OSR – vacancies (FTE)
At 30 June 2025, organisations had around 1,000 vacant full-time equivalent (FTE) positions (Figure 4).
The data visualisation below (Figure 4) shows the number of vacant FTE positions at 30 June 2019 to 30 June 2025 by position type. Select by either:
- organisation type
- remoteness
- state/territory
to see data for that breakdown.
Data tables supporting this visualisation are available at Data.
Figure 4: Vacant FTE positions by collection period and position type
Overall, vacant FTE positions ranged from 392.1 at 30 June 2019 to 1,045.2 at 30 June 2025.
Notes
- Breaks are included to separate out the periods most affected by voluntary reporting and the peak of COVID-19 and associated emergency response measures. For more information see Comparisons over time.
- For more information, including on interpreting changes over time, see Technical notes.
Of the vacant FTE positions at 30 June 2025:
- 94% (or around 980 FTE) were at ACCHOs
- 32% (or around 335 FTE) were in Remote areas, 21% (220) in Very remote areas, 20% (210) in Outer regional areas, 17% (180) in Inner regional areas and 10% (100) in Major cities
- 80% (or around 830 FTE) were for health staff.
There was an increase in the number of vacant FTE positions reported as at 30 June 2021, 30 June 2022 and 30 June 2023 compared with those reported for previous periods. This was followed by a slight decrease at 30 June 2024. While it is difficult to be definitive about the reasons for the changes, it is likely that at least some of the increased vacancies between 2021 and 2023 were related to the delivery of new services (for example, a large organisation reported they were opening new clinics and programs in 2022–23) (AIHW 2023). Especially in 2021 and 2022, the increases may have been a result (direct or indirect) of the COVID-19 pandemic increasing the need for services (such as for vaccinations). However, these changes may also be the result of other unrelated factors, for example, general changes in funding, direction, structure or size resulting in more or different services being delivered. For more information on the impact of COVID-19 see Related material. For more information on interpreting changes over time see Technical notes.
Between 30 June 2024 and 30 June 2025, there was a large decrease in the number of vacant positions at non-ACCHOs (from around 170 to 65). Based on comments provided by these organisations, this change was mostly a result of vacant positions being filled in the non-ACCHOs associated with the Northern Territory Department of Health (which make up around two-thirds of non-ACCHOs nationally).
Vacant FTE positions per 1,000 clients
In 2024–25, there were around 2.0 vacant FTE positions per 1,000 clients (Figure 5). ACCHOs had more vacant positions per 1,000 clients than non-ACCHOs (2.2 compared with 1.0), especially for health staff (1.7 compared with 0.9).
The data visualisation below (Figure 5) shows, for each collection period from 2018–19 to 2024–25, the number of vacant FTE positions per 1,000 clients by broad position type. Select by either:
- organisation type
- remoteness
- state/territory
to see data for that breakdown.
Data tables supporting this visualisation are available at Data.
Figure 5: Vacant FTE positions per 1,000 clients by collection period and position type
Overall, vacant FTE positions per 1,000 clients ranged from 0.8 in 2018–19 to 2.0 in 2022–23 and 2024–25.
Notes:
- Vacant FTE are as at 30 June each period. Visiting staff FTE and number of clients are for a 12 month period from 1 July to 30 June each period.
- Breaks are included to separate out the periods most affected by voluntary reporting and the peak of COVID-19 and associated emergency response measures. For more information see Comparisons over time.
- For more information, including on interpreting changes over time, see Technical notes.
Reference
AIHW (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare) (2023) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander specific primary health care: impact of COVID-19, catalogue number IHW 281, AIHW, Australian Government, accessed 15 November 2025.