With skills shortages and an aging and expanding population, Australia’s growing health sector will need quality resources and forward-focused initiatives to improve workforce recruitment, training, retention, and future supply.
According to Jobs and Skills Australia’s (JSA) annual report, Towards a National Jobs and Skills Roadmap, the shortage of Health Professionals in Australia is pronounced. These occupations require high levels of skills and knowledge, qualifications, and experience. Skill shortages and strong demand continue for Nursing Occupations and workforce shortages of Community and Personal Service Workers are growing. The skills and workforce shortages affecting Australia’s health sector are expected to be persistent, requiring innovative and long-term solutions. The report highlights the need for a more “joined-up national skills system” consisting of three key pillars - vocational education and training (VET), higher education, and migration – that work within the broader jobs and skills ecosystem, including the school system, on-the-job and industry-based training, employment services, workplace relations frameworks, wage setting and how wages adjust in the labour market.
The Australian Skills Classification (ASC)
The Australian Skills Classification (ASC) is JSA’s current guide to employment-related skills. For each ANZSCO 6-digit occupation, the ASC provides a detailed Occupation Profile and a clustered skill set, taking into account sectors, contexts, and related jobs.
Below is a table of Health Sector occupations (ANZSCO 6-digit), featuring direct links to their ASC Occupation Profile and required skills.
Table: ANZSCO 6-digit Health Sector Occupations - with links to their ANZSCO description and ASC Occupation Profile
|
ANZSCO 6 digit Code |
Occupation |
Australian Skills Classification |
|
Medical Administrator / Medical Superintendent |
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Nursing Clinical Director |
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Medical Laboratory Scientist |
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**(specialisation) IVF Embryologist |
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Respiratory Scientist |
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Dietitian |
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Nutritionist |
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Medical Diagnostic Radiographer |
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Medical Radiation Therapist |
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Nuclear Medicine Technologist |
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Sonographer |
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Environmental Health Officer |
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Occupational Health and Safety Adviser |
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Optometrist |
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Orthoptist |
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Hospital Pharmacist |
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Retail Pharmacist |
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Health Promotion Officer |
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Orthotist or Prosthetist |
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Health Diagnostic and Promotion Professionals nec* |
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Chiropractor |
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Osteopath |
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Acupuncturist |
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Homoeopath |
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Naturopath |
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Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner |
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Complementary Health Therapists nec* |
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Dental Specialist |
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**(specialisation) Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon |
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**(specialisation) Oral Pathologist |
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**(specialisation) Orthodontist |
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**(specialisation) Prosthodontist |
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Dentist |
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Occupational Therapist |
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Physiotherapist |
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Podiatrist |
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Audiologist |
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Speech Pathologist / Speech Language Therapist |
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General Practitioner |
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Resident Medical Officer |
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Anaesthetist |
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**(specialisation) Pain Management Specialist |
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Specialist Physician (General Medicine) |
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Cardiologist |
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Clinical Haematologist |
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Medical Oncologist |
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Endocrinologist |
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Gastroenterologist |
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Intensive Care Specialist |
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Neurologist |
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Paediatrician |
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**(specialisation) Neonatologist |
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**(specialisation) Paediatric Thoracic Physician |
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Renal Medicine Specialist |
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Rheumatologist |
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Thoracic Medicine Specialist |
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Specialist Physicians nec* |
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(*nec) Clinical Allergist |
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(*nec) Clinical Geneticist |
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(*nec) Clinical Immunologist |
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(*nec) Clinical Pharmacologist |
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(*nec) Geriatrician |
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(*nec) Infectious Diseases Physician |
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(*nec) Occupational Medicine Physician |
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(*nec) Palliative Medicine Physician |
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(*nec) Public Health Physician |
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(*nec) Rehabilitation Medicine Physician |
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(*nec) Sexual Health Physician |
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(*nec) Sleep Medicine Physician |
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Psychiatrist |
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Surgeon (General) |
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Cardiothoracic Surgeon |
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Neurosurgeon |
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Orthopaedic Surgeon |
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Otorhinolaryngologist |
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Paediatric Surgeon |
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Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon |
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Urologist |
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Vascular Surgeon |
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Dermatologist |
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Emergency Medicine Specialist |
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Obstetrician and Gynaecologist |
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|
**(specialisation) Gynaecological Oncologist |
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**(specialisation) Reproductive Endocrinologist |
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Ophthalmologist |
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Pathologist |
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**(specialisation) Forensic Pathologist |
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**(specialisation) Immunologist |
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Diagnostic and Interventional Radiologist |
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Radiation Oncologist |
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Medical Practitioners nec* |
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(nec*) Nuclear Medicine Physician |
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(nec*) Sports Physician |
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Midwife |
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Nurse Educator |
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Nurse Researcher |
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Nurse Manager |
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Nurse Practitioner |
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Registered Nurse (Aged Care) |
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Registered Nurse (Child and Family Health) |
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Registered Nurse (Community Health) |
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Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency) |
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**(specialisation) Registered Nurse (Acute Care) |
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**(specialisation) Registered Nurse (Neonatal Intensive Care) |
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**(specialisation) Registered Nurse (Paediatric Intensive Care) |
|
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Registered Nurse (Developmental Disability) |
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Registered Nurse (Disability and Rehabilitation) |
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Registered Nurse (Medical) |
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Registered Nurse (Medical Practice) |
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Registered Nurse (Mental Health) |
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Registered Nurse (Perioperative) |
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Registered Nurse (Surgical) |
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Registered Nurse (Paediatrics) |
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Registered Nurses *nec |
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(*nec) Flight Nurse |
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(*nec) Immunisation Nurse |
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(*nec) Pathology Nurse |
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(*nec) Radiology Nurse |
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(*nec) Red Cross Blood Service Nurse |
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(*nec) Registered Nurse (Infection Control) |
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(*nec) Remote Area Nurse |
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(*nec) Aboriginal Health Nurse |
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Drug and Alcohol Counsellor |
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Rehabilitation Counsellor |
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Clinical Psychologist |
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Social Worker |
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Anaesthetic Technician |
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Cardiac Technician |
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Medical Laboratory Technician |
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Operating Theatre Technician |
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Pharmacy Technician |
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Pathology Collector / Phlebotomist |
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Respiratory Technician |
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Medical Technicians nec* |
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|
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(*nec) Audiometrist |
|
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(*nec) Dialysis Technician |
|
|
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(*nec) Electroencephalographic Technician |
|
|
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(*nec) Mortuary Technician |
|
|
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(*nec) Ophthalmic Technician |
|
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(*nec) Orthotic and Prosthetic Technician |
|
|
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(*nec) Perfusionist |
|
|
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(*nec) Renal Technician |
|
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Ambulance Officer |
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Intensive Care Ambulance Paramedic |
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Dental Hygienist |
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|
Dental Prosthetist |
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|
Dental Technician |
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Dental Therapist |
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Diversional Therapist |
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|
Enrolled Nurse |
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|
Mothercraft Nurse |
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker |
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Massage Therapist |
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Community Worker |
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Disabilities Services Officer |
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Residential Care Officer |
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Aged or Disabled Carer |
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|
Dental Assistant |
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|
Hospital Orderly |
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|
Nursing Support Worker |
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|
Personal Care Assistant |
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|
Therapy Aide |
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|
Health Practice Manager |
Table notes: Generated by MedicalJobsAustralia.com using the ANZSCO - Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (2022), and the current Australian Skills Classification, by Jobs and Skills Australia. *nec = not elsewhere classified. **occupation specialisations.
A National Skills Taxonomy to Replace the ASC
The limitations of the ASC and the need for stronger stakeholder input were acknowledged in the JSA annual report. With workforce and skills shortages still posing significant challenges, Australia requires a more integrated tertiary education system. This includes the co-design of tailored VET and higher education qualifications and the development of a "common language of skills" applicable across sectors. As a result, the ASC will be replaced by a new National Skills Taxonomy. The final ASC update was released in December 2023. JSA is now seeking stakeholder contributions to refine the National Skills Taxonomy project. You are invited to Have Your Say by completing a 10-minute online survey that closes on Tuesday 5 June (AEST).
High-Quality Labour Market Information for Australia’s Health Sector
It is hoped that the National Skills Taxonomy will provide high quality labour market information to be used by Australian government departments and agencies, education and training providers, private and public organisations, employers, and the workforce. For Australia’s Health Sector, characterised by complex and lengthy training pipelines, regulatory and workplace frameworks, wage disputes, geographical challenges and specialist skills shortages, a National Skills Taxonomy and a more integrated national skills system may help to enhance future workforce planning, staff development, training, retention, and recruitment.
