Gold Coast man sentenced for working as a podiatrist without registration

13 May 2025

A Gold Coast man who worked as a podiatrist without registration for over a year after his registration lapsed, has been fined $3,000.

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) prosecuted the man for holding himself out as a podiatrist when he was not registered, in contravention of section 116 of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law 2009 (National Law).  

The man had previously been a registered podiatrist and owned a private podiatry business that employed three other registered podiatrists. Despite receiving multiple reminders from Ahpra towards the end of 2021, the man did not renew his registration and became unregistered on 1 January 2022. He continued to practise and see patients whilst unregistered until 24 February 2023. 

It is estimated that during this time he provided treatment to patients on 200 occasions.  The majority of the patients treated were residents of a private aged care facility.  There is no suggestion the practitioner caused any harm to any patient. 

On 12 May 2025 the man pleaded guilty to one count of holding himself out as a registered health practitioner.

Magistrate Lisa O’Neill told the man that ‘the onus for ensuring registration falls to you, and you are a more experienced practitioner and should know better’.  After taking into account the man’s personal circumstances her Honour imposed a fine of $3,000, and ordered that he pay legal costs of $1,500 to Ahpra.  No conviction was recorded.

The importance of maintaining your registration was emphasised by Ahpra CEO Justin Untersteiner. ‘Renewing your registration each years shows the public that you can continue to meet the standards of your profession and provide the safe and effective care expected by the people in Australia.’

The Podiatry Board of Australia also welcomed the outcome. ‘People place their trust in podiatrists, and we do the checks and balances to ensure that this trust is met’, Dr Kristy Robson, Chair of the Podiatry Board of Australia said. 

‘Not only as a podiatrist but as an employer of other registered health practitioners, the importance of renewing your registration should be clear’, she said.

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