podiatrist job description

Some of the duties and responsibilities of podiatrists include: consultation: every treatment procedure begins with consulting with patients with foot injuries or other issues. You ask questions to understand the cause of the problem and review the patient's medical history to determine if they have underlying medical illnesses. examining patients: to diagnose foot conditions, you examine the patient’s injuries, fractures and ulcers. For minor injuries, a basic physical examination, like checking for discolouration or swelling, helps you find solutions. Some conditions may require biomechanical assessment, which involves evaluating how a patient walks and any unusual posture when standing. You can also use lab tests and X-rays to determine the extent of the injuries. discussing the treatment plan with patients: as a podiatrist, you advise patients on the treatment options available for their condition. You also provide tips on how they can care for their foot conditions. For instance, after a surgical procedure, you explain the recovery plan and exercises to help them with the pain. performing surgical procedures: as a podiatrist, you perform surgery to treat foot conditions. Sometimes, you perform minor surgeries to repair fractures or carry out complex procedures, such as removing tumours and correcting foot deformities. referring patients to doctors: when a patient’s condition is caused by an underlying health problem, you refer them to another doctor for treatment. For instance, foot-related problems may indicate other conditions, like diabetes or cardiovascular disease, and the underlying issues need to be treated first.

Podiatrists work in diverse environments. For instance, you may work in mining communities or hospital settings, consulting patients with foot or ankle conditions. Aside from healthcare settings, you also work in gyms and sports centres when working with sportspeople. When you work in a hospital or private healthcare facility, you are likely to work indoors. However, some therapy sessions are conducted outdoors. Sports medicine also involves working on football pitches to treat injuries. While the role doesn't require travelling, working in sports medicine involves accompanying sportspeople to treat injuries during a sporting event.

who are your colleagues?

Depending on your employer and the industry you work in, your colleagues might include general nurses , lab assistants and occupational therapists . You might also be working in close proximity to nutritionists and paediatric nurses , as well as other specialists that could include, but not be limited to, doctors, pharmacists and physiotherapists.

The typical work schedule of a podiatrist is over 40 hours a week. When you work in a hospital environment, you are likely to work in shifts of up to 12 hours. The shifts are rotational, which means you sometimes work nights, early mornings or weekends. When you work in private practice, you are likely to work traditional business hours. Podiatrists in sports medicine work during weekends and may accompany teams to overnight sports events.

As a podiatrist, you have a clear path for career progression. In a junior position, you handle minor foot problems and can easily progress to a senior role with experience. You may also specialise in specific aspects of podiatry, like sports medicine, paediatrics or dermatology. The demand for podiatrists boosts your growth opportunities since you can find employment opportunities in community health centres that deal with industry-related issues, such as injuries from manufacturing or mining. Private clinics also have exciting opportunities.

advantages of finding a podiatrist job through randstad

Finding your podiatrist job through Randstad provides important advantages such as: a wide variety of training and development opportunities an experienced contact person to provide help if needed a range of opportunities in your area get paid weekly or monthly, depending on the job temporary and permanent contracts Want a permanent contract? A temporary job as a podiatrist is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Thousands of people earn a permanent contract every year with great employers thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too.

is a podiatrist a doctor?

Yes. As a podiatrist, you are trained to diagnose and administer treatment plans to patients with feet or lower leg problems. Your registration with a podiatry board in your state allows you to practise medicine. However, you only treat patients with foot-related health problems and refer the rest to the general physicians.

is podiatrist a good career in Australia?

Working as a podiatrist is a promising career with great opportunities for career growth. Depending on your experience and educational qualifications, you also enjoy a good remuneration package.

what qualifications do you need to be a podiatrist in Australia?

You require a bachelor’s degree in podiatry to work as a podiatrist in Australia. You can also get a master of podiatry if you have an undergraduate degree in a different medical field. To practise as a podiatrist in Australia, register with the podiatry association in your state.

what problems do podiatrists treat?

Podiatrists treat various problems related to the foot, ankle and lower leg. For instance, you treat ankle injuries and fractures, athlete’s foot, and complications from chronic health issues, such as diabetes or arthritis.

where do most podiatrists work?

Podiatrists work in hospitals to handle referrals from general physicians. You can also work in sports centres and private clinics offering podiatric care.

how do I apply for a podiatrist vacancy?

Applying for a podiatrist job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our job offers for vacancies in your area. Then send us your CV and cover letter. Need help with your application? Check out all our job search tips here .

podiatrist

what is a podiatrist?

As a podiatrist, you are a doctor who specialises in foot conditions. You consult with patients, assess their feet, and diagnose conditions or injuries. Some patient diagnosis procedures include laboratory tests, X-rays and physical exams. Hence, you review X-rays and lab results to develop patient care plans. You recommend surgical treatments for foot, ankle, and lower leg illnesses or opt for non-surgical options like orthotics (special shoe inserts). If the ailment requires surgical treatment, you perform the surgeries. While podiatry surgeons perform complex foot procedures, you also perform procedures like repairing fractures or removing bone spurs.

Podiatrists work with patients with different conditions. As a podiatrist, you can specialise in working with kids to assess their walking gait or work with sportspeople to handle foot injuries. You also work with patients suffering from arthritis and prescribe medication to people with diabetes to prevent amputation. While podiatrists mainly work in hospitals that provide specialised treatment for foot problems, some work closely with other doctors in healthcare facilities and community centres.

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average podiatrist salary

The average salary of a podiatrist in Australia is $95,000 per year. Your remuneration package fluctuates based on various factors, including experience, qualifications and skills. When starting out in the role, you earn a salary of $85,000 per year. However, your earnings increase gradually, and you can take home over $105,000 annually.

what factors affect the salary of a podiatrist?

As a podiatrist, your remuneration package depends on your qualifications and work experience. Employers pay higher salaries for podiatrists with additional years of experience and advanced qualifications. For instance, with a master's degree, you typically earn more than a podiatrist with only a bachelor's degree. Some areas of specialisation, like sports medicine, also pay more compared to general practice.

Aside from experience, the health facility you work for also influences your earnings. If you work in a private practice, your earnings depend on the clientele and the services offered in the facility. However, you are likely to earn a higher remuneration package compared to podiatrists working in hospitals. The size of the health facility also impacts your salary. Small health facilities have minimal resources and may not pay podiatrists a high salary. Large health facilities pay more due to the unlimited resources.

Want to know what you will earn as a podiatrist? Check out what you are worth with our salary checker.

2

types of podiatrists

Podiatrists diagnose a variety of foot conditions and often specialise in different areas of podiatric medicine. For instance, you can focus on sports medicine. That means you work for individual athletes or sports teams, helping them to optimise performance and treat injuries. Your job in sports medicine includes treating stress fractures, knee injuries or Achilles tendonitis.

Alternatively, you may specialise in treating children and solving feet and ankle problems in kids. Some common conditions you handle for children include knee pain, flat feet and in-toeing gait (pigeon-toed). As a podiatrist, you also treat issues related to the skin of the feet, like athlete's foot, blisters and dermatitis. You examine patients and develop treatment plans to resolve the issues.

3

working as a podiatrist

Working as a podiatrist involves handling foot problems in patients. If you are interested in the role, check out the specific duties, responsibilities and work environments of podiatrists.

podiatrist job description
Some of the duties and responsibilities of podiatrists include:
- consultation: every treatment procedure begins with consulting with patients with foot injuries or other issues. You ask questions to understand the cause of the problem and review the patient's medical history to determine if they have underlying medical illnesses.
- examining patients: to diagnose foot conditions, you examine the patient’s injuries, fractures and ulcers. For minor injuries, a basic physical examination, like checking for discolouration or swelling, helps you find solutions. Some conditions may require biomechanical assessment, which involves evaluating how a patient walks and any unusual posture when standing. You can also use lab tests and X-rays to determine the extent of the injuries.
- discussing the treatment plan with patients: as a podiatrist, you advise patients on the treatment options available for their condition. You also provide tips on how they can care for their foot conditions. For instance, after a surgical procedure, you explain the recovery plan and exercises to help them with the pain.
- performing surgical procedures: as a podiatrist, you perform surgery to treat foot conditions. Sometimes, you perform minor surgeries to repair fractures or carry out complex procedures, such as removing tumours and correcting foot deformities.
- referring patients to doctors: when a patient’s condition is caused by an underlying health problem, you refer them to another doctor for treatment. For instance, foot-related problems may indicate other conditions, like diabetes or cardiovascular disease, and the underlying issues need to be treated first.
work environment

Podiatrists work in diverse environments. For instance, you may work in mining communities or hospital settings, consulting patients with foot or ankle conditions. Aside from healthcare settings, you also work in gyms and sports centres when working with sportspeople. When you work in a hospital or private healthcare facility, you are likely to work indoors. However, some therapy sessions are conducted outdoors. Sports medicine also involves working on football pitches to treat injuries. While the role doesn't require travelling, working in sports medicine involves accompanying sportspeople to treat injuries during a sporting event.
who are your colleagues?

Depending on your employer and the industry you work in, your colleagues might include general nurses, lab assistants and occupational therapists. You might also be working in close proximity to nutritionists and paediatric nurses, as well as other specialists that could include, but not be limited to, doctors, pharmacists and physiotherapists.
work schedule

The typical work schedule of a podiatrist is over 40 hours a week. When you work in a hospital environment, you are likely to work in shifts of up to 12 hours. The shifts are rotational, which means you sometimes work nights, early mornings or weekends. When you work in private practice, you are likely to work traditional business hours. Podiatrists in sports medicine work during weekends and may accompany teams to overnight sports events.
job outlook

As a podiatrist, you have a clear path for career progression. In a junior position, you handle minor foot problems and can easily progress to a senior role with experience. You may also specialise in specific aspects of podiatry, like sports medicine, paediatrics or dermatology. The demand for podiatrists boosts your growth opportunities since you can find employment opportunities in community health centres that deal with industry-related issues, such as injuries from manufacturing or mining. Private clinics also have exciting opportunities.
advantages of finding a podiatrist job through randstad
Finding your podiatrist job through Randstad provides important advantages such as:
- a wide variety of training and development opportunities
- an experienced contact person to provide help if needed
- a range of opportunities in your area
- get paid weekly or monthly, depending on the job
- temporary and permanent contracts
Want a permanent contract? A temporary job as a podiatrist is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Thousands of people earn a permanent contract every year with great employers thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too.

4

education and skills

Podiatrists are highly skilled individuals, which means you require a high level of education to qualify for the role. You can join the career by pursuing a bachelor's degree in podiatric medicine or a bachelor of podiatry accredited by the Podiatry Board of Australia. If you already have a bachelor's degree in a different medical field, get a master of podiatry.

When you complete the degree courses, you should register with the Australian Podiatry Association in your state to start practising as a podiatrist. For instance, if you live in Western Australia, register with the Australian Podiatry Association Western Australia, while in Victoria, you can register with the Australian Podiatry Association Victoria. If you haven’t registered with the board, you can work as a podiatrist by registering with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.

podiatrist skills and competencies

Some of the qualities of a podiatrist include:

scientific knowledge: as a podiatrist, you need an in-depth understanding of biology and anatomy. Your scientific knowledge improves your understanding of podiatrist processes and technical skills, enabling you to perform laboratory tests and biomechanical assessments.
emotional intelligence: as a podiatrist, you deal with patients with various injuries and medical conditions. Your sensitivity to patients' predicaments helps you handle them with compassion. Emotional intelligence also improves empathy, which is useful for managing a patient's condition.
interpersonal and communication skills: as a podiatrist, your role requires exceptional communication and listening skills. During a consultation, you rely on your interpersonal skills to determine the cause and extent of injuries. Your communication skills also help you communicate with other healthcare workers during surgical procedures.
dexterity: as a podiatrist, you should be good with your hands and have exceptional hand-eye coordination. Your dexterity is useful during patient examination and therapy sessions. You guide patients through exercises and also perform surgical procedures.
problem-solving skills: patients have diverse medical conditions and injuries, so it is important to know how to apply your training to different situations. Your problem-solving skills help you make accurate diagnoses and apply your knowledge in podiatry to treat patients with various conditions. Problem-solving skills also help you think logically and remain calm under pressure.

5

FAQs about working as a podiatrist

Here, you will find the answers to the most frequently asked questions about the profession of a podiatrist.

is a podiatrist a doctor?

Yes. As a podiatrist, you are trained to diagnose and administer treatment plans to patients with feet or lower leg problems. Your registration with a podiatry board in your state allows you to practise medicine. However, you only treat patients with foot-related health problems and refer the rest to the general physicians.
is podiatrist a good career in Australia?

Working as a podiatrist is a promising career with great opportunities for career growth. Depending on your experience and educational qualifications, you also enjoy a good remuneration package.
what qualifications do you need to be a podiatrist in Australia?

You require a bachelor’s degree in podiatry to work as a podiatrist in Australia. You can also get a master of podiatry if you have an undergraduate degree in a different medical field. To practise as a podiatrist in Australia, register with the podiatry association in your state.
what problems do podiatrists treat?

Podiatrists treat various problems related to the foot, ankle and lower leg. For instance, you treat ankle injuries and fractures, athlete’s foot, and complications from chronic health issues, such as diabetes or arthritis.
where do most podiatrists work?

Podiatrists work in hospitals to handle referrals from general physicians. You can also work in sports centres and private clinics offering podiatric care.
how do I apply for a podiatrist vacancy?

Applying for a podiatrist job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our job offers for vacancies in your area. Then send us your CV and cover letter. Need help with your application? Check out all our job search tips here.

podiatrist.