Chief investigator Dr Felicia Adinanto outlines findings from the 2025 Orthoptic Workforce Survey, examining workforce growth, distribution, retention and the profession’s expanding role in Australia’s eyecare system.
With Australia’s ageing population driving a sharp rise in demand for eyecare, strengthening the orthoptic workforce has never been more important. The 2025 Orthoptic Workforce Survey provides the most comprehensive snapshot to date of who orthoptists are, where they work and the challenges shaping the profession’s future. Its findings point to a workforce that is evolving, expanding its contribution and increasingly practising at top of scope to meet growing community need.
Commissioned by Orthoptics Australia and conducted by the Orthoptics Australia Research Committee, the survey examined workforce demographics, employment patterns, workplace satisfaction and retention across clinical and non‑clinical settings. Insights from this national dataset are informing Orthoptics Australia’s strategic planning for 2026–2030, with the board now considering targeted strategies to support workforce sustainability. These include approaches to address retention challenges linked to career progression, income growth and professional recognition.
A total of 290 orthoptists participated in the survey, representing a broad cross‑section of the profession. Respondents ranged from students and newly graduated practitioners to orthoptists with more than 60 years of experience. Millennials and Gen Z orthoptists made up 69% of responses, highlighting the profession’s relatively young profile. Orthoptics continues to be a highly educated, predominantly female profession, with half of respondents holding a Master’s degree and one third undertaking additional qualifications in areas such as public health, management, business, counselling and research. The workforce also reflects Australia’s multicultural landscape, with almost half of respondents speaking two or more languages.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data show the orthoptic workforce has grown substantially, increasing from 694 practitioners in 2011 to 1,055 in 2021. Despite this growth, demand remains high, with 60% of orthoptists reporting that their workplace advertised a position in the past year. An estimated 500 graduates are expected to enter the profession over the next five years, helping to maintain service capacity even as 31% of respondents plan to move out of clinical practice during the same period.
Notably, projected five‑year attrition among orthoptists is far lower than the reported 60% attrition rate across many Ahpra‑registered professions. Almost half of respondents intend to remain in the profession for more than ten years, while the 12‑month attrition rate of 4.6% compares favourably with the estimated 12% across Ahpra‑registered professions overall. These findings suggest a committed and engaged workforce, although improving retention remains a key focus given sustained national demand for orthoptists.
Workforce maldistribution continues to present a significant challenge. Eighty‑eight per cent of orthoptists are located in New South Wales and Victoria, where there are approximately 5.5 to 6 orthoptists per 100,000 population, compared with fewer than two per 100,000 in Queensland and Western Australia. Despite this imbalance, the profession demonstrates a strong commitment to equity in eyecare access, with one in five orthoptists delivering services in rural and regional areas.
Most orthoptists are employed in clinical roles within private ophthalmology clinics and public hospital settings. Within these environments, there are clear opportunities for advancement, with 20% of orthoptists holding leadership positions such as head or chief orthoptist and 15% working in managerial roles. Beyond clinical practice, orthoptists contribute across the broader eye health sector, including research and academia. Nineteen per cent of respondents reported involvement in research, while 5% hold academic appointments. Employment in industry has also increased since the 2017 workforce survey, rising from 1% to 3%, reflecting the profession’s growing diversification.
As orthoptists progress into more senior and varied roles, workforce growth brings both opportunity and pressure. While diversification reflects a capable and dynamic profession, it also contributes to retention challenges and broader healthcare shortages. Training capacity remains closely tied to the availability of clinical placements. Currently, 57% of orthoptists in New South Wales and 66% in Victoria supervise students, underscoring strong professional commitment while highlighting the need to expand placement opportunities nationwide. Increasing community awareness of orthoptics is also critical to attracting students and strengthening future training pathways.
Overall, the 2025 Orthoptic Workforce Survey provides a robust evidence base to guide strategic workforce planning. The findings position orthoptists as an essential, skilled and highly committed workforce at the heart of Australia’s eyecare system, well placed to support innovation, improve equity and meet rising demand. Continued collaboration between the profession, universities, employers and policymakers will be central to ensuring the orthoptic workforce not only grows, but thrives into the future.
About the author: Dr Felicia Adinanto is a lecturer at University of Technology Sydney and chief investigator of the 2025 Orthoptic Workforce Survey.
