Abstract
Background
Given the growing demand for orthotist/prosthetists (O&Ps), it is important that graduates are employed in their chosen profession. Although graduate outcome data are routinely collected using Federal Government’s Graduate Outcomes Survey (GOS), data for O&Ps are only publicly available in an aggregated form with other health professions.
Objective
The aim of this study was to explore the utility of GOS data to describe the demographics and short-term employment outcomes of Australian O&P graduates from 2016 to 2023.
Methods
Graduate outcomes survey data were analyzed from 2016 to 2023. Demographic and short-term employment outcomes were reported using descriptive statistics. Variation in employment outcomes were explored using multivariate regression.
Results
Graduate outcomes survey data were available for 140 O&P graduates. Graduates were typically young (median 23 years), female (69%), and from medium-high socioeconomic background (87%). Proportionate employment increased over the time series to 90% in 2023. In 2023, the full-time median salary was AUD $70,000 p/annum, and variation was not explained by demographic factors. Most graduates moved interstate to a metropolitan location.
Conclusions
The GOS provides high-level data describing the demographic and employment outcomes of O&P graduates. There are opportunities for universities, professional associations, and government agencies to collaboratively address some of the most pressing challenges affecting the O&P workforce, such as greater participation among Indigenous Australians or people living with a disability, to help create a pipeline of graduates that better reflects the Australian population. The benefits of richer data should be weighed against the time, cost, and expertise required to develop, administer, and analyze a profession-specific survey.