podiatrist.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.