Calculation excludes 'Not stated' responses to the Indigenous status question.

The scope of the health workforce for this indicator is those employed in health occupations. Those occupations that are defined as health occupations are detailed in the AIHW's Health and community services labour force publication.

Occupation groupings are medical practitioners, medical imaging workers, dental workers, nursing workers, pharmacists, allied health workers, complementary health workers and other health workers.

Specified disaggregation: Nationally and state/territory by occupation grouping.

Available disaggregation: Nationally and state/territory by occupation grouping.

Most recent data available for 2010 CRC baseline report: 2006.

As the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme data become available, information on all 11 professions covered by that scheme (medical, dental, nursing, midwifery, optometry, osteopathy, occupational therapists, pharmacy, physiotherapy, psychology, chiropractic) will be used. From 2012, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners, Chinese medicine practitioners and medical radiation practitioners will also be included in the scheme.

Questionnaires to collect workforce information as part of the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme will need to be designed carefully to ensure sufficient Indigenous status responses are collected.

Specification: Interim

Occupation groupings are medical practitioners, medical imaging workers, dental workers, nursing workers, pharmacists, allied health workers, complementary therapists and other health workers.

Indicators P64a and P64b present complementary information about the Indigenous workforce drawing from Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) health labour force surveys and state and territory registration board data (P64a) and ABS Census data (P64b).

Health and community services labour force publication (AIHW, 2006): http://www.aihw.gov.au/publications/index.cfm/title/10677