What Healthcare Sector Roles Are In-Demand in Australia?

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With the integration of allied health services like nutritionists, physios, occupational therapists and other specialists, the scope of Australia’s healthcare sector has grown surprisingly diverse over the past few decades of development. As such, Australian students who are looking to kick-start a career in the healthcare sector have a wide range of opportunities available to them – and plenty of decisions to be made about what they’d ideally like to study and specialise in.

The key for students and graduates in charting the right career pathway in the healthcare sector is learning which roles and fields may be best suited to your skills and passions. Similarly, students who value other qualities like job security and satisfaction can also look into Australia’s most in-demand healthcare sector roles to stay strategic with their career planning.

So what are the most in-demand healthcare sector roles in Australia today? Here are 5 roles that the Federal Government’s National Skills Commission (now Jobs and Skills Australia) have identified as possessing a significant shortage resulting in moderate to strong projected future demand.

1. Registered Nurse (General & Specialised)

Australia’s nursing shortage has been widely publicised over the past few years. Alongside raising awareness to this issue, the Federal Government has also sought to rectify the nurse shortage by subsidising nursing courses and providing additional support for boosting the accessibility of nursing qualifications. Nowadays, you can find plenty of government funded online nursing courses that empower students in gaining these much-needed qualifications at their own pace.

Keep in mind that nursing qualifications can also be either general or specialised. While registered general nurses are still largely in demand across many areas (i.e. aged care, at home care, vet nursing, etc.), the specialised skills of mental health nurses has also been growing in demand in recent years. If you have a passion for a specific healthcare discipline, there will likely be opportunities for you to commence a career as a specialised nurse working specifically within those disciplines.

2. Exercise Physiologist

With an estimated 7 out of 10 adults living with at least one chronic condition in Australia, the importance of access to physiotherapy is no secret for local residents. The issue is that access to these allied health professionals can be limited in regional areas, forcing many residents to travel to neighbouring towns in order to receive much-needed treatment.

Plenty of regional communities across mainland Australia are also experiencing the disadvantages of reduced access to physiologists and physiotherapy services.

Thankfully, younger generations of healthcare students are recognising the importance of preventative care through exercise, which is prompting more students to specialise in public health as well as movement-based therapies like exercise physiology. For students with a passion for sports and movement, this healthcare discipline is poised to provide plenty of enrichment and job satisfaction, with opportunities to empower patients in managing their chronic conditions, reclaiming their physical autonomy and building a positive relationship with their daily dose of movement.

3. Aged & Residential Care Professionals

The rise of recorded cases of chronic conditions is directly linked to Australia’s ageing population. As we grow older, our personal healthcare needs can naturally become more specialised, relying on treatments from a wider team of healthcare practitioners – from GPs to gynaecologists, nutritionists and other allied health staff.

For Australian seniors, these care needs are naturally more complex, requiring care frameworks that are specifically tailored for geriatrics as a speciality. This is why dedicated aged and residential care professionals are amongst the most in-demand across Australia’s wider family of healthcare sector roles.

According to Sam Rae MP (Minister for Aged Care and Seniors), the Federal Government is currently investing upwards of $30 million AUD into providing an additional 6000 extra skilled aged care workers across regional and rural Australian communities. This is not only to support education initiatives that direct more students into the aged care sector, but also for incentivising existing healthcare professionals (i.e. nurses and GPs) to pivot to specialising in geriatrics and filling gaps across the sector.

Aged and residential care roles are also strongly represented in the Department of Home Affairs’ Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), providing further visa incentives for aged and residential care professionals looking to relocate to Australia. Whether you’re a domestic or international student, however, training to specialise in geriatrics is likely to deliver strong job security and professional advancement opportunities across future roles.

4. General Practitioner

According to the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, Australia’s ageing population is also playing a significant role in the growing demand for GP services. A report conducted by the department between June 2019 to June 2023 revealed that Australians aged 85 years or older averaged 17.3 GP visits within one calendar, compared to patients aged 10-14 who only averaged at 3.5 GP visits within that same period.

With the excess strain of the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting health issues (i.e. respiratory conditions caused by long COVID as well as mental health issues resulting from pandemic years), Australia’s demand for GPs has only grown even stronger in recent years. Thankfully, the rise of telehealth appointments has removed some of the strain on GP clinics, however Australia’s healthcare sector must still prepare to meet projected demands for GP services. This is especially true for practices seeking to maintain continuity of care and manage workforce shortages, particularly with assistance from Weatherby Healthcare.

GP services are also not evenly distributed nationwide, meaning that rural and regional communities are hit hardest by the lack of access to family clinics and GP services. As such, the Federal Government is continuing to provide funding specifically for meeting demands for GP services in regional areas, alongside encouraging general practitioners from overseas in migrating to Australia under CSOL and skilled worker visa streams.

5. Medical Imaging Roles

From radiographers to sonographers, medical imaging is a varied discipline that gives many opportunities, including potentially being at the forefront of developing medical research and new technology. These healthcare roles are also more likely to appeal to students with strong interests not only in healthcare but also digital technologies and application of emerging technologies (from big machinery like MRI machines to even small wearable technologies like CGM or ECG monitors).

Alongside boasting plenty of diverse career options, medical imaging is also a relatively accessible pathway for healthcare students. With just a Bachelor of Medical Radiation (or Radiography and Medical Imaging), students can attain industry accreditation and use their license to begin practicing as a medical imaging specialist.

Find your Calling in Australia’s Vibrant Healthcare Sector

With the transition into the digital age, Australia’s healthcare sector is at a pivotal moment of change, and today’s generation of students have unique opportunities to make meaningful contributions with every single day. For students who are looking to embark on a rewarding career pathway filled with dynamic challenges and the ability to work directly alongside other passionate people, a career in healthcare is sure to deliver.

Be sure to look into these 5 in-demand healthcare sector roles as well as the other identified roles with moderate to strong future demand forecasting as outlined by Jobs and Skills Australia.

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