Surgical Podiatrist, Dr Andrew van Essen AM, has been recognised as a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to podiatry and podiatric surgery.
Spanning more than four decades, Andrew’s career reflects clinical expertise, advocacy, education and humanitarian service, while influencing professional standards, training and patient care both nationally and internationally across the profession and broader health sector.
Recently notified by the Secretary to the Governor-General of his Member of the Order of Australia, South Australian surgical podiatrist Dr Andrew van Essen AM encouraged other podiatry professionals to nominate a peer in future.
“While humbled and grateful, I acknowledge that what I have achieved for the profession and our patients has not occurred in isolation,” says Andrew, who has also practised in Darwin for the past 20 years. “Many other people have also made significant contributions to the profession and their communities. I would encourage others to nominate someone, as it is an important way to acknowledge their service and may inspire other members of our profession to contribute as well.”
The following biography serves to honour Dr Andrew van Essen AM, whose work has helped shape the evolution of podiatry and podiatric surgery in Australia while improving quality of life for patients and communities both nationally and internationally.
Entering podiatry in 1980, at a time when education remained largely outside the university sector and the profession had a limited scope of practice, Andrew quickly became involved in professional leadership.
He served as President of the South Australian branch of the Australian Podiatry Association before becoming, at age 30, the youngest National President of the Australian Podiatry Council in 1991.
During his tenure as national president, Andrew and the Council helped stabilise and modernise the profession during a period of significant change. Key achievements included chairing the committee that developed the first Competency Standards for Podiatry, which laid the foundation for accreditation of podiatry education programs through the establishment of the Australian and New Zealand Podiatry Accreditation Committee (ANZPAC). Andrew also successfully advocated for podiatrists’ radiology referral rights, expanded payments from private health insurers and the DVA for podiatry services beyond a consultation fee – and established the Australian Podiatry Education and Research Foundation (APERF), which he chaired for the next 20 years.
Andrew also contributed to the advocacy for transition of podiatry education into university-based degree programs across Australia, and to podiatry becoming a registered profession in every Australian state and territory prior to the establishment of Ahpra and national registration.
Natalie Policki, Membership and Education Manager at the Australian Podiatry Association, reflects on Andrew’s passion for advocacy. “Many of us know Andrew not only for what he has achieved, but for the way he has achieved it,” Natalie says. “He has given his time generously to committees, boards, education programs, students, colleagues and emerging leaders. He has been a strong advocate for the profession, a champion of high professional standards, and someone who has consistently looked for ways to move podiatry forward.”
Andrew later played a key role in professional regulation in South Australia, chairing the Podiatry Registration Board and helping develop the Podiatry Practice Act 2005, which introduced Australia’s first separate register and therefore legislative recognition of podiatric surgery. He continued his contribution to professional regulation through six years of service on the Podiatry Board of Australia.
Alongside his leadership roles, Andrew developed skills in paediatric podiatry and was involved in running a series of conferences on paediatric podiatry. He was also given an honorary position at the Regency Park Centre for the Young Disabled, where he worked alongside physiotherapists, orthotists and paediatricians.
Andrew completed specialist surgical training with the Australasian College of Podiatric Surgeons (ACPS), attaining Fellowship in 1994. Over more than two decades on the College Council, including service as Vice President, Andrew also mentored and trained future generations of podiatrists and surgical podiatrists through course advisory committees. He also aided in the development of undergraduate and postgraduate programs and mentored through teaching roles with the University of South Australia and the College’s surgical training program.
Internationally, Andrew has had a significant influence in sports medicine, paediatric podiatry and humanitarian outreach. Since the 1990s, he has lectured extensively in Japan to the Japanese Athletic Trainers Association and various universities, specifically to sport science students, helping introduce podiatric sports medicine concepts in a country where podiatry does not formally exist as a profession. He was awarded a Fellowship of Sports Medicine Australia in recognition of his contribution to sports medicine and volunteered as a podiatrist at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.
One of Andrew’s most enduring humanitarian achievements was co-founding the “Feet for Walking” clubfoot project in Vietnam. Combining his expertise in paediatric podiatry and surgery, he helped establish a program for the early detection and management of clubfoot in children. Through repeated volunteer surgical missions and international collaboration, the initiative created a legacy in Vietnam, which contributed to the further development of other clubfoot programs internationally.
In recognition of his clinical and professional achievements, Andrew was awarded Fellowship of the Faculty of Podiatric Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. He has also contributed extensively to medico-legal work in Australia and New Zealand and mentored practitioners returning to practice.
Natalie Policki further reflects on the impact of Andrew’s professional achievements. “For the podiatry profession in Australia, Andrew represents so much of what we value: leadership, generosity, service, professionalism, and a willingness to contribute to something bigger than ourselves,” she says. “He is part of the story of where podiatry has come from, and he has helped shape the profession we are proud to represent today.”
Outside of his professional career, Andrew has been a supporter of the arts and cultural organisations through philanthropy and fundraising, has run multiple international marathons and has competed in yacht racing at an elite level, including ocean races and regattas such as the Sydney-Hobart, Fastnet, and Cowes Week in the United Kingdom.
Andrew van Essen’s career reflects a balance of professional and personal endeavours, with a lifelong commitment to leadership, education, service and the advancement of podiatry and podiatric surgery in Australia and internationally.
© Copyright 2021 The Australian Podiatry Association
