OSCA 262932

Osteopath

Overview

  • Employed persons

    2,300

  • Employment status

    47.7% Full time

    52.4% Part time

  • Median age

    35 years

  • Employment by sex

    55.3% Female

    44.9% Male

    Gender balanced

  • Indigenous employment share

    0.5%

  • Main employing industry

    Health Care and Social Assistance

Indicator Osteopath Total employment
Employed persons 2,300 12,049,400
Median age 35 years 40 years
Full-time share 47.7% 64.2%
Part-time share 52.4% 35.8%
Female employment share 55.3% 48.5%
Male employment share 44.9% 51.5%
Gender segregation intensity scale Gender balanced Gender balanced
Indigenous employment share 0.5% 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

Osteopaths prevent, diagnose and treat tissue strains, stresses and dysfunction of the neuromusculoskeletal system, and provide advice on preventing these disorders.

What the occupation involves

  • Diagnoses, manages and treats neuromusculoskeletal disorders through a biopsychosocial approach
  • Employs a variety of medical testing procedures, including neuromusculoskeletal, functional and mobility tests, to identify and assess physical problems
  • Designs, reviews, monitors, assesses and evaluates treatment plans and programs
  • Records patients' medical histories, treatments and management plans, and creates progress reports
  • Communicates and liaises with other Health Professionals in relation to patients' management and progress
  • Provides advice and instructions to patients, families and carers in a range of therapeutic management techniques

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

Registration or licensing is required.

OSCA structure

Employment

On this page

    Industries

    Top 10 most common industries, 2021

    Osteopath Total employment
    Industry Share of occupation Industry Share of occupation
    Health Care and Social Assistance 97.7% Health Care and Social Assistance 14.5%
    Administrative and Support Services 0.6% Retail Trade 9.1%
    Arts and Recreation Services 0.3% Construction 8.9%
    Education and Training 0.3% Education and Training 8.8%
    Accommodation and Food Services 0.0% Professional, Scientific and Technical Services 7.8%
    Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing 0.0% Public Administration and Safety 6.6%
    Construction 0.0% Accommodation and Food Services 6.5%
    Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services 0.0% Manufacturing 5.9%
    Financial and Insurance Services 0.0% Transport, Postal and Warehousing 4.5%
    Information Media and Telecommunications 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

      20.3%

    • Victoria

      62.4%

    • Queensland

      9.8%

    • South Australia

      1.5%

    • Tasmania

      2.0%

    • Northern Territory

      0.3%

    • Australian Capital Territory

      1.6%

    Osteopath Total employment
    State / Territory Employment Share of occupation Employment Share of occupation
    New South Wales 470 20.3% 3,684,200 30.6%
    Victoria 1,400 62.4% 3,162,900 26.2%
    Queensland 220 9.8% 2,444,100 20.3%
    South Australia 40 1.5% 839,400 7.0%
    Western Australia 60 2.5% 1,306,200 10.8%
    Tasmania 50 2.0% 254,700 2.1%
    Northern Territory 10 0.3% 107,000 0.9%
    Australian Capital Territory 40 1.6% 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

    Osteopath

    Total employment

    Age group Osteopath Total employment
    15–24 years 5.7% 14.3%
    25–34 years 42.1% 22.7%
    35–44 years 28.7% 22.3%
    45–54 years 14.5% 20.4%
    55–64 years 5.7% 15.3%
    65–74 years 2.5% 4.3%
    75 years and over 0.4% 0.6%
    Note: N/A values indicate data are not available due to confidentiality or data reliability requirements.
    Sex Osteopath Total employment
    Female 55.3% 48.5%
    Male 44.9% 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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