Is podiatry for you?

Podiatrists have a broad and interesting job caring for feet. Foot problems affect athletes and sedentary people alike. Read more ...

Campus facilities

The University of Newcastle has state of the art on campus teaching facilities including orthoses, clinical skills and research laboratories. Read more ...

Career opportunities

With a current shortage in Australia, podiatrists are in high demand. Podiatrists work closely with many members of the health profession from surgeons, paediatricians, dieticians, physiotherapists, general practitioners and nurses, as well as exercise physiologists. Read more ...

Achiever profiles

Why would you do this degree? Find out from graduates, students and academics. Discover how their future is taking shape, and learn first-hand what it's like to study at uni. Read profiles ...

Is podiatry for you?

Podiatrists have a broad and interesting job caring for feet. Foot problems affect athletes and sedentary people alike. Podiatrists are an integral part of the health care system in public and private sectors. Podiatry is an exciting profession that offers the opportunity to support and assist the wellbeing of many members of the community.

What you will study

This degree will produce podiatrists ready to practice in just three years. You can graduate a year ahead of many of your peers and step into your career sooner. Our degree provides excellent clinical experience with a varied case load to leave you well prepared for all aspects of podiatry practice on graduation.

The degree involves extensive study of anatomy, physiology and biomechanics, combined with podiatric theory and a focus on professional practise. The degree uses case-based learning and focuses on a variety of disciplines.

Campus facilities

The University of Newcastle has state of the art on campus teaching facilities including orthoses, clinical skills and research laboratories. Students are exposed to all aspects of podiatry from manufacturing orthoses and various forms of arch supports and learning basic nail surgery skills to participating in research projects and working with elite athletes such as the soccer team, Central Coast Mariners.

Clinical placements

Clinical placement is undertaken in the second and third years of the degree, and provides valuable hands on experience. Students have access to new pre-clinical facilities on campus to learn essential professional skills, then complete more than 1,000 hours of supervised practice in a variety of settings both in the University of Newcastle Podiatry Clinics and on external placement locally and nationally (in rural and regional areas) as part of the degree.

Following completion of the second year of the degree students are eligible to apply for a TAFE Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance (Podiatry) allowing them to be employed as a Podiatry Assistant during the final year of the degree. This qualification provides students with the opportunity to gain valuable clinical practice working with experienced podiatrists within their future profession.

Career opportunities

With a current shortage in Australia, podiatrists are in high demand. Podiatrists work closely with many members of the health profession from surgeons, paediatricians, dieticians, physiotherapists, general practitioners and nurses, as well as exercise physiologists. Some podiatrists focus on research or teaching and some undertake further training as podiatric surgeons, establish a private practice or work within the public health care system.

Employment may be found in a variety of urban and rural health settings, including private practices, general hospitals, rehabilitation and community health centres, sports clinics, research centres and community health centres. Podiatrists are in high demand and employment opportunities are plentiful and varied with new graduates able to pursue a number of different employment pathways both in Australia and overseas. And enjoy the benefits of a well rewarded and flexible profession.

Be recognised

This degree will produce podiatrists ready to practice in just three years, distinguishing our degree from those which run over four years.

You can graduate a year ahead of your peers and step into your career sooner!

After graduating, you will be eligible to apply for registration with the Podiatry Registration Board of Australia via the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). Please be aware that the current standard English Language Competency for registration as a practitioner in your chosen health discipline in most states of Australia is an IELTS of 7.0.

Achiever profiles