Australian Health Performance Framework: PI 2.6.2–Net growth in health workforce, 2020

Collection and usage attributes

For this indicator, the workforce for each profession is defined as those employed in Australia in the profession. This excludes those who are registered in the profession but are retired from regular work, working outside the profession, working in the profession but on extended leave of 3 months or more or working outside Australia.

FTE number = Total hours worked by workforce ÷ Standard working week for selected professions.

For the purpose of this indicator, a full-time working week has been defined as 40 hours for medical practitioners and as 38 hours for all other practitioners.

Dental practitioners include dentists and allied dental practitioners (dental therapists, dental prosthetists, dental hygienists and oral health therapists).

Allied health practitioners comprise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners, Chinese medicine practitioners, chiropractors, medical radiation practitioners, occupational therapists, optometrists, osteopaths, pharmacists, physiotherapists, podiatrists and psychologists.

100,000 × (Numerator ÷ Denominator)

FTE number in the workforce in the reference year

Australian population in the reference year

2008–2018—State and territory by profession for the following professions:

1. medical practitioners
   • total rate 2009-2018
   • age groups (<25, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65+) 2018
   • Indigenous status 2013-2018
2. nursing and midwifery
   • total rate 2009-2018
   • age groups (<25, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65+) 2018
   • Indigenous status 2013-2018
3. dental practitioners
   • total rate 2013-2018
   • age groups (<25, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65+) 2018
   • Indigenous status 2013-2018
4. allied health practitioners
   • total rate 2012-2018
   • age groups (<25, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65+) 2018
   • Indigenous status 2013-2018.

Most recent data available for 2020 Australian Health Performance Framework reporting: 2018.

The 2018 workforce data was sourced from the Australian Government Department of Health.

FTE employed health practitioner rates calculated from the National Health Workforce Data Set are available on a national basis from 2011.

Status of the calculation of full-time equivalent employed health practitioner rate for professions is:

1. Medical practitioner workforce: Data for 2018 are available.
2. Nursing and midwifery workforce: Data for 2018 are available.
3. Dental workforce: Data for 2018 are available.
4. Allied health workforce: Data for 2018 are available. The allied health workforce comprises the professions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners, Chinese medicine practitioners, chiropractors, medical radiation practitioners, occupational therapists, optometrists, osteopaths, pharmacists, physiotherapists, podiatrists and psychologists.

Representational attributes

N[NNN].N

Indicator conceptual framework

Data source attributes

Accountability attributes

Australian Health Performance Framework

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Source and reference attributes

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Relational attributes