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The term ‘podiatrist’ refers to both podiatrists and podiatric surgeons unless otherwise specified.
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A major focus for the Podiatry Board of Australia has been responding to the recommendations from the Independent review of the regulation of podiatric surgeons.
This included developing and publishing a professional performance framework to ensure podiatric surgeons practise competently and ethically. We also consulted on regulatory reforms to enhance safe practice that will form part of the framework. These include proposed Guidelines for practitioners undertaking podiatric surgery, strengthened continuing professional development requirements, and a revised specialist registration standard that requires all podiatric surgeons to hold endorsement for scheduled medicines.
We consulted on a proposed change to the protected title for the podiatric surgery specialty, to improve consumer understanding about the type of practitioner they are seeing, along with their qualifications and training.
The Board consulted on replacing guidelines for podiatrists working with assistants with updated guidance highlighting key principles from the code of conduct and other regulatory documents that apply. The proposed guidance, together with supporting resources such as case studies, will provide more flexibility to reflect evolving practice settings, reduce barriers, and enable podiatrists and assistants to work to their full scope while maintaining public safety.
We progressed the review of our registration standard and guidelines for endorsement for scheduled medicines.
We collaborated with other National Boards and Ahpra, including publishing a revised English language skills registration standard and a consultation paper on a review of the Supervised practice framework. Together, we also released a joint statement reminding health practitioners of their obligations to provide care that is free of discrimination and racism, as well as information about meeting professional obligations when using AI in healthcare.
The Board considered monitoring and accreditation reports from the Podiatry Accreditation Committee and made decisions about approval of accredited programs of study. Four members were reappointed to the committee for a three-year period, with one appointed as Chair. Two new members were appointed. We acknowledge the valuable contribution of the retiring Chair, Dr Meeuwis Boelen, and committee member Mr Mark Gilheany.
The Board published three newsletters; met regularly with the Australian Podiatry Association, Podiatry Council of New South Wales and Podiatry Accreditation Committee; and engaged with local stakeholders in Sydney and Hobart. In June, at the Australian Podiatry Conference, we hosted a booth and presented on Ahpra’s work on identifying and minimising distress for practitioners involved in a notification.
In March, the Board strengthened the community voice on its Registration and Notifications Committee to achieve parity of community and practitioner members on this important decision-making committee.
We farewelled the Board Chair and four members, and welcomed six new members. We thank the outgoing Chair and members for their valuable contribution and commitment to the regulation of the podiatry profession.
Dr Kristy Robson, Chair
