Economic Needs Analysis Report · MCU15/0122

These benefits are no longer limited to large research and teaching hospitals as smaller
regional hospitals are undertaking translational research whereby research is translated at
the local level to create meaningful health outcomes. The location of the proposed medical
centre opposite the Noosa Hospital would create a ‘hub’ that allows Noosa to capitalise on
the economic and social benefits that the co-location of related services provides.

5.2     THE AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL WORKFORCE

Medical Practitioners

In its publication “Medical Labour Force 2013”, the AIHW recorded 91,467 registered medical
practitioners in Australia in 2013, representing an increase of some 26,000 registered
practitioners since 2004.

A significant proportion of employed practitioners in 2013 were ‘Clinicians’ (93%), of whom
29.7% were general practitioners and 35.7% were specialists which includes physicians,
surgeons, radiologists, obstetricians, gynaecologists, paediatricians, pathologists and others.
               TABLE 5.1: Medical Workforce Australia, Clinicians, 2013
             Main field of medicine          Number    Average age         Average   FTE rate*
                                                            (years)   weekly hours
                                                                           worked
             Clinician                        78,514          45.7            43.0      364.9
               General practitioner (GP)      25,702          51.7            39.0      108.5
               Hospital non-specialist         9,635          33.6            46.2         48.1
               Specialist                     27,279          50.2            44.1      130.1
               Specialist-in-training         13,712          34.0            46.9         69.4
               Other clinician                 2,186          46.0            37.3          8.8
             Non-clinician                     3,984          51.2            39.2         16.9
               Administrator                   1,444          52.9            41.2          6.4
               Teacher/educator                1,051          54.2            33.6          3.8
               Researcher                      1,372          46.5            42.5          6.3
               Other non-clinician               117          59.3            26.1          0.3
             Total                            82,498          46.0            42.8      381.8

                     Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
                     *Number per 100,000 population. FTE based on 40 total weekly hours.


By comparison, Queensland included a slightly lower proportion of medical practitioners
(373.2 per 100,000) in 2013 suggesting a state-wide under-supply of practitioners, compared
with the national average. Similarly, the rate of growth in medical practitioner registrations
in Queensland was more than 7% per annum between 2004 and 2013 rising from 9,415 to
17,377 practitioners over this period.




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