OSCA 442431

Optical Dispenser

Overview

  • Employed persons

    6,100

  • Employment status

    34.5% Full time

    65.5% Part time

  • Median age

    35 years

  • Employment by sex

    78.5% Female

    21.6% Male

    Highly female dominated

  • Indigenous employment share

    1.3%

  • Main employing industry

    Health Care and Social Assistance

Indicator Optical Dispenser Total employment
Employed persons 6,100 12,049,400
Median age 35 years 40 years
Full-time share 34.5% 64.2%
Part-time share 65.5% 35.8%
Female employment share 78.5% 48.5%
Male employment share 21.6% 51.5%
Gender segregation intensity scale Highly female dominated Gender balanced
Indigenous employment share 1.3% 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

Optical Dispensers interpret optical prescriptions, and fit and service optical appliances such as spectacle frames and lenses.

What the occupation involves

  • Interprets optical prescriptions and advises on eyewear selection
  • Takes measurements for proper fit of eyewear
  • Fits frames to ensure comfort and alignment
  • Dispenses and fits contact lenses, providing instructions on insertion, removal and care
  • Educates on eyewear maintenance, repairs eyewear and sells a range of optical goods

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 3
equivalent to a mid-level Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification (Certificate IV or Certificate III with at least 2 years’ on-the-job training).

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 may be required.

OSCA structure

Community and Personal Service Workers (4)

Employment

On this page

    Industries

    Top 10 most common industries, 2021

    Optical Dispenser Total employment
    Industry Share of occupation Industry Share of occupation
    Health Care and Social Assistance 94.7% Health Care and Social Assistance 14.5%
    Retail Trade 2.3% Retail Trade 9.1%
    Financial and Insurance Services 0.9% Construction 8.9%
    Manufacturing 0.7% Education and Training 8.8%
    Wholesale Trade 0.2% Professional, Scientific and Technical Services 7.8%
    Accommodation and Food Services 0.1% Public Administration and Safety 6.6%
    Education and Training 0.1% Accommodation and Food Services 6.5%
    Other Services 0.1% Manufacturing 5.9%
    Public Administration and Safety <0.1% Transport, Postal and Warehousing 4.5%
    Administrative and Support Services 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

      29.3%

    • Victoria

      24.8%

    • Queensland

      21.1%

    • South Australia

      8.5%

    • Tasmania

      2.3%

    • Northern Territory

      0.5%

    • Australian Capital Territory

      1.9%

    Optical Dispenser Total employment
    State / Territory Employment Share of occupation Employment Share of occupation
    New South Wales 1,800 29.3% 3,684,200 30.6%
    Victoria 1,500 24.8% 3,162,900 26.2%
    Queensland 1,300 21.1% 2,444,100 20.3%
    South Australia 520 8.5% 839,400 7.0%
    Western Australia 710 11.6% 1,306,200 10.8%
    Tasmania 140 2.3% 254,700 2.1%
    Northern Territory 30 0.5% 107,000 0.9%
    Australian Capital Territory 120 1.9% 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

    Optical Dispenser

    Total employment

    Age group Optical Dispenser Total employment
    15–24 years 24.5% 14.3%
    25–34 years 24.2% 22.7%
    35–44 years 16.8% 22.3%
    45–54 years 18.5% 20.4%
    55–64 years 13.1% 15.3%
    65–74 years 2.9% 4.3%
    75 years and over 0.1% 0.6%
    Note: N/A values indicate data are not available due to confidentiality or data reliability requirements.
    Sex Optical Dispenser Total employment
    Female 78.5% 48.5%
    Male 21.6% 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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