Dental workforce numbers

The number of dentists in Australia is on the rise, with a higher proportion of women working in the field, according to a report released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

However, the report’s 2012 figures do not reflect the current climate of employment of dentists which is monitored by the Australian Dental Association.

And, according to recent Health Workforce Australia advice, there is a significant oversupply of dentists. HWA’s Dental Workforce 2025 report, to be released soon, is expected to confirm this. (As well as providing national projections, the HW2025 program identifies a range of policy considerations covering workforce reform, training, immigration and geographical distribution, to help ensure Australia’s health workforce meets the community’s needs.)


This graph - an ADAVB analysis of the Dental Board of Australia's 2012-2013 annual report and historical data and comments - shows the growth in the number of dentists registered in each State.  Victoria saw the largest numerical increase of all States.

Graduate Careers Australia’s 2013 Australian Graduate Survey shows dentistry graduates from 2012 remained top of the income table (median starting salary $80,000), but there has been a decrease in the proportion in full-time work.