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Greetings from Mount Isa in Queensland, Australia.

Just introducing myself as Head of Podiatry [Mount Isa Hospital and District Health Service] currently coordinating services to 7 towns in the north-west region and covering over 330,000 square kilometres.

About to start a PhD having completed my Master of Letters degree at Central Queensland University.

Glad to be part of this forum and looking forward to discussions.

Peter Scottney-Turbill

Hi, fellow Aussie.

I am a dental surgery assistant, cert III and 2 cert 1Vs, 6 o levels and 9 a levels, and 99.8% in the STAT. I cannot get into Dental Hygiene. The unis are using it as 'pre-dentistry' for rich kids whose parents can pay twice, so they are never going to let us, who want to do it in. I cannot continue to live on $11.50 per hour. So I looked into other careers. Podiatry looks interesting, but I cannot find what it pays. I am not working for a pittance, which is why I will not consider nursing. Besides, I am a day person. Shifts kill me. I like feet, did 10 years of ballet, not as much as teeth, true. And I like senior cits. (Have 103 and 105 year old great aunts.)
Can you tell me a) What podiatrists earn? b) Is the 3 year course as good as the 4? c) Is Podiatry as impossible to get into as Dental Hygiene?
I was told by admin office at Charles Stuart that 80% who put it as first pref, get in. But she wouldn't/couldn't tell me what they earn.
Your advice would be appreciated.
carole

Carole, Pay rates vary considerably in Australia for podiatrists from state to state and between the public and private sector. In the Victorian public sector, starting salaries are $42k quickly moving to a grade 2 position at $53-$62K, with maximun salaries around $80k plus super and salary packaging benefits. (rates are lower in NSW) Many private sector advertisments offer packages in the $60k region, and if you establish your own business, standard consultation fees are around $50 (medicare plus reimburses $49.85) for a 20 min consult

__________________
Stephen Tucker
Eastern Health
Podiatry Manager

My location

Dear Stephen,
Thank you.
Dental hygienists earn about the same, but cannot have their own practice, but it will come. Do you know if the 3 year course, counts as good as the 4 year course? Carole

There is only one 3yr course left in Australia - all the other have gone to 4.

__________________
Craig Payne
Department of Podiatry
La Trobe University
Melbourne, Australia
http://www.latrobe.edu.au/podiatry
__________________________________________________ ___________________________________
God put me on this earth to accomplish a certain number of things - right now I am so far behind, I will never die.
The views expressed above are those of the author and not that of La Trobe University
This is where I am, where are you?

Dear Mr, er...Professor Payne,
I have been checking them out. The 3 year one is in Adeliade. But is it as well considered? That is the question. Thank you Carole

Hi Carole,

All the courses in Podiatry are great - whether 3 or 4 years. You just need to make sure that whatever state you wish to practice in will accept your qualifications. Each State has it's own registration board, and you would need to contact them directly (there are details for each on the web). As a lecturer in a 4 year course (at La Trobe Uni in Melbourne), and having been involved in the creation of some other state degrees, I tend to favour the 4 year course - just for the depth and breadth of experience it gives you. But, as a qualified and experienced Health Practitioner, you might find 3 years is enough to launch you into Podiatric Stardom.

La Trobe Uni has it's Open Day on Sunday Aug 28th, and I am sure that you will find other Uni's around Australia also have Open Days coming up soon. These are a great way of getting to know the details of the courses.

Whatever happens - good luck in your choice of career!

cheers,

Felicity

Dear Podiatrists,
Thanks for the compliments, but I have been doing a bit of research and there are rumours of shorter courses in TAFEs around Oz.
Any information, anyone know WHICH tafes?
Carole

Carole,

There is a 12 month course for "Foot and Hand Carers" being run at the East Gippsland TAFE. Please be aware that it is not a medical course, nor would it entitle you to have any affiliation with the Podiatry Profession (other than, perhaps, to work as a Podiatry Assistant). It is essentially a beauticians course, with the subjects being taken from existing courses in the TAFE sector for beauty industry programs.

The Australian Podiatry Council will shortly be offering, through the State Podiatry Associations, a 12 week Podiatry Assistants Course. This is for people who will work under the supervision of a Podiatrist, assisting in practices and doing very limited foot hygeine work (nail clipping only).

To become a registered Podiatrist, and they are the only Health Professionals who specialise in the foot, the only mechanism is via a University degree.
Again, lots of good wishes to you,
Felicity

Carole,
The 3 year Adelaide course entitles you to become registered and practice as a podiatrist in all states of Australia, so has the same legal standing as the 4 year degree

__________________
Stephen Tucker
Eastern Health
Podiatry Manager

My location

Where can I put my name down for the 12 week course?

Will it help me get into the degree courses? (Excuse my sceptisism...But 20 years as a Dental assistant and all kinds of extra courses and 32 applications to Dental Hygiene. and the only people who get in are those who fail dentistry....) Will it pay more than $11.50 per hour? I bet my elderly, not on email, pod would employ me.
Carole

For information about the course contact Celia Gahan at the Australasian Podiatry Association (Victoria) - they have contact details on their website.

Just a couple of points:

1. You need to be employed by a podiatrist to dothe course (as they supervise your prac work)
2. It has absolutely nothing to do with entrance into any Podiatry degree program.
3. For information about the degree programs you must contact the Universities directly. Entrance to degrees is on merit, and there is provision to accept candidates who have not completed VCE or equivalent.

cheers,

Felicity

Thank you you have all been really helpful, how would I have obtained so much info in so short a time before the web?
They say that about dental hygiene too, but no one's actually ever got in that way.
I have applied to the unis (Dental Hygiene first) at pref 2. Thanks Carole

Congrats Craig on professor! :p

__________________
My karma ran over my dogma .....

I read this post with interest, but all I really felt from Carolthecatlover was interested in was the PAY rate. This was repeatedly seen in the replies. As a Podiatrist for some 19 years, the first piece of advise would have been along the lines of genuine interest in the profession. Then the scope of the profession....etc etc and the last part would have been the salary. Albeit the salaries offered between public and private may vary, the meesage I got was " as long as it is higher than $11.50 per hour". Good luck to her in getting into dental hygiene, but as a profession and as a Podiatrist, we need student intake who genuinely know what Podaitry is and have a real want to become a successful Podiatrist. As we all know there is a great shortage of Pods, so careful selection of applicants who want this for the long term as a profession would be required.
As a piece of advise for the cat lover... The pay/salary is the reward for your skill and ability in whatever job you choose. Satisfaction in your skill and delivery is paramount and the money WILL follow. Good luck in Dental hygiene

Hi Pete the outback Pod,

Good to hear that there is a couple of us serving rural Qld. I am based at the Roma Hospital and service 5 small centres in the surrounding district. It would be great to hear from you and your experiences.

Craig

Hello craig
Thanks for your message - good to know you are there at Roma.
I'll be in touch again later with some info on what we're doing here in the north west.
Cheers
Pete