8 / 33
8
Speak Out
February 2015
Speech Pathology Australia
0
1,500
1996 2001 2006 2011 2014...
2016
(projected)
3,000
4,500
6,000
7,500
9,000
Our profession has been growing over the past two decades with a steep increase in the number of practising speech pathologists
in the past five years. With an increase in courses (currently 15 universities offer 24 speech pathology programs across
19 locations in Australia) our profession is expected to continue to grow from 700 up to 1,300 new graduates each year.
How many of us?
Late in 2014
, Health Workforce Australia (HWA) produced a publication that brought together available information from
various sources about the speech pathology workforce in Australia. Speech Pathology Australia worked closely with
HWA and provided significant information about our membership numbers to assist in developing this publication. This is
a graphical presentation of some of the key information that was included – full publication information and data sources
can be found at
http://www.hwa.gov.au/publication/speech-pathologists-focus-0ronelle hutchinson
Manager, Policy and Advocacy
A snapshot of Australia’s speechies
association news
Medical
70,242
Nursing &
Midwifery
239,262
Pharmacists
19,929
Dentists
10,990
Occupational
Therapists
9,250
Optometrists
3,628
Osteopaths
1,132
Physiotherapists
15,924
Psychologists
18,602
Dieticians
3,705
Speech
Pathologists
5,295
Podiatrists
2,803
Chiropractors
3,186
Where
do we fit
in the
health
sector?
Highest education
Bachelor degree
81%
Graduate diploma/certificate
3.2%
Postgraduate degree
15.8%