Number and rate of allied ophthalmic personnel
Measure 4.3: The number and rate of allied ophthalmic personnel, 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.
Figure 4.3: Number and rate of allied ophthalmic personnel
There are 4 separate charts for this measure showing the number and rate of full-time equivalent (FTE) allied ophthalmic personnel per 100,000 population, by various characteristics.
Number and rate of allied ophthalmic personnel, by profession, 2021
This dual axis horizontal bar chart and scatter plot presents the number and FTE rate of allied ophthalmic personnel in 2021, by profession. The chart shows that the biggest category of allied ophthalmic personnel in Australia was optical dispensers. In 2021, there were around 6,133 optical dispensers (14.4 FTE per 100,000), 1,055 orthoptists (3.1 FTE per 100,000) and 401 optical mechanics (1.3 FTE per 100,000) in Australia.
Number and rate of allied ophthalmic personnel, by profession and region, 2016
This dual axis combined grouped vertical bar chart and scatter plot presents the number and FTE rate of optical dispensers and ‘other’ allied ophthalmic personnel in 2016, by remoteness. The chart shows that Major cities had the highest number (3,609) and rate (16 FTE per 100,000) of optical dispensers and other allied ophthalmic personnel (1,134, or 5.6 FTE per 100,000). This was followed by Inner regional areas with 919 optical dispensers (17 FTE per 100,000) and 138 other allied ophthalmic personnel (2.5 FTE per 100,000). There were insufficient numbers of optical dispensers and other allied ophthalmic personnel in Remote and Very remote areas to calculate rates.
Number and rate of allied ophthalmic personnel, by profession and jurisdiction, 2021
This dual axis combined grouped vertical bar chart and scatter plot presents the number and FTE rate of optical dispensers and ‘other’ allied ophthalmic personnel in 2021, by state and territory. The chart shows that New South Wales had the highest number (1,776) and rate (12 FTE per 100,000) of optical dispensers and other allied ophthalmic personnel (607 or 5.6 FTE per 100,000). This was followed by Victoria with 1,530 (14 FTE per 100,000) optical dispensers and 531 other allied ophthalmic personnel (6.2 FTE per 100,000).
Number and rate of allied ophthalmic personnel, 2016 and 2021
This dual axis combined grouped vertical bar chart and scatter plot presents the number and FTE rate of optical dispensers and ‘other’ allied ophthalmic personnel in 2016 and 2021. In 2016 there were 4,859 optical dispensers (15.1 FTE per 100,000) and in 2021 that number was 6,133 (14 FTE per 100,000).
- The biggest category of allied ophthalmic personnel in Australia is optical dispensers. In 2021, there were around 6,133 optical dispensers (14 FTE per 100,000), 401 optical mechanics (1.3 FTE per 100,000) and 1,055 orthoptists (3.1 FTE per 100,000) in Australia.
- From 2016 to 2021, the FTE rate of all allied ophthalmic personnel remained relatively constant, from 15 to 14 FTE per 1,000 for optical dispensers, and from 4.5 to 4.4 FTE per 1,000 for optical mechanics and orthoptists combined.