Audiologists

On this page:

  • 62%

    of First Nations-specific primary health care organisations employed or had a visiting audiologist or audiometrist in 2022–23.

Audiologists provide hearing tests and rehabilitative services, including counselling, communication strategies and hearing aid fitting. They also assess and support other ear related conditions, such as balance problems. 

About the data

Data in this section are from the 2021 Census and the Department of Education Higher Education Student data collection. Information about state or territory of usual place of work, as well as place of usual residence, is available from the Census. Information about remoteness area is only available for place of usual residence.

Overview

In 2022, about 160 university students completed an audiology course in Australia (AIHW analysis of Department of Employment Higher Education Student data collection). 

In the 2021 Census, around 2,640 Australians reported their occupation as an audiologist. This is a rate of 10.3 audiologists per 100,000 population, up from 7.8 in 2016. Fewer than 15 of these audiologists identified as First Nations people (data table 5.1a, ABS 2021).

Employment characteristics

Around 1,560 (59%) audiologists reported working full time (35 hours or more per week), while around 910 (35%) reported working part time (less than 35 hours per week) (information about full time or part time status was not determined for the remainder). In 2021 most audiologists reported working in the private sector (around 2,340, 89%), a large increase from 66% in 2016. Remaining audiologists reported working for a state or territory government (232, 8.8%) or the Australian Government (49, 1.9%) (ABS 2021).

Age and sex

The median age of audiologists was 36, and over 50% of audiologists were aged 25–39. Only 75 (3%) audiologists were aged 65 and over. 

Around 3 in 4 audiologists were women (2,030, 77%) and 1 in 4 were men (600, 23%). 

State and territory 

Of the 2,600 audiologists in Australia, 760 worked in Victoria and 740 worked in New South Wales (Figure WORKFORCE 1).

Figure WORKFORCE 1: Audiologists in Australia, by state/territory of place of work, 2021 (number)

Column chart shows most audiologists in Australia live in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.


Source: AIHW analysis of ABS (2021) Census of Population and Housing, 2021, Customised report; and ABS population estimate for rate calculations.

However, the rate of audiologists was highest in the Northern Territory (about 13 per 100,000 population) and Victoria (about 12 per 100,000) (Figure WORKFORCE 2).

Figure WORKFORCE 2: Audiologists in Australia, by state/territory of place of work, 2021 (rate)

Column chart shows population rate of audiologists in Australia is highest at 13.3 per 1,000 in the Northern Territory, lowest in NSW at 9.1 per 1,000.


Source: AIHW analysis of ABS (2021) Census of Population and Housing, 2021, Customised report; and ABS population estimates for rate calculations.

Remoteness

In 2021, most audiologists lived in Major cities (around 2,040 or 77%) (Figure WORKFORCE 3).

Figure WORKFORCE 3: Audiologists in Australia, by remoteness area of usual residence, 2021 (number)

Column chart shows the vast majority of audiologists in Australia live in Major cities or Inner regional areas.


Source: AIHW analysis of ABS (2021) Census of Population and Housing,  Customised report; AIHW population modelling using ABS population estimates and projections.

The rate was highest in Major cities and decreased with remoteness, as follows: 

  • Major cities – 11.0 audiologists per 100,000 population
  • Inner regional areas – 9.7 per 100,000
  • Outer regional areas – 6.8 per 100,000
  • Remote areas – 3.7 per 100,000. 

No audiologists lived in Very remote areas (Figure WORKFORCE 4). 

Figure WORKFORCE 4: Audiologists in Australia, by remoteness area of usual residence, 2021 (rate)

Column chart shows rate of audiologists is highest in Major cities at 11 per 100,000, declines to 3.7 per 100,000 in remote areas, none in very remote.


Source: AIHW analysis of ABS (2021) Census of Population and Housing, Customised report; AIHW population modelling using ABS population estimates and projections.

 

Specialist services in First Nations-specific primary health-care organisations

The proportion of First Nations-specific primary health-care organisations which employed or had a visiting audiologist or audiometrist more than doubled between 2013–14 and 2022–23, from 28% (56 organisations) to 62% (133 organisations) (AIHW analysis of the AIHW Online Services Report database collection, data table 5.1d).

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