Summary Statistics, Medical Profession
Summary tables were generated using a statistical package that uses different rounding methodologies to the Health Workforce Data Tool. Percentages and/or averages may differ slightly to those extracted from the Health Workforce Data Tool.
Registered and Employed in Australia 2017 to 2021
Interpreting 2021 Medical Practitioner data
From 16 June 2021, Services Australia started using the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency’s (Ahpra) Register of practitioners to confirm General Practitioners (GPs) specialist registration, required so their patients were eligible to retain access to Medicare Rebates. This change saw a significant short-term increase in medical specialist applications from GPs. Please note that this change in registration practice does not represent an additional GP workforce and care should be taken when comparing figures between 2020 and 2021.
| Clinician Status | Area | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clinician | General practitioner (GP)* | 29,455 | 30,066 | 31,102 | 31,620 | 31,842 |
| Clinician | Hospital non-specialist | 10,516 | 10,759 | 12,098 | 13,161 | 13,671 |
| Clinician | Specialist | 32,245 | 33,303 | 35,024 | 36,189 | 37,421 |
| Clinician | Specialist-in-training | 16,334 | 16,916 | 16,526 | 17,001 | 17,735 |
| Clinician | Other clinician | 1,867 | 2,560 | 2,289 | 2,289 | 2,527 |
| Other | 4,777 | 4,791 | 4,802 | 5,033 | 5,305 | |
| Total | 95,194 | 98,395 | 101,841 | 105,293 | 108,501 |
*General Practitioners refer to General practitioners using the NHWDS as defined in the method papers under Main job area : General practitioners in Australia: Headcount & workload methods - Summary
Registered and Employed in Australia, 2021
| Clinician Status | Area | Headcount | Total FTE | Average Age | Average Total Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clinician | General practitioner (GP)* | 31,842 | 29,264.6 | 51.3 | 36.8 |
| Clinician | Hospital non-specialist | 13,671 | 15,781.0 | 33.1 | 46.2 |
| Clinician | Specialist | 37,421 | 39,123.1 | 50.0 | 41.8 |
| Clinician | Specialist-in-training | 17,735 | 19,819.2 | 34.2 | 44.7 |
| Clinician | Other clinician | 2,527 | 2,369.6 | 44.9 | 37.5 |
| Other | 5,305 | 4,874.9 | 53.2 | 36.8 | |
| Total | 108,501 | 111,232.2 | 45.7 | 41.0 |
*General Practitioners refer to General practitioners using the NHWDS as defined in the method papers under Main job area : General practitioners in Australia: Headcount & workload methods - Summary
State and Territory, Registered and Employed in Australia, 2021
| State | Headcount | Total FTE | Average Age | Average Total Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | 33,623 | 34,593.5 | 46.5 | 41.2 |
| VIC | 27,591 | 28,035.3 | 45.4 | 40.6 |
| QLD | 22,486 | 23,214.8 | 45.1 | 41.3 |
| SA | 7,641 | 7,781.1 | 46.3 | 40.7 |
| WA | 11,119 | 11,311.8 | 45.3 | 40.7 |
| TAS | 2,483 | 2,532.9 | 46.1 | 40.8 |
| ACT | 2,102 | 2,219.7 | 46.1 | 42.2 |
| NT | 1,340 | 1,429.8 | 42.2 | 42.7 |
| Australia | 108,501 | 111,232.2 | 45.7 | 41.0 |
*Australia data includes those where State or Territory is unknown
Remoteness Area, Registered and Employed in Australia, 2021
| Remoteness Area | Headcount | Total FTE | Average Age | Average Total Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Major cities | 85,430 | 87,249.1 | 45.8 | 40.9 |
| Inner regional | 15,514 | 15,829.1 | 45.7 | 40.8 |
| Outer regional | 6,090 | 6,537.7 | 44.9 | 42.9 |
| Remote | 923 | 1,011.8 | 44.6 | 43.9 |
| Very remote | 431 | 495.2 | 48.4 | 46.0 |
| Australia | 108,501 | 111,232.2 | 45.7 | 41.0 |
Modified Monash Model (MMM), Registered and Employed in Australia, 2021
| Modified Monash Model | Headcount | Total FTE | Average Age | Average Total Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 85,430 | 87,249.1 | 45.8 | 40.9 |
| 2 | 10,085 | 10,464.0 | 44.3 | 41.5 |
| 3 | 6,858 | 7,154.8 | 45.8 | 41.7 |
| 4 | 2,424 | 2,483.3 | 47.0 | 41.0 |
| 5 | 2,222 | 2,249.5 | 48.1 | 40.5 |
| 6 | 918 | 1,003.6 | 44.6 | 43.7 |
| 7 | 451 | 518.5 | 48.2 | 46.0 |
| Total | 108,501 | 111,232.2 | 45.7 | 41.0 |