Number and rate of optometrists

Measure 4.1: The number of employed optometrists, full-time equivalent (FTE) per 100,000 Australian population.

The size and location of the eye health workforce provides a broad indication of access to eye health services. FTE is a measure calculated by dividing an estimate of the total hours worked by employees in an occupation in a week by an estimate of the standard hours worked for optometrists (38 hours per week). The number of FTE is then compared with the size of relevant population to get the FTE per 100,000 population.

There are 5 separate charts for this measure including 1 map, showing the number and rate of full-time equivalent (FTE) optometrist per 100,000 population, by various characteristics.

FTE per 100,000 persons, optometrists by primary health network (PHN), 2019 (map)

This map of Australia shows the FTE rate of optometrists in 2019, by PHN. The rates for each PHN are grouped into 5 categories, ranging from ≤10.7 in the lowest category to 24–29.7 in the highest category. FTE rates were lowest in Country WA. Rates were highest in metropolitan areas: Brisbane North (Qld) and Central and Eastern Sydney (NSW).

Number and FTE per 100,000 persons, optometrists, primary health network, 2019 (bar chart)

This dual axis combined horizontal bar chart and scatter plot presents the number and FTE rate of optometrists in 2019, by PHN. PHNs have been grouped by state and are ranked from highest to lowest FTE rate within each state grouping. In NSW the PHN with the highest rate of employed optometrists was Central and Eastern Sydney (30 FTE per 100,000). Murrumbidgee had the lowest rate in NSW (13.9 FTE per 100,000). In Victoria the PHN with the highest rate of employed optometrists was North Western Melbourne (22.3 FTE per 100,000). South Eastern Melbourne had the lowest at 15.3 FTE per 100,000.

Number and FTE per 100,000 persons, optometrists, 2011 to 2019

This dual axis combined vertical bar chart and scatter plot presents the number and FTE rate of optometrists, from 2011 to 2019. The chart shows that, between 2011 and 2019, the number and rate of optometrists has increased. In 2011 there were 4,034 employed optometrists (17 FTE per 100,000) and, by 2019, this had increased to 5,330 (19 FTE per 100,000).

Number and FTE per 100,000 persons, optometrists by region, 2019

This dual axis combined vertical bar chart and scatter plot presents the number and FTE rate of optometrists in 2019, by remoteness. The chart shows that Major cities had the highest number (4,221) and rate (21 FTE per 100,000) of employed optometrists. This was followed by Inner regional areas (811, or 17 FTE per 100,000) and Outer regional areas (252, or 12 FTE per 100,000). The numbers and rates of optometrists were lowest in Remote and Very remote areas.

Number and FTE per 100,000 persons, optometrists, by jurisdiction, 2019

This dual axis combined vertical bar chart and scatter plot presents the number and FTE rate of optometrists in 2019, by jurisdiction. The chart shows that the Northern Territory had the lowest number (32, or 13.2 FTE per 100,000) of employed optometrists. New South Wales had the highest number (1,797) and rate (20 FTE per 100,000) of employed optometrists.

  • In 2019, there were around 5,330 optometrists employed in Australia (19 FTE per 100,000).
  • In 2019, Major cities had the highest number (4,221) and rate (21 FTE per 100,000) of employed optometrists. This was followed by Inner regional areas (811, or 17 FTE per 100,000) and Outer regional areas (252, or 12 FTE per 100,000). The numbers and rates of optometrists were lowest in Remote and Very remote areas.
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