STRIDE: July 2026

STRIDE July 2026 | What’s on podiatrists’ minds right now

This issue focuses on what impacts your practice. It covers what your patients can access and pay for, how you structure your clinic, make clinical decisions, and approach your role as a podiatrist.

Here’s a round-up of this month’s articles.

PBS update for podiatrists
If you’ve ever had to explain why a patient may face higher out-of-pocket medication costs when receiving care from an endorsed podiatrist, this is worth reading. It explains how the APodA’s PBS campaign gained momentum since March STRIDE’s update, including expanded advocacy efforts, growing parliamentary engagement, and support from members across the country.

In focus: NDIS, Medicare, aged care, DVA, regulation and workforce
If you’re trying to keep track of where things are heading right now across policy and funding, this update brings it together. It outlines how APodA’s advocacy is being driven, and what that means across key areas including the NDIS, Medicare, aged care and DVA. The common thread is a push for equitable access and recognition of podiatry’s role within the broader health system.

Recognising a lifetime of leadership in podiatry
This article is a reminder of how much the profession has changed – and how that change actually happens. Recently recognised as a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to podiatry and podiatric surgery, Dr Andrew van Essen’s career shows what long-term contribution can look like. Covering a range of areas, from advocacy and regulation to education and patient care, this piece offers a prompt to think about people like yourself who shape the profession in many ways.

Hypermobility – the difference podiatrists can make
Alex Murray – sports podiatrist and rehabilitation coach – makes a strong case for recognising Hypermobile Spectrum Disorder (HSD) / Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS).  A committee member of the Australian Podiatry Association’s Musculoskeletal Special Interest Group, Alex delivers this first article in a compelling three-part series which implores podiatrists to leverage their skills with this often-overlooked group of people. This practical piece demonstrates how better listening, screening, and referral can help podiatrists make a significant difference to someone’s life.

Embedding antimicrobial stewardship into everyday practice
If you prescribe, review medications, or have ever wondered whether you are choosing the right option, this piece is an important read. It reframes antimicrobial stewardship as something you are already doing, but with room to tighten your decision-making around safety, effectiveness and patient understanding. The advice on counselling alone is immediately usable in clinic, especially when it comes to helping patients follow through with treatment. APodA members are encouraged to watch the full webinar, which is linked in this article.

The potential of podiatrists in chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy | Part Two
If you see patients with cancer histories, current cancer diagnoses, or want to better understand where podiatry fits in oncology care, this is worth reading. Following Part One’s introduction to this issue, this month’s article gives clear and practical ways to step into that role. This includes educating patients, communicating with oncologists and GPs, and identifying where referrals are being missed. It also highlights a significant gap between patient need and podiatry involvement, making it clear where opportunities exist.

Rethinking what a career in podiatry can look like
In advance of her upcoming Business in Focus PDS keynote session in Kingscliff, Odette Blacklock – podiatrist, former Survivor contestant and world champion barefoot beach sprinter – shares a powerful and personal story. Her career shows how clinical work, movement, education and personal experience can intersect in ways that create new opportunities through and beyond podiatry.

Bringing a marketing mindset into your clinic
Joining Odette and a line-up of incredible leaders also in Kingscliff this August, Leanne Hughes offers a unique take on how to make marketing work for you – without you having to do more work. If marketing feels like something you don’t have time for, this article shows how small shifts can make a big difference.

Employee or contractor? Getting the structure right in your clinic
If you run a clinic or are involved in hiring, this member-only article makes for essential reading. It explains, in practical terms, the latest insights on how to tell whether someone is a contractor or an employee – and why getting that wrong can create real risk. The examples of where clinics drift into non-compliant arrangements are particularly useful if you want to sense-check your current setup.

Tax time: what to check before you lodge
The Australian Taxation Office delivers this article to help you cut through the noise around tax time and focuses on what actually matters: using reliable information, keeping records, and avoiding common mistakes that can lead to amendments later. If you’ve seen conflicting advice online, this gives you a clear place to reset and check your approach.

I hope this issue gives you something practical to take back into your clinic and helps you to make sense of the changes happening around you.

Andy Cook
President