OPTOMETRY AND OPTICAL DISPENSING SERVICES

At the end of June 2010, there were 2,170 optometry and optical dispensing businesses operating in Australia. These businesses:

• operated from 3,689 locations servicing a population of 22.3 million people at the end of June 2010;
• employed or contracted 8,513 registered health practitioners and other staff providing health care;
• generated income of $2.5b during the 2009-10 financial year;
• incurred expenses of $2.2b in the same period;
• generated operating profit before tax of $313.4m; and
• generated industry value added of $1b.

Persons working

There were 16,108 persons engaged in the optometry and optical dispensing industry at the end of June 2010. Of this number 8,513 or 52.8% were registered health practitioners and other staff providing health care.

Of those providing direct health care services, 7,789 persons were employed by businesses and 723 persons were working on contract. Of employed persons, 7,045 were employees of which 63.6% were permanent full-time, 24.4% were permanent part-time and the remaining 12% were casual/ temporary.

There were 7,595 other staff engaged in the optometry and optical dispensing industry representing 47.2% of total employed and contracted persons.


Income and expenses

Fee for service income of $554.1m accounted for 21.9% of the total income of $2.5b generated by optometry and optical dispensing businesses during the 2009-10 financial year. The majority of income earned was from other income ($2b) which included sales of prescription glasses and other optical goods.

Optometry and optical dispensing businesses operating on 30 June 2010, generated an average income of $1.2m per business.

Wages and salaries of $604.1m accounted for 27.7% of total industry expenditure of $2.2b during 2009-10. The main item of expenditure was other expenses, which included the purchase of goods for resale. This accounted for 72.3% of total industry expenditure.


Profitability

Operating profit before tax for optometry and optical dispensing businesses during the 2009-10 financial year was $313.4m, representing an operating profit margin of 12.8% .

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