There are many benefits to being a member of your professional podiatry organisation that represents you and your practice through your state association, the national Australasian Podiatry Council and Podiatry New Zealand. Some of the many advantages can be seen below, click here. To contact your state association for membership or on any other matter, click on the relevant office link below: Podiatry Association Offices Podiatry New Zealand A.Pod.A (Tas) A.Pod.A (NSW) A.Pod.A (SA) A.Pod.A (Vic) A.Pod.A (Qld) A.Pod.A (W.A.) Australasian Podiatry Council Advantages for members PODIATRISTS Will you attend a conference or professional development activity in the next 12 months? Do you want improved third party rebates for podiatry services? Will you be affected if standards of practice are reduced? Will you be promoting your service, practice or profession this year?   ARE YOU A MEMBER? Your profession is only as strong as its collective members, who must work together to improve the standing and profile of podiatry in the health industry and the broader community. Governments and other organisations seek advice and information from your professional association. Your support through membership and participation ensures strong and active representation in the ever-changing health services industry. AUSTRALIAN PODIATRY ASSOCIATION AND PODIATRY NEW ZEALAND CONTINUING EDUCATION Your Association provides regular continuing education seminars and conferences, providing opportunities to share your research and professional experiences and learn from that of others. PROFESSIONAL REPRESENTATION Your Association represents the profession at all levels, across Australia and New Zealand, liaising with government and other authorities such as Medicare, workers’ compensation organisations, private health insurance funds, DVA, ACC, education departments, government taskforces, Standards Australia, Allied Health Professions Australia, etc. WORK OPPORTUNITIES Use the printed and on-line classifed advertising opportunities to find work or to seek an employee targeting the profession across Australia and New Zealand, along with the international podiatry community. PUBLIC RELATIONS ACTIVITIES Join PR campaigns such as Foot Health Week to promote the profession and your practice using nationally produced PR material. These days the media turns to the podiatry association first for expert opinion on foot-related issues. POLICIES AND GUIDELINES Policies and guidelines relating to clinical practice and other issues of importance, provide direction for practitioners and third parties and ensure that professional standards are maintained. UPDATE BULLETIN The APodC Update Bulletin is distributed every two months with the latest news on Government, Health Funds, Research, Education and other important news, as well as Seminars/Conferences calendar, and Resource Material Order Form. AUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL OF PODIATRIC MEDICINE Free subscription to AJPM, presenting the latest scientific research, clinical and professional issues. INSURANCES A group insurance scheme ensures competitive rates on Professional Indemnity, Practice and Domestic Insurances, along with support in the event of a claim; also advice on preventing and avoiding litigation. NEWS Your Association keeps you up-to-date with the podiatry profession in your area with free newsletters and emails to keep you informed of important local developments. RESOURCES Access your Association’s resource library of journals, slides, educational videos, promotional display stands, banners, foot models, etc. ADVERTISING Join your colleagues on the fastest growing locality guide – www.findapodiatrist.org. Widely promoted throughout Australia and New Zealand, this site is popular with both the public and GPs and other health professionals. PODIATRY COMPETENCY STANDARDS As well as publishing the Competency Standards for the profession and overseeing the skills assessment of podiatrists from overseas, the Association liaises with all the Schools of Podiatry in Australia and New Zealand regarding undergraduate and postgraduate courses. RESEARCH Vital to the future of the profession is the Australian Podiatric Education and Research Foundation (APERF) which provides funding for new and established podiatry researchers. Donations to the Foundation are income tax deductible. More recently, the establishment of NZPERF extends this tradition across the Tasman. MENTORING A range of initiatives, including provision of the Australasian Podiatry Manual are aimed at supporting the newly graduated podiatrist, preventing professional isolation and enhancing job satisfaction. RECOGNITION The podiatry logo is more than a symbol, it is a trade mark that is protected by law. Registered by the APodC in 1993, the P-logo represents professional credibility and is an outward affirmation to consumers that a podiatrist is affiliated with a professional association, providing an assurance of professionalism. INFORMATION Members can access information on a multitude of issues through their Association office and the APodC website including advice on practice issues, contact details, practice guidelines and reference material. ACCREDITED PODIATRISTS PROGRAM Demonstrate your commitment to ongoing professional development and maintaining standards of practice by becoming an accredited podiatrist. SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS Gain skills and information and meet with your peers through special interest group activities.   Have you benefited from any of the following... Patient benefits for Medicare, DVA in Australia, or ACC in New Zealand? Fee rebates from private health insurance? Education courses delivered in your home or practice on line via the internet? Colourful posters and brochures offering information about foot health and podiatry? The right to practise podiatry in accordance with the Registration Act? Up-to-date research, new clinical techniques, innovative practice ideas, benchmark data? Ongoing, government-funded tertiary podiatry courses across Australia and New Zealand – essential for the maintenance of a thriving and robust podiatry workforce. Access to electronic claims processing through HICAPS? Competitive professional indemnity rates and proactive patient claims and management? A patient who came to you via a radio interview, newspaper article or website? Release of national evidence-based guidelines for infection control specifically written for podiatry practice? Arrangements with the UK allowing podiatrists from Australia easier access? These are just some of the activities organised and promoted by your Association and APodC. 55 years ago the podiatry profession was unregulated. 30 years ago podiatrists were using local anaesthetic for the first time. 20 years ago the first group of podiatrists graduated with an undergraduate degree. 15 years ago podiatrists could not make rebatable x-ray referrals in Australia. 2 years ago no Medicare benefits were payable on podiatry services in Australia. Changes and developments in podiatry have been driven by a strong and pro-active profession. As a podiatrist what do you want for your profession in the future? There is a better chance of achieving your goals if you are a member of your Association, where you have the opportunity to actively influence the direction of your profession. JOIN TODAY AUSTRALIAN PODIATRY ASSOCIATION PODIATRY NEW ZEALAND To view the brochure on this in portable document format, click here.

Return to the top