Optometry Australia (OA) has reiterated concerns over workforce oversupply and will back this with a new projections study in 2025, as a new survey it commissioned calls for an urgent redesign of the workplace to avoid “squeezing in” follow up appointments and “moral distress” caused by KPIs and other pressures.
With new optometry graduates “facing challenges in securing employment and growing evidence of an expanding workforce”, the organisation has made another formal submission to the Federal Government’s Occupation Shortage List (OSL) survey.
“Our submission, consistent with our prior commentary, highlights concerns about a significant imbalance between optometry workforce supply and demand, while acknowledging the complex reality of workforce maldistribution,” OA said.
“We note many available roles are filled through internal recruitment rather than public job postings, and the positions that are advertised often remain open for long periods due to geographic location challenges rather than a true shortage of optometrists.
“Furthermore, we comment that the data tells a clear story: with an increase in the number of optometry schools in recent years, the number of registered optometrists in Australia has increased significantly, with a steady rise from 5,399 in 2017 to 6,977 in 2023.”
That number is now 7,150, according to the latest Optometry board of Australia statistics from October 2024.
The number of new university optometry programs – four since 2010 – was a catalyst for the new OA-commissioned workforce report (more on this below), that involved 505 Australian optometrists, and provided some sobering insights into the working lives of optometrists.
OA stated the optometry workforce per capita is now higher than many comparable countries, with particularly high concentrations in metropolitan and larger regional areas.
“Concern regarding a looming oversupply is being felt across the profession, with new evidence of concerning workplace conditions and reports from members indicating increasing job competition, fewer permanent full-time opportunities, and a stagnation or decline in salaries. This is particularly evident for early-career optometrists, who are struggling to secure stable employment pathways.”
OA has now commissioned an updated workforce supply and demand projections study, which is due to complete in early 2025.
The study is expected to provide “a clearer understanding of the expected short- and medium-term workforce supply and demand balance”, drawing on known data and trend analysis.
“It will also consider the supply-need balance, looking at areas of identified unmet eye care needs and opportunities for these to be addressed,” OA stated.
Survey exposes workforce issues
Meanwhile, OA has released findings from a comprehensive workforce national survey that “confirms many anecdotal reports from members regarding workplace standards and systems”.
The initial findings from ‘Working conditions of employed optometrists: A workforce survey’, led by Flinders University’s Professor Nicola Anstice, reveal that despite optometrists consistently delivering high-quality, evidence-based patient care, significant workplace reform is urgently needed.
Time allocation for appointments was a major issue.
While median appointment time for initial consultations was 30 minutes, and 20 minutes for follow up, it found 4% of optometrists were “not allocated any time for follow up appointments”, with these patients “squeezed in between other patients”.
The data contrasts with the situation several years ago in 2006, when Horton et al. reported average consultation times for a first patient visit of 45 minutes, 15 minutes for a subsequent patient visit, and 60 minutes for a contact lens consultation.
“While most optometrists (57%) reported they see 60 patients or less per week (approximately 12 patients per day), 11% reported having >90 eye examinations booked per week,” the latest report stated.
“Most optometrists noted that there was no specific time allocated for administrative tasks with a median administrative (clinical support time) allowance of 0 minutes per week.”
The report points out some macro trends that have influenced optometry workforce conditions during the past 15 years.
They include the four new optometry programs, increased net migration to Australia, and reduction of Medicare subsidised comprehensive eye examinations from two-yearly to three-yearly.
Plus, a 2019 survey on the mental health and wellbeing of practising optometrists, led by Professor Sharon Bentley from QUT at the time, found approximately one in three experienced moderate to severe psychological distress, depression and anxiety. The most common work-related issues identified were workload, retail pressures and career dissatisfaction.
More recently, an analysis of publicly available registration data also found a significant number of early career optometrists are leaving the profession.
The OA-backed Flinders survey found 23% of optometrists agreed or strongly agreed that they had satisfactory career options and professional growth, 25% were satisfied with their current income, and 34% felt professional isolated.
An ‘additional comments’ section revealed concerns such as job losses due to the increasing number of optometry graduates, the pressure of financially driven key performance indicators (KPIs), lack of clinical autonomy, and work overload.
Salary stagnation was another concern. While not stated in the report, an Insight analysis of Australian Tax Office data showed the average taxable income of optometrists was $102,773 (median $92,478) in 2021-22 – around $4,000 (3.7%) less than the year before.
Meanwhile, KPIs were highlighted as an example contributing to “optometrists experiencing significant moral distress”.
It’s a concept OA said occurs when a health care professional knows the correct course of action but is unable to pursue this due to institutional or organisational constraints.
As an example, an optometrist highlighted a case where regional management directed them to turn away red eyes or similar appointments. The optometrist said they explained this was against an optometrist’s duty of care, if they have time to see them.
Optometry Australia updates position statement
In response to these preliminary findings, on 14 February 2025, OA released an updated Position Statement on Workplace Conditions for Clinical Optometrists.
It has also shared the survey results and updated position statement with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) and several of the nation’s largest optometry employers.
“We are calling on these stakeholders to collaborate with us in driving much-needed reform.”
In the coming weeks, Flinders University will commence the second phase of their study by hosting additional focus group discussions to explore how job demands and resources influence job satisfaction in optometry and to identify factors that foster positive working environments.
“While we celebrate the essential contributions optometrists make to the lives of their patients, the goal of this workforce survey is to unite the industry, tackle the challenges, and create a stronger, more sustainable future for all optometrists,” OA said.
More reading
One in 10 Australian optometrists contemplating leaving profession – Ahpra
New workforce report suggests Australia will need 1,100 more optometrists by 2042
Psychological strains of optometry – Prof Sharon Bentley
