October 2024

Issue 36 – October 2024

From the Chair
Priority news
- Have your say on a proposed change to the protected title for podiatric surgeons
Board news
Students and graduates
- Finishing your studies in the next three months? Apply for registration now
What’s new?
Want more information?

From the Chair

Photo of Cylie Williams

This month we take a moment to celebrate podiatrists. Podiatry Week started on 14 October and this year its focus was on raising awareness of the full scope of the profession. With the theme ‘podiatry, more than you think’, it’s important we reflect on all the different and invaluable services podiatrist can offer. I want to say thank you for all that you do to support the health of those in this beautiful country.

In response to the recommendations from the independent review of the regulation of podiatric surgeons, the Board has published a professional performance framework for podiatric surgeons and released the public consultation on a proposed title change for the podiatric surgery specialty. You should have all received an invitation to have your say on the proposed title change. If not, we have included information on how to provide your feedback in the article below.

Cylie Williams
Chair, Podiatry Board of Australia

Priority news

Have your say on a proposed change to the protected title for podiatric surgeons

We are seeking feedback on a proposed change to the protected title for the specialty of podiatric surgery.

The proposed change to the protected title was one of the 14 recommendations made to the Board and Ahpra in the final report of the Independent review of the regulation of podiatric surgeons in Australia.

The review found that many consumers did not understand the term ‘podiatric’, and they thought the use of the title ‘surgeon’ indicated that the practitioner was a medical practitioner and had completed their qualifications and training in medicine.

The review concluded that continued use of the title ‘podiatric surgeon’ is confusing and problematic and recommended that the title be changed to an alternative such as ‘surgical podiatrist’ to make it clear that the practitioner is a specialist podiatrist who performs surgery.

The Board and Ahpra accepted the review’s findings and recommendations and agreed to consult on a change to the protected title. Any decision about a change to the protected title will be made by health ministers. The Board does not have the power to change a protected title, it can only make recommendations to health ministers.

Read our news item for more information, the Board and Ahpra’s joint response to the review, and supporting FAQs.

How to provide feedback

More information on the consultation and how to provide feedback can be found on the Board’s Consultations page. If you have any questions, please email podiatryconsultation@ahpra.gov.au.

Be sure to provide your feedback before consultation closes on 8 November 2024.

Board news

It’s time to renew your registration – renew now to avoid late fees

Podiatrists and podiatric surgeons have until 30 November to renew their general, specialist or non-practising registration. If you submit your application to renew on time, you can continue practising while your application is assessed. Renewing on time also means you’ll avoid late fees which apply after 30 November 2024.

When you renew be sure you’ve met the requirements of the Board’s registration standards including your continuing professional development and holding appropriate professional indemnity insurance. Keep an eye out for your reminder email from Ahpra with your link to online renewal.

You can read the renewal FAQs on the Ahpra website for tips on logging in and for more information about renewal, read the news item.

New professional performance framework for podiatric surgeons

As part of its commitment to strengthening public protection and regulatory effectiveness the Board is developing a professional performance framework to ensure that all registered podiatric surgeons practise competently and ethically throughout their working lives.

It is being developed in response to the recommendations made in the final report from the Independent review of the regulation of podiatric surgeons in Australia.

We have published a new webpage providing a snapshot of the Professional performance framework for podiatric surgeons (the framework).

The framework has four domains that focus on guidance to support podiatric surgeons, strengthened assessment and response to notifications, active assurance of safe practice and strengthened continuing professional development and culture.

It is designed to support podiatric surgeons to take responsibility for their own performance and encourage them collectively to raise professional standards and build a positive, respectful culture that benefits patients and the profession.

We will consult later this year on elements of the framework such as the strengthened CPD requirements for podiatric surgeons, guidelines for practitioners performing podiatric surgery, and a requirement for all podiatric surgeons to hold an endorsement for scheduled medicines. We’ll let you know when consultation begins.

Latest workforce data released

The Board’s latest quarterly registration data report covers the period to 30 June 2024. At this date there were 6,135 registered podiatric practitioners, including 5,926 with general registration, 42 with both general and specialist registration, and 167 with non-practising registration.

There were 40 practitioners who identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, or 0.7 per cent of the profession.

There were 260 practitioners with endorsement for scheduled medicines.

For further data breakdowns by age, gender and principal place of practice, visit the Board’s Statistics page to read the report.

Students and graduates

Finishing your studies in the next three months? Apply for registration now

If you’re studying to become a podiatrist and are about to finish your course, you can apply for registration now. Getting your application in early helps avoid any delays and helps get you into the workforce sooner. If you apply before you finish your study, we can start assessing your application while we wait for your graduate results.

Before you can start working as a podiatrist you have to be registered with the Podiatry Board of Australia (the Board). Your application is managed by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra).

Easy steps to apply online

Create your account using Ahpra’s online services and complete your application.
Upload your documents and pay the required fees. Check that you have provided all required documents to prove you’ve met the registration standards, including certified copies of your photo ID.
Wait for your education provider to provide your graduate results to Ahpra.

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander graduates

Ahpra’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Engagement and Support team is there to assist you through the registration process.

The support team consists of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, and they provide a one-on-one service. They can assist you to navigate the registration process, provide regular phone contact, and advise on any disclosures you made on your registration application (for example, about impairments) that the Board may need to consider.

The support team is committed to assisting you to get registered promptly so you can start making vital contributions to culturally safe healthcare for your communities. If, after reading the handy hints below, you would still like some help with your application for registration, please email the support team at mobengagementsupport@ahpra.gov.au.

Handy hints to help you apply

Watch our video to get your application right: Applying for graduate registration.
You’ll find helpful advice, tips for avoiding common causes of delay, and downloadable information flyers on the Graduate applications page of the Ahpra website.
Read our news item for more information about applying.

What’s new?

3G network closure and emergency devices – talk to your patients

From Monday 28 October 2024, Telstra and Optus will close their 3G networks. Devices that depend on the 3G network won’t work when it’s gone.

Devices such as in-home personal emergency alarms, insulin pumps and pacemakers that rely on the 3G network for voice calls won’t be able to make Triple Zero (000) calls when the network is shut down. This means that they might not work properly after the 3G shutdown.

People who use these devices will need to contact their service provider to see if their device is affected.

It is estimated that approximately 200,000 people who use these devices do not know that they rely on the 3G network to work. We are asking practitioners to talk to potentially affected patients and clients about the change and what they need to do to stay safe and connected.

More information is available at ‘3G is closing: check your tech’ on the AMTA website.

National Prescribing Competencies Framework review

Ahpra has been contracted by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care (the Department) to review the Prescribing Competencies Framework – Embedding quality use of medicines into practice, second edition (the framework).

The review aims to ensure the framework supports Quality Use of Medicines and that it:

remains fit for purpose, contemporary, efficient, accurate and reflects current and emerging trends in education and multi-profession practices, and
continues to describe competencies required to contribute to safe and person-centred prescribing.

The framework was originally developed and hosted by NPS MedicineWise. Published in April 2021, it describes the competencies and expectations for appropriate, safe and effective prescribing across relevant health professions.

Ahpra will be conducting targeted and public consultations in the next 12 months as part of the review. The final updated version of the framework will be submitted to the Department for approval before publication.

While the framework will be hosted on the Ahpra website, the Department will continue to own the document as part of the Quality Use of Diagnostics, Therapeutics and Pathology Program.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner registration reaches exciting milestone

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners registered with Ahpra hit 1,000 for the first time in September.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners are a unique profession founded on traditional values, complemented by modern medicine. They are clinical and cultural experts who build trust, practise cultural safety and bring an understanding which strengthens health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

They work autonomously or as part of a multidisciplinary team, providing a broad range of expertise in both primary and tertiary healthcare, from administering and supplying medications, to acute and chronic disease management and advocating for patients.

Their aim is to empower First Nations families and communities to make them feel welcome, safe and comfortable when using health services and to make self-determined decisions about their health and wellbeing. The profession, while small in number, is critical to ‘closing the gap’ by removing disparities in healthcare.

Bardi and Jabirr Jabirr woman Ms Iris Raye is Chair of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice Board of Australia (ATSIHPBA). ‘This milestone is an honour to our trailblazers whose shoulders we stand on, and to recognise our key stakeholders and allies who champion this profession’, she said.

Ahpra congratulates the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice Board of Australia (ATSIHPBA) for ensuring practitioners are suitably trained, qualified and safe to practise, and for working collectively and collaboratively with the National Scheme and stakeholders to eliminate racism in healthcare.

Want more information?

Visit www.podiatryboard.gov.au for the mandatory registration standards, codes, guidelines and FAQs. Visiting the website regularly is the best way to stay in touch with news and updates from the Board.
Lodge an enquiry form via the website by following the Enquiries link on every web page under Contact us.
For registration enquiries, call 1300 419 495 (from within Australia) or +61 3 9125 3010 (for overseas callers).
To update your contact details for important registration renewal emails and other Board updates, go to the Ahpra website: Update contact details.
Address mail correspondence to A/Prof. Cylie Williams, Chair, Podiatry Board of Australia, GPO Box 9958, Melbourne VIC 3001.