Workforce
Chinese medicine practitioner registrations and workforce demographics.
4,871
Total Registered Practitioners
Across three divisions: acupuncture, herbal medicine, herbal dispensing
4,788
Registered in Acupuncture Division
98% of all registrants hold acupuncture registration
16.2%
Practitioners Aged Over 65
Largest proportion of any health profession; workforce ageing concern
37.5%
Decline in Young Registrants (<35)
From 691 in 2012 to 432 in 2023
Chinese Medicine Practitioners by State/Territory
| State | Practitioners | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| NSW | 1,662 | 41% |
| VIC | 1,150 | 28% |
| QLD | 780 | 19% |
| WA | 202 | 5% |
| SA | 155 | 4% |
| ACT | 62 | 2% |
| TAS | 34 | 1% |
| NT | 12 | <1% |
Medicare & Services
Medicare coverage and service utilisation for acupuncture.
3.4%
GPs Claiming Acupuncture Through Medicare
Only medical doctors can bill acupuncture to Medicare
8.5M
TCM Services Accessed by Australians
During FY2023; includes acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine
$21.45
Medicare Rebate Per Acupuncture Session
Only when performed by a registered medical doctor; AHPRA acupuncturists excluded from CDM
Demographics & Practice
Patient demographics, consultation patterns, and practice data.
80%
GPs Who Refer to Acupuncturists Annually
85% of surveyed GPs considered it effective and safe
$101-110
Median Initial Consultation Fee
Range $81-130 for 72% of practitioners
$81-90
Median Follow-Up Fee
75% of practitioners charge $70-100 for ongoing sessions
Sources
Verified directly from source| Awaiting verification