Female doctors in Victoria, 1977

A survey of medical manpower in Victoria in 1977 revealed that 17% of registered medical practitioners were female and that the proportion of females was much higher among younger graduates. Seventy-eight per cent of female doctors were currently working in Victoria, compared with 82% of male doctors; 3.8% were "not working temporarily" compared with 0.6% of male doctors; and 3.9% were "retired" compared with 1.9% of male doctors. Female doctors accounted for only 8% of specialists in private practive, compared with 15% of general practitioners, more than 20% of salaried staff members of hospitals and other semigovernment and government bodies, and 40% of the staff members of community health centres. Thirty-eight per cent of female doctors were working part time. The need for part-time training programmes and part-time work, and the difficulties of female graduates becoming specialists are discussed. The implications of increasing proportions of female doctors entering the medical work force during the next decade, and the lower average working hours of female doctors compared with those of males, are considered in relation to the increasing supply of medical manpower in Australia.