Orthotist / Prosthetist

An orthotist or prosthetist designs, manufactures, fits, and adjusts custom orthotic devices (braces, splints, supports) or prosthetic limbs for patients with limb loss, mobility impairment, or musculoskeletal conditions. Working in clinical or manufacturing settings, they conduct patient assessments, take measurements and casts, select appropriate materials, and provide fitting adjustments and rehabilitation support to restore function and mobility.

Assess patient mobility, gait, posture, and functional limitations through physical examination and movement analysis to determine orthotic or prosthetic requirements. Take precise measurements, plaster casts, and digital scans of the patient's residual limb, body segment, or joint using calliper tools, casting materials, and 3D scanning technology. Fabricate orthotic devices or prosthetic components using materials such as thermoplastics, composites, carbon fibre, silicone, and metals on benches and using machines including heat presses and lathes. Design custom socket fits, alignment systems, and weight distribution patterns for prosthetic limbs using CAD software and clinical outcome evidence. Conduct initial and follow-up fitting sessions, adjusting device alignment, straps, liners, and suspension systems to ensure comfort, safety, and optimal biomechanical performance. Provide gait training and functional rehabilitation instruction to patients, coaching walking patterns, stairs negotiation, and activities of daily living with the device. Document patient medical history, measurements, device specifications, fitting notes, and progress in clinical management systems in accordance with Australian Privacy Principles. Communicate with referring physicians, rehabilitation teams, and funding bodies such as the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) regarding device specifications and clinical outcomes.

The standard entry pathway requires a bachelor degree or higher (ABS Skill Level 1). Specific qualification requirements vary by employer and state. Some employers may accept equivalent experience. Check yourcareer.gov.au for available courses and dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/free-tafe for subsidised training options.

You need a bachelor degree to enter this field, which means significant study time and cost upfront. The work is physically demanding (standing, repetitive hand work, manual fabrication), your income ceiling is modest compared to other health professions, and job numbers are small so competition for roles is real. Automation of socket design and 3D printing is slowly eroding the fabrication side.

The reality is most positions are in capital city private clinics, public hospitals, and disability services. Regional areas have very few roles. Some remote consultation is emerging but most work requires in-person patient fitting and clinical assessment.

Published for ANZSCO unit group 2519, the wider group this job sits in, not for this job on its own.

This is the median for full-time employees who are not managers and are paid at the adult rate, before tax and salary sacrifice. It is a guide to what the work pays, not a wage rate.

Source: ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.

• Active Listeningcore
• Attention to Detailcore
• Case Note Documentationcore
• Confidentiality and Privacy Compliancecore
• Customer Needs Assessmentcore
• Empathy and Emotional Intelligencecore
• Health Terminology Literacycore
• HICAPS and Medicare Claiming Systemscore
• Medicare and DVA Billingcore
• Participant or Client Advocacycore
• Problem Solvingcore
• Regulatory and Legislative Awarenesscore
• Report Writingcore
• Verbal Communicationcore
• Written Communicationcore
• Appointment Scheduling
• Continuous Learning and Upskilling
• Cultural Awareness and Sensitivity
• Disability Awareness and Inclusion
• Invoicing and Billing Administration
• NDIS Plan Navigation
• Practice Management Software (e.g., Best Practice, MedicalDirector)
• Referral Coordination
• Risk Identification
• Team Collaboration

• ABS OSCA 2024, occupation definition and task statements
• ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.
• ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on usual place of residence (Custom Report). OSCA Experimental Estimates.

Role data is drawn from official Australian Government sources, and each figure names where it comes from. Where a role is not in the ABS classification, the page shows no government figures for it. Data may not reflect every local variation.

Where our numbers come from.

Last updated: 30 October 2026