Valuing the contribution of Exercise Physiologists in Australia: An economic perspective

Deloitte Access Economics was commissioned by Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA) in 2026 to deliver an economic analysis quantifying the value of Exercise Physiologists (EPs) across Australia. Deloitte Access Economics developed a robust framework to assess the health, social, and economic benefits of exercise physiology services. The resulting report demonstrates how exercise physiologists contribute to improved health outcomes, reduced healthcare utilisation, enhanced workforce participation, and broader economic value, providing policymakers, funders, and health sector leaders with a strong evidence base to support future investment and integration of exercise physiology within Australia’s health system.

Approach to this report

The purpose of this analysis is to estimate the economic value that EPs currently deliver to their patients. The analysis targeted six core condition groups (cardiovascular, pulmonary, musculoskeletal, mental health, cancer-related conditions, and physical disability) where EP-led exercise and lifestyle interventions can play a critical role in improving outcomes.

The analysis leverages an economic model which considers the outcomes for an individual under two contrasting scenarios; one where the individual works with an EP and a second where they receive no EP intervention. Where possible, the analysis leverages cost-benefit analysis (CBA) methodologies with an additional investigation of wellbeing impacts to estimate the avoided costs and improved wellbeing attributed to the services delivered by EPs. The framework and methodology was co designed with a Project Advisory Group comprising members of ESSA and EPs.

Results

The economic analysis estimated that delivering EP services generated a total net benefit of $1.09 billion, or an average net benefit of just over $2,000 per patient across a three-year time horizon. The benefits of the intervention were split across the health system (46% of all benefits) and productivity improvements (54% of benefits). Providing EP services was estimated to cost approximately $1,300 per patient over three years at a blended average estimated cost of $100 per session. The Benefit-cost ratio (BCR) for each estimated condition ranged from 2.3 – 3.0, with an average estimated BCR of 2.5.

There are approximately 9,870 EPs in Australia as of June 2026, delivering services to more than 940,000 patients annually. The selected conditions within this analysis were estimated to cover approximately 46% of this patient population. The economic benefits of EP intervention included avoided health system costs and productivity gains, minus the total cost of delivering EP services.

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