Workforce
Workforce size, growth, and distribution of speech pathologists across Australia.
11,000
Employed Speech Pathologists
ABS Labour Force Survey 2024 four-quarter average.
15,000+
Speech Pathology Australia Members
SPA celebrated reaching 15,000 members in 2024.
49%
Workforce Growth (2016-2021)
Audiologists and speech pathologists grew from 9,136 to 13,613 between the 2016 and 2021 Census.
16.6%
Projected Employment Growth to 2029
More than double the average growth rate across all occupations.
38%
NDIS Speech Pathology Providers Who Are Sole Traders
A further 23% are small providers with fewer than 5 allied health professionals.
Audiologists & Speech Pathologists by State/Territory (2021 Census)
| State/Territory | Employed (ANZSCO 2527) | Share of National Total |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | 4,200 | 30.9% |
| Victoria | 3,700 | 27.2% |
| Queensland | 2,600 | 19.1% |
| Western Australia | 1,200 | 8.8% |
| South Australia | 900 | 6.6% |
| ACT | 400 | 2.9% |
| Tasmania | 300 | 2.2% |
| Northern Territory | 150 | 1.1% |
| Australia Total | 13,613 | 100% |
Medicare, NDIS & Services
Medicare billing, NDIS caseloads, and service delivery data for speech pathology.
$198.2M
NDIS Speech Pathology Payments (6 months to Dec 2023)
Annualised, approximately $396M per year in NDIS spending on speech pathology.
109,829
NDIS Participants Accessing Speech Pathology
In the six months to 31 December 2023.
$109.1M
Total Medicare Benefits Paid for Speech Pathology (Jul 2004 - Jul 2023)
1.9M services over 19 years. 93% for children.
$58.30
Medicare Rebate per Speech Pathology Session (CDM item 10970)
Maximum 5 allied health sessions per calendar year under a GP CDM plan.
5 sessions/year
Maximum Medicare-rebated CDM Sessions per Calendar Year
Shared across all allied health disciplines.
Demographics
Age, gender, and workforce composition data for speech pathologists.
97%
Female Workforce Share
SPA membership data reports 98% female. One of the most female-dominated professions in Australia.
33
Median Age of Speech Pathologists
Significantly younger than the all-occupations median of 40 years.
13%
Annual Attrition Rate
Relatively high attrition, particularly among early-career practitioners in rural and remote areas.
Sources
Verified directly from source| Awaiting verification