Workforce
Registration, growth, and distribution of osteopaths across Australia.
57%
Registration Growth per 100k Population (2014-2023)
Number of registered osteopaths per 100,000 population increased 57% over 10 years.
12.4
Osteopaths per 100,000 Population
Based on approximately 3,370 osteopaths and a population of 27.1 million.
~95%
Private Practice
The vast majority of osteopaths work in private practice. Public sector roles are rare.
28.2 hrs
Average Clinical Hours per Week
Mean practice hours per week, consulting with an average of 37 patients.
18.2%
Practising in Rural/Remote Areas
Compared to 81.8% in urban areas. 28% of the Australian population lives outside major cities.
Osteopaths by State/Territory (Estimated)
| State | Share of Workforce | Estimated Registrations |
|---|---|---|
| VIC | 52.0% | 1,754 |
| NSW | 26.5% | 894 |
| QLD | 9.0% | 304 |
| WA | 5.5% | 185 |
| SA | 3.5% | 118 |
| TAS | 1.5% | 51 |
| ACT | 1.7% | 57 |
| NT | 0.3% | 10 |
Medicare & Services
Medicare billing data and service delivery trends for osteopathy.
$61.80
Medicare Rebate per Osteopathy Service
MBS Item 10966 for osteopathy under a GP Chronic Disease Management plan.
5
Medicare-Subsidised Sessions per Year
Maximum allied health sessions per calendar year under a CDM plan. Shared across all allied health providers.
33 of 35
Private Health Insurers Covering Osteopathy
Of 35 Australian private health insurers, 33 offer benefits for osteopathy under extras cover.
3.0M hrs
Annual Hours of Osteopathy Services Delivered
Estimated total annual hours spent delivering osteopathy services across Australia.
Demographics
Age, gender, and workforce composition data for osteopaths.
58.1%
Female Osteopaths
From a nationally representative sample of 992 osteopaths.
38.0 yrs
Average Age of Osteopaths
Majority of practitioners fall within the 30-39 year age range.
~10%
Overseas-Qualified Osteopaths
Assessed by the Australian Osteopathic Accreditation Council (AOAC).
150+
Annual Osteopathy Graduates
Three Australian universities produce approximately 150 osteopathy graduates each year.
Sources
Verified directly from source| Awaiting verification