities' as the definition of Core Activity Need for Assistance only includes people who need assistance as a result of a long-term health condition i.e. lasting 6 months or more.
  • Difficulty with English language - people with this response are coded to 'Does not have need for assistance with core activities' as the need for assistance is not due to a long-term health condition.
  • Other cause - people with this response are coded to the category 'Does not have need for assistance with core activities' as it is necessary to exclude people who need assistance for a reason other than a long-term health condition.

In addition, if a person's only answer to the reasons question is 'Old or young age' and the person's age is under 40, then they are also coded to 'Does not have need for assistance with core activities'. Children need assistance with these activities for reasons other than having a long-term health condition or disability.

People aged 40 years and over who only answer 'Old or young age' are included in the category 'Has need for assistance with core activities'. Testing has shown that from this age, some people who need assistance due to a long-term health condition or disability, may state that this need is due to ageing.

People who answer Long-term health condition (lasting six months or more) or Disability (lasting six months or more) to the reasons question are coded to the category 'Has need for assistance with core activities'.





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