Workforce & Gender Report 2024
Report Overview
This comprehensive annual report presents a detailed analysis of the ambulance sector's workforce dynamics, emphasizing the evolving trends in gender representation. In alignment with The Council of Ambulance Authorities (CAA) Women in Leadership strategy's "Step 3: Collect, monitor and respond," this report underscores our commitment to benchmarking data, providing a nuanced understanding of gender distribution within the ambulance workforce.
Conducted in 2023, with data from the 2022/23 financial year, this report integrates insights from CAA's 11-member ambulance services:
- NSW Ambulance (NSWA)
- Ambulance Victoria (AV)
- Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS)
- St John WA (SJWA)
- SA Ambulance Service (SAAS)
- Ambulance Tasmania (AT)
- ACT Ambulance Service (ACTAS)
- St John NT (SJNT)
- Hato Hone St John (HHSJ)
- Wellington Free Ambulance (WFA)
- St John Ambulance Papua New Guinea (SJPNG)
The “Overall Workforce and Gender Ratios Table” for the years 2019 to 2023 accentuates the evolving landscape of gender representation within the ambulance workforce The data from 2019 to 2023 highlights an evident shift in gender ratios, with the percentage of female representation steadily increasing from 49.9% in 2019 to 53.5% in 2023. This progress features the imperative for continued efforts to address gender disparities and promote inclusivity within the ambulance profession. While the ambulance sector has made commendable strides toward gender equality, the report delineates persistent gender gaps in various dimensions.
Given that St John Ambulance Papua New Guinea (SJPNG) started participating in 2022, the data from 2019 to 2021 does not encompass SJPNG information.
The CAA Workforce and Gender Report aims to illuminate existing disparities and prompt informed conversations, as well as strategic initiatives, by analysing gender dynamics within the ambulance workforce. The overarching objective is to advance a more equitable and inclusive future for all members of the ambulance sector.
This report employs a rounding rule for all results, rounding down when the digit at one decimal place is less than 5 and rounding up when it is 5 or greater. As a result, the total proportions may not precisely sum up to 100%. Graphs exclude data in the 'Other' category, so for services reporting in that category, the total won't add up to 100%.
Cumulative Results
The aggregate data from the 11 ambulance services indicates that females comprised 53.5% of the workforce in 2023, reflecting a 1% increase from the 52.5% reported in 2022. Australia reported a 52.8% female workforce, marking a 1.5% increase compared to 2022. New Zealand maintained the same female workforce proportion as in 2022, standing at 57.4%. Papua New Guinea perceived a decline in female workforce representation, dropping from 43.5% in 2022 to 31.3% in 2023.
In 2023, 0.25% of the workforce identified as 'other,' marking an increase from the 0.07% reported in 2022. Australian ambulance services reported 0.1% of the workforce falling into the 'other' category, while New Zealand reported 0.87%. Papua New Guinea recorded 0% in this category.
Australian Workforce and Gender Ratios
Papua New Guinea Workforce and Gender Ratios
Comparative Analysis of Gender Dynamics in Services
In 2023, a comprehensive examination of gender dynamics across the 11 ambulance services reveals discernible trends, with a significant number of services surpassing the 50% mark for female staff.
Leading the way in achieving or exceeding gender balance are SA Ambulance Service (SAAS), Hato Hone St John (HHSJ), Wellington Free Ambulance (WFA), St John WA (SJWA), Ambulance Victoria (AV), and Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS), with female majorities ranging from 50.1% to 57.4%.
Within individual services, South Australia Ambulance Service (SAAS) and Hato Hone St John (HHSJ) emerge as frontrunners, boasting substantial female majorities at 57.4%. Closely following, Wellington Free Ambulance (WFA) and St John WA (SJWA) achieve commendable 56.9% and 55.5% female representation, respectively. Ambulance Victoria (AV) and Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) also demonstrate progress with outstanding 53.6% and 52.7% female representation, respectively. This year, St John Ambulance Papua New Guinea (SJPNG) experiences a significant decline in female representation from 43.5% in 2022 to 31.3% in 2023.
Age Distribution in Ambulance Workforce
The examination of the ambulance service workforce in 2023 reveals remarkable shifts in gender representation across age groups. In the under-30 category, females surged to 64.67%, a significant increase from 2022's 63.38%, while the 30-39 age group saw a modest uptick in female representation, reaching 54.8% in 2023 compared to 54.2% in the previous year.
Simultaneously, the male workforce displayed subtle changes. In the under-30 category, males decreased to 35.0% from 36.6%. Similarly, the 30-39 age group showed a slight decrease, with males comprising 45.0% in 2023 compared to 45.8% in 2022.
In the 40-49 and 50-59 age groups, both genders witnessed notable changes in 2023 compared to 2022, while stability was observed in the 60+ category. Specifically, in the 40-49 age group, there was an increase in female representation from 50.4% in 2022 to 52.2% in 2023, and a decrease in male representation from 49.7% to 47.7%. Similarly, the 50-59 age group experienced an increase in female representation from 44.8% to 45.3%, and a decrease in male representation from 55.2% to 54.6% in 2023. The 60+ category exhibited a marginal decline in female representation (36.6% in 2023 from 36.7% in 2022) and a slight increase in male representation (62.3% in 2023 from 63.3% in 2022).
Female Age Groups
Percenatge
Male Age Groups
Percenatge
Employment Type
In the year 2023, the employment landscape within the ambulance service sector exhibited remarkable dynamics in terms of gender distribution and employment types. The full-time employment structure showed a slight shift, with 49.4% of the workforce being female and 50.7% male. This indicates a marginal increase in the female representation compared to the preceding year, where females held 48.1% of full-time positions. Conversely, the male workforce saw a decrease from 51.9% in 2022 to 50.7% in 2023.
Examining part-time employment, the data showed that 71.2% of females opting for part-time roles compared to 28.8% of males, an increase from the previous year, where the female representation in part-time roles was 70.0%. For casual positions, female engagement decreased from 55.5% in 2022 to 54.0%, while male participation saw a slight increase from 44.5% to 46.0%. In the volunteer category, there was a marginal dip in female involvement from 59.2% in 2022 to 58.3% in 2023, while males experienced a slight uptick from 40.8% to 41.7%.
Female Employment Type
Male Employment Type
Gender Distribution Across Employment Categories
The distribution of employment categories in ambulance sector among female and male professionals has experienced remarkable shifts over the past years. The data showed that Marketing/Finance/HR/IT and Admin roles have maintained a relatively consistent gender distribution over the past few years with females consistently comprising approximately 70% of these positions.
Calltakers/Dispatchers roles exhibit a gradual but consistent increase in female representation, reaching 70.8% in 2023, an increase from 67.6% in 2019. The representation of females in roles such as Medical Officers/Medical Director has experienced a substantial surge, rising from 27.3% in 2019 to 43.5% in 2023. The category of Qualified Ambulance Officers/Students demonstrates a significant increase in female representation, climbing from 43.9% in 2019 to 49.2% in 2023
Medical Officers/Medical Director
Management/Operational Managers
Executives
Clinical Support/Infrastructure Support/Community Service Operatives
Patient Transport Officers
Qualified Ambulance Officers/Students and Base Level Ambulance Officers
Doctors/Nurses/Psychologists/Pharmacist
Supervisors
Volunteers & First Responders
Calltakers/Dispatchers/Other
In 2023, females lead in several ambulance categories, representing over 50% of the workforce compared to their male counterparts. Specifically, in Calltakers /Dispatchers and Volunteers/First Responders females constitute 70.8% and 58.3%, surpassing males at 28.5% and 41.3%, respectively. In Clinical & Infrastructure Support, males have the majority at 51.8%, while females represent 47.9%. Similarly, in Patient Transport Officers, males surpass females with 52.1%, compared to females at 47.4%. Lastly, in Qualified Ambulance Officers/Students, males slightly lead at 50.7%, while females make up 49.2%.
Qualified Ambulance Officers/Students and Base Level Ambulance Officers
Medical Officers/Medical Director
Management/Operational Managers
Patient Transport Officers
Executives Female Male
Volunteers & First Responders
Marketing/Finance/Human Resource/Information Technology /Administration
Female Male
Doctors/Nurses/Psychologists/Pharmacist
Supervisors
Calltakers/Dispatchers/Other
Clinical Support/Infrastructure Support/Community Service Operatives
Female Male
Attrition Rates
Over the last five years, attrition rates for both male and female professionals within the ambulance workforce have displayed significant fluctuations. Among female professionals, the attrition rates have shown a steady increase, rising from 3.4% in 2019 to 4.7% in 2023. Concurrently, their male counterparts have experienced an uptick in attrition rates, albeit at a slightly more modest pace, transitioning from 4.0% in 2019 to 5.1% in 2023.
Turning to numerical trends, the count of female ambulance workforce members has experienced a significant surge from 301 (out of a total of 8853 female staff) in 2019 to 949 (out of a total of 20296 female staff) in 2023. This number for their male counterparts, showed less increase from 418 in 2019 (out of a total of 10450 male staff) to 902 in 2023 (out of a total of 17562 male staff). Despite the growth in both cohorts, the attrition rates fluctuate among female professionals and shows relatively steadier increase among male professionals in ambulance services.
Produced in January 2024
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