Summary

Main findings

  • There were an estimated 56,115 registered medical practitioners in Australia in 2000 and 51,106 were working in medicine.

  • The average age of the medical workforce was 46.5 years, up from 44.9 years in 1995 and continuing an ageing trend.

  • The proportion of female practitioners continued to rise, with 30.0% in 2000 compared with 27.2% in 1995.

  • Medical practitioners worked an average week of 45.5 hours, a decline since 1995 when they worked an average of 48.2 hours.

  • In 2000, almost half (48.2%) of practitioners worked more than 50 hours per week, a decline since 1995 (53.0%).

  • Across regions, generally the medical practitioner rate decreased and their hours increased as regional population lessened: the rate (per 100,000 population) ranged from 307 in ‘Capital cities’ to 94 in ‘Other rural areas’ and average hours per week ranged from 45.0 in ‘Capital cities’ to 49.1 in ‘Remote areas’.

  • At a national level, the lower average weekly hours and an increased practitioner rate resulted in a decline in full-time equivalent rates in 2000. Based on a 45-hour week, the rate declined from 279 in 1995 to 270 in 2000.