Most people will happily see a dentist twice a year, get their eyes checked annually, and book a physio the moment their back twinges. But feet? Feet get ignored until they're screaming at you. And by the time you finally Google 'podiatrist near me', you've usually been putting up with the problem for months.
If you're thinking about seeing a podiatrist for the first time — or it's been a while since your last visit — here's everything you need to know before your appointment. No surprises, no jargon, just a straight-up guide from the podiatry team at our Camberwell clinic.
A podiatrist is a university-trained allied health professional who specialises in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of conditions affecting the feet, ankles, and lower limbs. In Australia, podiatrists complete a minimum four-year Bachelor degree and are registered with AHPRA (the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency).
That means your podiatrist isn't just someone who trims toenails. They're qualified to diagnose conditions, prescribe orthotics, perform minor surgical procedures (like ingrown toenail surgery), analyse your gait and biomechanics, and develop treatment plans for everything from heel pain to diabetic foot care.
At Upwell, our podiatrists work as part of a multidisciplinary team alongside physiotherapists, exercise physiologists, and clinical Pilates practitioners. That collaborative approach means if your foot problem is connected to a hip, knee, or lower back issue (which it often is), we can address the whole picture without sending you across Melbourne to different clinics.
You don't need to have a dramatic injury to justify seeing a podiatrist. Some of the most common reasons patients visit our Camberwell podiatry team include heel pain (plantar fasciitis is the most common cause), arch pain and flat feet, bunions, corns, and calluses, ingrown toenails, ankle pain and instability, shin splints, Achilles tendon pain, children's foot and leg concerns (growing pains, in-toeing, flat feet), diabetic foot assessments, and sports-related foot and ankle injuries.
If any of those sound familiar, you're not alone. Foot problems affect roughly 75% of Australians at some point in their lives, yet most people wait far too long before seeking treatment.
Your first podiatry appointment at Upwell runs for 45 minutes. That's significantly longer than the industry standard, and it's deliberate — rushing a first assessment means missing things, and missing things means suboptimal treatment.
Here's what happens:
A conversation. Your podiatrist will ask about your symptoms, your medical history, your footwear, your activity levels, and your goals. They want to understand the full picture, not just the sore bit.
A physical assessment. This includes examining your feet and lower limbs, checking your joint range of motion, testing muscle strength, and assessing your skin and nails. Depending on your presentation, they may also perform a biomechanical assessment looking at how your feet, ankles, knees, and hips work together during walking and standing.
Gait analysis. If relevant, your podiatrist will watch you walk (and sometimes run) to assess your movement patterns. At Upwell, we use VALD Performance force plates and video gait analysis to get objective data on how your body moves. This isn't guesswork — it's precision measurement.
Treatment. Most first appointments include treatment on the day. This might be hands-on soft tissue work, taping or strapping, advice on footwear changes, or the beginning of an orthotic prescription process.
A plan. You'll leave knowing exactly what's going on with your feet, what's causing the problem, and what the treatment plan looks like. No ambiguity.
Bring the shoes you wear most often — work shoes, runners, casual shoes. Your podiatrist will want to see them because worn-out or poorly fitting footwear is one of the most common contributors to foot problems. Also bring any existing orthotics or insoles if you have them, your Medicare card and private health insurance card, a referral from your GP if you have one (not required, but brings it if you have a chronic disease management plan), and shorts or cropped pants so your podiatrist can assess your legs and knees easily.
No. In Australia, you can see a podiatrist directly without a GP referral. However, if your GP has set up a Chronic Disease Management Plan (formerly called an EPC plan), you may be eligible for Medicare rebates on up to five allied health sessions per calendar year. Podiatry is covered under these plans.
At Upwell, we also accept private health insurance claims (processed on the spot via HICAPS), Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) referrals, WorkCover claims, TAC claims, and NDIS plans.
Fees vary depending on the type and length of appointment. At Upwell, our pricing is transparent and available on our fees and rebates page. Most patients with private health insurance pay only a small gap after their rebate. If you're on a GP Management Plan, your Medicare rebate covers a significant portion of the cost.
The real question isn't how much podiatry costs — it's how much ignoring a foot problem costs you in the long run. A heel pain issue that could have been resolved in 4-6 weeks with early treatment can turn into a 6-12 month chronic condition if left untreated. Early intervention is always cheaper.
Maybe. Orthotics are custom-made or prefabricated shoe inserts designed to support, align, or correct foot function. They're not the answer to every foot problem, but for certain conditions — particularly biomechanical issues, plantar fasciitis, flat feet, and lower limb alignment problems — they can be highly effective.
At Upwell, we use 3D scanning technology to create custom orthotics that are precisely moulded to your feet. If your podiatrist recommends orthotics, they'll explain exactly why, what they'll do, and what the alternatives are. We don't prescribe them unless they're genuinely going to make a meaningful difference to your condition.
Kids' feet are not just small adult feet. They're still developing, and conditions like flat feet, in-toeing, toe walking, growing pains, and Sever's disease (heel pain in active kids) are common and treatable. If your child complains of foot or leg pain, trips frequently, or has an unusual walking pattern, a podiatry assessment can identify issues early and guide appropriate management.
Our podiatrists at Upwell are experienced with children of all ages and take a calm, friendly approach that puts kids (and parents) at ease.
What makes podiatry at Upwell different from a standalone podiatry clinic is the team behind it. Your podiatrist sits alongside physiotherapists, exercise physiologists, and clinical Pilates practitioners — all under one roof at our Burke Road clinic in Camberwell. If your foot problem is connected to a knee, hip, or back issue, we don't send you somewhere else. We collaborate internally and manage the whole kinetic chain.
We also invest in technology that most podiatry clinics don't have — including VALD Performance force plates, 3D orthotic scanning, and video gait analysis. This gives us objective data to inform treatment decisions, track progress, and show you exactly what's happening when you move.
And with 28 free car parks, ground-floor wheelchair access, and 45-minute initial consultations, we've removed the barriers that usually make healthcare appointments stressful.
For a specific problem, your podiatrist will advise on the appropriate review schedule — typically every 2-6 weeks during active treatment. For general foot health maintenance, an annual check-up is a good idea, particularly if you have diabetes, are over 65, or are physically active.
Yes. Foot biomechanics directly affect the knee, hip, and lower back. Poor foot alignment can contribute to knee pain, hip bursitis, and even lower back issues. Your podiatrist will assess the whole lower limb chain, not just the foot.
Yes, if you have extras cover that includes podiatry. At Upwell, we process claims instantly via HICAPS for all major health funds.
In Australia, the profession is called podiatry. The term chiropody is outdated and no longer used professionally, though some older Australians may still use it. They refer to the same profession.