Overview  

ACEM profiles the demographics and workforce of members and trainees annually. These dashboards provide a comprehensive snapshot of the emergency medicine workforce, profiling FACEM and FACEM trainee demographics and workplace information, and Emergency Medicine Associateship Training Program (EMATP) graduates and trainees. The data is sourced from ACEM’s member database and captures all FACEMs, including those who completed the FACEM Training Program and those who obtained Fellowship through the Specialist International Medical Graduate (SIMG) pathway. The total FACEM trainees include active trainees and those on an approved interruption to training. The total Advanced, Intermediate and Foundational EMATP graduates and trainees are also captured, including graduates of programs previously known as the Emergency Medicine Advanced Diploma, Diploma and Certificate. 

The dashboards are designed to provide a data-informed overview of the emergency medicine workforce, offering insights into demographic trends, and workforce and training placement distribution. This information supports planning, advocacy, and policy initiatives relating to the emergency medicine workforce and ACEM training activities. 

Trends in FACEMs and FACEM trainees 2015–2025 

Over the 10-year period from 2015 to 2025, the total number of active FACEMs has more than doubled from 2,101 to 4,378 (Figure 1). The proportion of female FACEMs continues to increase, reaching 42% in 2025.

The total number of FACEM trainees has fluctuated between 2015 and 2025 yet remains consistently above 2,200 annually. The highest number was recorded in 2017 at 2,552, while the lowest was in 2024 at 2,206, with a slight increase to 2,229 in 2025. The yearly snapshot captured as of 31 December, reflects trainee numbers after training completions and withdrawals have occurred throughout the year. This total count is typically lower than the peak observed following the February intake and training commencement. The gender balance among FACEM trainees shifted with female trainees surpassing 50% in 2021 and has remained steady between 50% and 52% since.

A record number of new FACEMs over the previous 10-year period was observed in 2025 (n= 341), and the number of retired or withdrawn FACEMs has declined to 40 (down from 62 in 2024). New FACEM trainee intake also increased to 416 in 2025, up from 328 in 2024. 

Approximately one-third (31%) of FACEMs worked in a regional, rural, or remote (RRR) location across Australia or Aotearoa New Zealand, whilst 16% of training placements were in a RRR location as of 31 December 2025 (the geographical remoteness data will be displayed when the cursor hovers over each time data point).  

Figure 1. FACEM and FACEM trainee profile snapshot (2025) and 10-year trends (2015-2025)

The dashboard is interactive, please use the location filter to view data for all membership (includes those residing overseas), Australia or Aotearoa New Zealand. Click the buttons to switch between ACEM membership, female membership, and Australian jurisdiction trends. Hover the cursor over each data time point for more information, or right-click the trend figure to view data as a table. Click the information button in the top right corner for methodology and data definitions.

FACEM and FACEM trainee demographic profile

As of 31 December 2025, 3,801 active FACEMs (87%) were residing in Australia, 461 (11%) in Aotearoa New Zealand, and 116 (3%) were living overseas. Among FACEM trainees, a total of 2,045 (92%) were residing in Australia, 178 (8%) were residing in Aotearoa, and six (<1%) were residing outside of Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. Figure 2 presents the demographic profiles for FACEMs and FACEM trainees residing in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, excluding those living overseas.

Among FACEMs in Australia, 0.3% identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. A higher proportion of FACEM trainees identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander (0.7%).

In Aotearoa, almost 3% of FACEMs identified as Māori while a higher proportion (6%) of FACEM trainees identified as Māori. Four FACEMs living in Australia also identified as Māori.

Over half of active FACEMs in Aotearoa were international medical graduates (IMGs) obtaining their primary medical degree outside of Australia or Aotearoa (57%). While in Australia, 42% of active FACEMs were IMGs. In comparison, 38% of FACEM trainees in Australia and 41% in Aotearoa were IMGs. 

Figure 2a. 2025 FACEM and FACEM trainee demographic profiles: Australia.

Figure 2b. 2025 FACEM and FACEM trainee demographic profiles: Aotearoa New Zealand.

The dashboard is interactive; select the regions and/or other variables you wish to view. Click the information button in the top right corner for methodology and data definitions. Five FACEMs or FACEM trainees across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand did not specify their sex or reported sex as 'X'. These individuals are not included in the age and sex breakdown to ensure anonymity. When a filter is applied and the resulting count is less than two, both the graphics and the value (n= 1) are hidden on the dashboard to ensure anonymity.  

FACEM workforce profile 

Workforce details were available for 3,732 FACEMs in Australia and 440 FACEMs in Aotearoa. Figure 3 displays the overall FACEM workforce profile across all workplaces, including proportions working full-time (38 hours or more per week), across multiple workplaces, in a RRR location, and in emergency departments (EDs). Further profiling of primary workplace by workplace setting, geographical location, age group, and sex is also presented in Figure 3. 

Over half of FACEMs in Australia were working full-time hours (54%) and employed across more than one workplace (52%). Almost one-third of FACEMs in Australia worked in a RRR location (31%), comparable to 30% in 2024.

In Aotearoa, 58% of FACEMs were working full-time hours across workplaces, whereas 21% were working at more than one workplace. Over one-third of Aotearoa FACEMs were working in a RRR location (37%), similar to the proportion (36%) reported in 2024.

For a detailed view of the FACEM ED workforce, select “VIEW - FACEM ED Workforce” (top right green button). The dashboard profiles all reported ED employment contracts, excluding non-ED settings. Geographical distribution of EDs (both ACEM-accredited and non-accredited sites) where FACEMs are employed is presented. Hover over the graph to view the average hours worked per week by FACEMs at each location.

In Australia, 5,895 ED employment contracts were reported in 2025 by 3,630 individual FACEMs. FACEMs were employed in 214 EDs (133 ACEM-accredited and 81 non-ACEM-accredited EDs). In Aotearoa, 493 employment contracts were reported by 434 FACEMs working across 31 EDs (20 ACEM-accredited and 11 non-ACEM-accredited). In both countries, casual, locum and sessional employment contracts were more commonly seen in EDs located in rural and remote areas.

Further insights into the emergency medicine workforce with respect to FACEM and FACEM trainee vacancies, and other ED staffing details of ACEM-accredited training sites are available through ACEM’s Annual Site Census. More information can be found here. 

Figure 3a. 2025 FACEM workforce profiles: Australia.

Figure 3b. 2025 FACEM workforce profiles: Aotearoa New Zealand.

Methodology including full-time employment and primary workplace classification, and data definitions for workplace geographical remoteness are outlined in the information button on the dashboard. Switch between the primary workplace profile and the ED workforce dashboard using the green button (top right). When a filter is applied and the resulting count is less than two, both the graphics and the value (n= 1) are hidden on the dashboard to ensure anonymity.

FACEM trainee active placement profile 

A total of 1,991 FACEM trainees were undertaking an active placement in 2025 (Australia: n= 1,832; Aotearoa: n= 159; Figure 4). Consistent with 2024, over three-quarters of FACEM trainees in both Australia (76%) and Aotearoa (80%) were undertaking an ED training placement. 

Full-time training placements (i.e. any placement with a full-time equivalent of 1.0) were more common in Aotearoa (81%) than Australia (64%). In Australia, 293 (15%) of 1,911 training placements were in a RRR location, with Queensland accounting for the largest share (n= 163; 56% of all RRR placements). In Aotearoa, 30 (18%) of 163 training placements were in a RRR location, with the South Island contributing the greatest proportion (n= 14; 47% of all RRR placements). 

Figure 4a. 2025 FACEM trainee placement details: Australia.

Figure 4b. 2025 FACEM trainee placement details: Aotearoa New Zealand.

Please use the information button to view methodology and data definitions. Sex (female trainees) and training stage reflect the number of unique trainees, whilst all other placement details (e.g. full-time placements, region/remoteness, placement type or discipline) refer to the number of unique placements. When a filter is applied and the resulting count is less than two, both the graphics and the value (n= 1) are hidden on the dashboard to ensure anonymity. There is one FACEM trainee undertaking a paediatric ED placement in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Emergency Medicine Associateship Training Programs (EMATP) – Graduates and trainees 

ACEM’s offers Emergency Medicine Associateship Training Programs (EMATP), comprising Advanced, Intermediate and Foundational EM training. These training programs were previously known as the Emergency Medicine Advanced Diploma, Diploma and Certificate, respectively. Figure 5 displays the cumulative EMATP Graduate trends over 10 years from 2015 to 2025, and the demographic profiles of both EMATP graduates and current trainees. 

There were a total of 2,852 EMATP graduates who have completed the training programs; 50% of whom were female (n= 1,425) and 50% were IMGs (n= 1,421). A total of 274 have completed the Advanced Emergency Medicine Training Program (AEMTP), 358 the Intermediate Emergency Medicine Training Program (IEMTP), and 2,220 completed the Foundational Emergency Medicine Training Program (FEMTP). Most EMATP graduates reside in Australia (n= 2,601), with others based in Aotearoa New Zealand (n= 145), the Indo-Pacific region (n= 16), and other countries (n= 85). 

There were 435 active EMATP trainees as of 31 December 2025. Trainees were mostly undertaking training in Australia (n= 352) and Aotearoa (n= 35).  A small cohort (n= 8) were undertaking training placements in Vanuatu, Samoa, Soloman Islands, and Iceland, reflecting the EMATP’s growing contribution to emergency medicine capacity building not only in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, but also in partnership with health systems across the Indo-Pacific and beyond. This supports ACEM’s Global Emergency Care initiatives, helping to build a sustainable emergency care workforce in resource-limited settings. 

Find more information of ACEM’s EMATPs here and information on the program name changes here. Find more information on ACEM’s Global Emergency Care projects and activities here. 

Figure 5a. Emergency Medicine Associateship Training Program graduate trends 2015-2025.

Figure 5b. 2025 EMATP trainees demographic snapshot.

Methodology and data definitions are outlined in the information button on the dashboard. EMATP trainees with no training hospital location reported are either trainees transitioning from the FACEM Training Program (n= 31) or trainees who have completed training placement requirements but are yet to complete all program requirements (n= 9). 

Conclusions and further monitoring

ACEM's membership continues to grow steadily across Fellowship and Associateship member categories in Australia and Aotearoa.

The College will continue to monitor and report on workforce trends annually to inform workforce planning, evidence-based advocacy, and policy development for the FACEM and Associateship Training Programs, as well as the emergency medicine workforce in Australia and Aotearoa.

Suggested citation and data requests

Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM) 2026. ACEM Membership and Trainee Demographics and Workforce 2025. Available from: https://acem.org.au/Content-Sources/Advancing-Emergency-Medicine/Research-at-ACEM/Demographic-and-Workforce-Report 

For data requests please submit a data request form and for further queries please contact the ACEM Research and Evaluation Unit at [email protected].

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