Are you a final year podiatry student or new graduate? The Australian Podiatry Association is in your corner; starting with free membership.
First of all, congratulations on reaching (or having already reached) a massive milestone. You’ve worked hard at uni, and so many opportunities are just waiting for you. But for now, let’s focus on the details that can help to support you; no matter which stage you’re at.
Congratulations! It’s nearly time to celebrate.
Do you know about the Australian Podiatry Association’s (APodA’s) FREE six-month graduate membership offering? This gift enables to you to access a range of member benefits and resources, including discounts to events and networking opportunities until 30 June 2025. It’s about giving you the best chance to succeed, equipped with all the latest tools and resources.
If you want to continue on as a paid member, you’re very welcome to – but this first step is about supporting you to learn the lay of the land as a podiatrist (as quickly and easily as possible).
Well done on reaching this massive milestone! Those late nights of study have paid off and now you are about to be paid to do what you love.
If you don’t already have free APodA graduate membership, flick to the above section and get onto it ASAP. Next, dive into APodA’s New Graduate Handbook. This gem of a guide will help you access exactly what you need, right when you need it.
So many of your questions are covered in this valuable handbook. Want to know how to register your provider number? Keen to understand how all the different representative bodies fit together? Figuring out what kind of CPD might suit you? Confused about what additional service representations you might need? It’s all in the New Graduate Handbook, ready and waiting for you.
Things are getting pretty serious now (and very exciting!).
Your first port of call should be the Australian Podiatry Association’s classifieds. As a member, you can access the latest job opportunities across Australia. And you can post job opportunities yourself for free – maybe you are setting up your own practice and you’re ready to hire!
No matter which side of the hiring fence you’re sat on, it’s all there in the classifieds.
Nothing beats real life experience though; to hear from those who have gone before. This is where ‘A graduate’s guide to job interviews’ can help you out.
Written from the perspective of an interviewer and an interviewee, APodA has sat down with two professionals to learn about their interview experiences. These personal accounts provide a stack of learning opportunities for your next job interview – what to say, what not to say (!), and how to prepare.
If you secured your first role, well done on making this transition. Now is the time to confirm when your free graduate membership runs out. Chances are, it will run out soon. So, get ready to transition your free graduate membership across to a first-year professional category.
Sitting on the fence? Read up on why APodA membership is always a good idea. Or call or email the member services team to troubleshoot any membership questions you may have (and learn about different payment options).
If all of these avenues have been explored, it’s time to make the most of your membership opportunities.
After all of this, it’s time to put your feet up and reflect on how much impressive ground you have covered. YOU made these major life events happen, and we at the Australian Podiatry Association couldn’t be more proud. So let us support you (and celebrate you!), no matter where you are at in your career.
While this chapter of your life is new and exciting; like any change, it can bring its own challenges.
As a member of the APodA you have access to free and confidential 24/7 counselling in a way that works for you – by phone, in person, you name it. Not only can this be a great way to practice self-care, but it may also be an important investment in yourself. Make sure you have your free membership already in place before you access this service and check out this related STRIDE article on, ‘How to access confidential support as a podiatrist’.
If there’s one insight to take from this article, it is knowing that the APodA has got your back. Regardless of whether you’re in a great stage of your career or you’ve hit a rough patch, we are here for you every step of the way.
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