OSCA 261134

Psychotherapist

Overview

  • Employed persons

    2,200

  • Employment status

    30.7% Full time

    69.1% Part time

  • Median age

    50 years

  • Employment by sex

    79.5% Female

    20.7% Male

    Highly female dominated

  • Indigenous employment share

    0.9%

  • Main employing industry

    Health Care and Social Assistance

Indicator Psychotherapist Total employment
Employed persons 2,200 12,049,400
Median age 50 years 40 years
Full-time share 30.7% 64.2%
Part-time share 69.1% 35.8%
Female employment share 79.5% 48.5%
Male employment share 20.7% 51.5%
Gender segregation intensity scale Highly female dominated Gender balanced
Indigenous employment share 0.9% 2.2%
Main employing industry Health Care and Social Assistance Health Care and Social Assistance
Note: N/A values indicate data are not available due to confidentiality or data reliability requirements.

Occupation overview

Psychotherapists provide diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders using psychotherapeutic methods, such as behavioural therapy, biofeedback, relaxation therapy and other techniques.

What the occupation involves

  • Conducts assessments and diagnoses mental and emotional disorders
  • Works with clients to explore and understand conscious and unconscious aspects of their lived experience
  • Develops and implements individualised treatment plans for clients
  • Delivers psychotherapy sessions to clients using various therapeutic techniques to help change thinking patterns and improve coping skills
  • Provides support and guidance to clients in managing their mental and emotional wellbeing
  • Provides education and resources to clients and their families on mental health issues

Common occupation titles

No alternative occupation titles are listed for this occupation.

Specialisations

No specialisations are listed for this occupation.

Skill level (education and experience level)

Skill level 1
equivalent to a university level qualification (Bachelor degree or higher).

Note: While skill levels are described using formal education levels, some people use a combination of informal learning, on-the-job training and personal experience to achieve an equivalent level.

Licensing or registration requirements

No licensing or registration requirements are listed for this occupation.

OSCA structure

Employment

On this page

    Industries

    Top 10 most common industries, 2021

    Psychotherapist Total employment
    Industry Share of occupation Industry Share of occupation
    Health Care and Social Assistance 91.4% Health Care and Social Assistance 14.5%
    Education and Training 4.5% Retail Trade 9.1%
    Administrative and Support Services 0.5% Construction 8.9%
    Other Services 0.4% Education and Training 8.8%
    Financial and Insurance Services 0.3% Professional, Scientific and Technical Services 7.8%
    Public Administration and Safety 0.3% Public Administration and Safety 6.6%
    Accommodation and Food Services 0.2% Accommodation and Food Services 6.5%
    Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing 0.0% Manufacturing 5.9%
    Arts and Recreation Services 0.0% Transport, Postal and Warehousing 4.5%
    Construction 0.0% Financial and Insurance Services 3.7%
    Note: N/A values indicate data are not available due to confidentiality or data reliability requirements.

    States and territories

    Employment distribution by states and territories, 2021

    • New South Wales

      37.6%

    • Victoria

      32.3%

    • Queensland

      11.6%

    • South Australia

      7.1%

    • Tasmania

      1.2%

    • Northern Territory

      0.1%

    • Australian Capital Territory

      2.1%

    Psychotherapist Total employment
    State / Territory Employment Share of occupation Employment Share of occupation
    New South Wales 840 37.6% 3,684,200 30.6%
    Victoria 720 32.3% 3,162,900 26.2%
    Queensland 260 11.6% 2,444,100 20.3%
    South Australia 160 7.1% 839,400 7.0%
    Western Australia 170 7.8% 1,306,200 10.8%
    Tasmania 30 1.2% 254,700 2.1%
    Northern Territory 0 0.1% 107,000 0.9%
    Australian Capital Territory 50 2.1% 248,600 2.1%
    Note: N/A values indicate data are not available due to confidentiality or data reliability requirements.

    Age and sex

    Employment distibution by age group and sex, 2021

    Psychotherapist

    Total employment

    Age group Psychotherapist Total employment
    15–24 years 12.2% 14.3%
    25–34 years 14.1% 22.7%
    35–44 years 13.8% 22.3%
    45–54 years 17.9% 20.4%
    55–64 years 22.3% 15.3%
    65–74 years 16.2% 4.3%
    75 years and over 3.0% 0.6%
    Note: N/A values indicate data are not available due to confidentiality or data reliability requirements.
    Sex Psychotherapist Total employment
    Female 79.5% 48.5%
    Male 20.7% 51.5%
    Note: N/A values indicate data are not available due to confidentiality or data reliability requirements.

    On this page

      OSCA occupation profiles data

      This file contains data available from the OSCA Occupation Profile page.

      Use of this data must include the relevant attribution text provided.

      OSCA Occupation data - 2021 Census.xlsx

      xlsx 1236447

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      Occupation Standard Classification for Australia (OSCA)

      Occupation Standard Classification for Australia (OSCA) is the skill-based classification used to categorise occupations across the Australian labour market. OSCA is used to define occupations across all official occupational statistics. OSCA replaces the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO).

      Each job is classified to one, and only one, group of jobs at each level of the classification with no overlaps. This prevents the accidental double-counting of roles within the Australian labour market. For more information about OSCA, visit the What is OSCA information page, or the ABS website.

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