Podiatry

Podiatry is a form of Allied Health support delivered by our qualified, registered podiatrists to assess, treat, and manage conditions affecting your feet and lower limbs. Under the Support at Home program, Podiatry sits within the Clinical Supports category, alongside services like Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Dietetics, Speech Pathology, Psychology, Exercise Physiology and Social Work. 

A podiatrist working with you at home might focus on: 

• General foot care, including nail trimming, corn and callus management, and skin checks 

• Diabetic foot assessments, monitoring circulation and sensation to prevent complications 

• Wound care and monitoring for slow-healing cuts, ulcers, or pressure sores on the feet 

• Gait and balance assessments, identifying how foot pain or structural changes affect walking and fall risk 

• Footwear and orthotic advice, recommending supportive footwear or custom inserts where needed 

• Nail and skin condition management, including fungal infections, ingrown toenails, and other common concerns 

Foot health is often an early indicator of broader health changes, particularly for people living with diabetes, arthritis, or poor circulation. A podiatrist is frequently the first to notice a change that, left unaddressed, could lead to a fall, infection or hospital admission. 

Because Podiatry falls under Clinical Supports, the good news is that it’s fully government-funded, with no co-contribution required, regardless of your income or assets. This means if you’re eligible for Support at Home and Podiatry is included in your Care Plan, there’s no out-of-pocket cost standing between you and healthy, well-managed feet. 

If you’re not yet receiving government funding, or you’d like additional podiatry visits beyond what your care plan covers, Chris Barnard Health also offers privately funded Podiatry, so a funding gap never has to mean going without care. 

We have established relationships with podiatrists across Melbourne, and we’re also happy to work with your existing podiatrist if you have one (they’ll simply need to be onboarded with us first, just speak to your Care Partner to arrange this). If you’re already working with a podiatrist but would prefer to switch to one of our in-house team, we’ll work closely with you to carry across the routine and treatment plan you’re used to, so there’s no disruption to your care. 

A podiatry visit isn’t just about comfort, it’s often a window into your broader health. Our podiatrists are trained to notice early warning signs, whether that’s poor circulation, early diabetic complications, or a change in gait that increases fall risk, and to flag these to your wider care team so nothing falls through the cracks. 

Every podiatrist we work with is registered, experienced, and selected not just for clinical skill but for the ability to put clients at ease. Foot care is a personal, hands-on service, and we choose professionals we would trust to care for our own family members. 

Your podiatrist’s observations are shared with your Care Partner and, where relevant, your nursing and personal care team, so a concern identified during a podiatry visit, like a slow-healing wound or a sign of poor circulation, gets picked up and acted on quickly, not lost between services. 

Your first podiatry visit typically involves a thorough assessment of your feet, circulation, and gait, along with a conversation about any pain, changes, or concerns you’ve noticed. From there, your podiatrist puts together a tailored care plan, whether that’s regular general foot care, footwear advice, or ongoing monitoring for a condition like diabetes. As with all our services, your plan can be reviewed and adjusted over time as your needs change. 

Podiatry, like every service we provide, is guided by your rights under the Aged Care Act 2024. This includes the right to: 

• Make decisions about your care and treatment 

• Be treated with dignity and respect throughout every appointment 

• Be involved in planning your services, including who delivers them and how 

• Speak up if something isn’t working for you, with the assurance that your feedback will be taken seriously 

If something ever goes wrong, we respond using a structured, best-practice approach called open disclosure, informing you promptly, listening to your observations, and working with you to put things right. Transparency isn’t an afterthought for us, it’s built into how we operate. 

Podiatry is available to eligible Support at Home participants, generally people aged 65 or over (50 or over for First Nations people) who need coordinated support to remain safely and independently at home, or younger people with a disability, dementia, or other care needs not met through other specialist services. Podiatry is also a valuable part of ongoing fall prevention and diabetes management and can be paired with Physiotherapy or Occupational Therapy where broader mobility support is needed. 

• A team that talks to each other. Your podiatrist’s observations are shared directly with your Care Partner and wider care team, so a warning sign, like poor circulation or a slow-healing wound, is acted on quickly rather than sitting until your next scheduled visit. 

• Consistency that builds trust. Because we invest in our own workforce rather than relying on rotating agency staff, you’re more likely to see the same podiatrist over time, someone who already knows your feet, your history, and what’s changed since your last visit. 

Call us on 1300 602 469 to find out more about Podiatry and how it fits within Support at Home or fill out our contact form on the website and a member of our team will be in touch.