A new workforce report has reinforced predications the industry is heading towards a significant shortfall of more than 1,000 optometrists in Australia over the next two decades, with deficits to be felt most in regional Australian communities.
The analysis by Deloitte Access Economics – commissioned by Specsavers – forecasts a shortage of 1,102 full time equivalent (FTE) optometrists in 2042, representing an undersupply of more than 1.5 million clinical optometry hours, or approximately a 12% shortage, compared to the total hours of eyecare expected to be in demand by Australians by then.
This is despite projections the supply of optometrists will increase from 5,266 FTE in 2022 to 8,261 FTEs by 2042, representing a 57% increase.
The 2023 analysis echo findings of the Optometry Workforce Report 2018-37 prepared by Deloitte Access Economics in 2018. The latest report also provides updated optometry workforce modelling post-COVID from 2022 to 2042, and considers alternative models to enhance eyecare delivery.
“Looking at the trends and forecasts in this report, it is evident there is a real need to address the shortages of optometrists in Australia, particularly in regional and rural areas,” Specsavers ANZ optometry director (now clinical services director) Dr Ben Ashby said.
“Failure to do so could lead to significant challenges in accessing and delivering eye healthcare to the whole population. The cost of avoidable vision loss to the public health system runs into the billions of dollars, therefore ignoring the serious threat posed by a shortfall of optometrists will undoubtedly lead to an increased impact on the public health system and most importantly, the quality-of-life for all Australians through vision loss from undiagnosed or untreated eye conditions.”
Despite these forecasts, whether Australia needs more optometrists remains a point of contention. Large optometry employers have consistently called for more graduates and welcomed new optometry schools at the University of Canberra and University of Western Australia, while Optometry Australia has previously said it is concerned that graduate supply may soon outstrip demand.
When looking at supply and demand in urban and regional areas, the latest Deloitte report forecasted an undersupply of optometrists in both areas over the projected period, from a starting point of equilibrium. The deficit in rural areas is expected to be most significant in 2042, with an approximate shortage of 799 FTE optometrists. In urban areas the shortage is less significant, totalling 303 FTE optometrists. However, there would still be a significant shortfall across both areas even if urban optometrists were redistributed towards rural areas, the report noted.
“This report shows a significant shortfall across both urban and regional areas,” Specsavers ANZ managing director Mr Paul Bott said.
“Within our own network alone, around 40% of Australian locations currently have an unfilled optometry vacancy, with more than 60% of those in outer-regional locations. That means just today, thousands of Australians are not able to access timely eyecare. The potential impact this will have to the eye health of Australians over the next 20 years if we continue on the same trajectory is worrying.”
According to the report, the increase in optometry supply over the projected period relies on graduates entering the workforce.
Ashby said this is evident with the introduction of two new universities offering optometry courses since the 2018 report. These are driving increasing numbers of optometrists practising in the ACT and WA.
“While this is a promising sign and exactly what the introduction of these universities was designed to do, with both universities still being relatively new, there is no long-term data on if and for how long optometrists stay in these regions. In addition, the report forecasts significant undersupply in Queensland, Tasmania, South Australia, Victoria and NSW, the states with the highest growth in demand, as well as significant undersupply in regional areas across Australia,” he said.
“Even with the projected increase in graduates forecast in this report, it still signals there will not be sufficient optometrists to even try and keep pace with increased demand.”
With Specsavers being the largest provider of eyecare and employer of optometrists in Australia, Ashby said the company understood how difficult it can be to recruit optometrists.
“And combined with the changing demands of a modern optometry workforce looking increasingly for flexibility and urban living, unfortunately the impact of this optometrist shortage is lack of accessibility for patients,” he said.
“Optometrists are the frontline of eye healthcare, and we want to ensure we have a sustainable profession and access to care model available to meet the demands of the Australian population now and into the future.”
Better care models
The report also looked at ways to enhance the delivery of eyecare, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which created both challenges and new opportunities.
With wait times for public eyecare services surging and an ageing population, Specsavers stated there is an urgency to review current eyecare models, with a view to enhancing those that provide most value to the health system.
Interviewing stakeholders from across the Australian eye health industry, the report identified several opportunities, including enhancing the role of optometrists to upskill and fully utilise their skill set in primary care settings, as well as investing in enablers to optimise access to eye care. This included investing in training, utilising technology such as tele-optometry to alleviate accessibility barriers, better data and information sharing platforms, as well as embedding patient support services into the patient care pathway.
“The good news is there are solutions to prevent a worrying eye health future in Australia. By proactively addressing the challenges presented in the report and implementing sensible, safe and collaborative strategies with regulatory and funding support, as an industry we can overcome the potential threats to Australians’ eye health, while also creating a more balanced, future-proof and well distributed eyecare workforce across Australia,” Ashby said.
“Overall, if we always keep the goal of ensuring equitable access to quality eyecare for all Australians top of mind, we will be moving in the right direction.”
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