APodA advocacy update: August 2026
10 Aug 2026
Representing podiatry at Senate inquiry into Support at Home
The APodA appeared before the Senate Community Affairs Committee in Brisbane on 27 July 2026 as part of its inquiry into the Support at Home program.
Chief Executive Officer Hilary Shelton, Advocacy, Policy and Research Manager Judy Powell, and APodA Podiatry Aged Care committee chair Dr Robert Mullins provided evidence on the challenges older Australians and podiatrists face in accessing and delivering care under the program.
Drawing on APodA member survey data and feedback, we highlighted the need to reduce unnecessary administrative burden, protect patient choice and continuity of care, improve pricing transparency, expand access to lower limb orthoses and medical-grade footwear, and address workforce shortages in rural and regional communities. We also called for a nationally consistent onboarding and credentialing framework for podiatrists and all allied health providers to reduce duplication and improve access to timely care.
The hearing provided an important opportunity to ensure the experiences of podiatrists and older Australians are considered as the Committee examines the implementation of the Support at Home program. We will continue to advocate for practical reforms that support timely access to podiatry care and help older Australians remain safe, mobile and independent in their own homes.
Watch the APodA team at the public hearing from 4:59:38 here >>
Keep an eye out for Support at Home updates here and join the Podiatry Aged Care (PAC) special interest group to connect, participate and access exclusive aged care resources here >>
ABC radio interview: Celebrating a win for podiatry students and the future workforce
Podiatry students are now included in the expanded Commonwealth Prac Payment Program. The Federal Government's decision to expand the program to 10 additional courses was announced on 23 July 2026, creating a positive impact on podiatry students, future podiatrists and the communities they will care for.
APodA Chief Executive Officer Hilary Shelton spoke with ABC North Queensland about the announcement, highlighting the difference this support can make for students and the future podiatry workforce.
Read more about the Commonwealth Prac Payment program for podiatry students here >>
Listen to the full ABC interview from 1:48:20 here >>
Have a question about this advocacy win or what it means for podiatry? Email advocacy@podiatry.org.au.
1. NDIS Annual Pricing Review (APR) 2026 - 2027
The APodA have completed a report on the NDIS APR 2026-2027 and the implications for podiatry. Learn more about the recent NDIS APR and how it affects podiatry.
You can get involved in advocacy by sharing the impact the APR has on your NDIS participants and practice.
Take this survey and share it with your podiatry peers. Your real-life experiences help strengthen our ongoing advocacy for you.
2. Securing the NDIS for Future Generations Bill
The inquiry into the Securing the NDIS for Future Generations Bill to improve the long-term sustainability of the NDIS has been extended for two months.
We will continue to work with the Allied Health Professions Australia (AHPA) to advocate strongly for podiatry. Read our submission to the inquiry here >>
3. NDIS roundtable
The APodA has been invited to attend two upcoming roundtables with other peak bodies in the allied health sector to represent podiatry. We will use these roundtables to highlight concerns regarding:
- podiatry pricing;
- lack of podiatry representation in the Quality Therapy Supports Pilot;
- emerging market sustainability risks; and
- the unintended consequences of the NDIS Podiatry and Foot Care Supports guideline on participant access to supports.
These forums include meeting with Grame Head, the CEO of the NDIS in August and Minister McAllister, the Minister of the NDIS, in September.
4. NDIA consultation
The NDIA is currently testing their new planning framework and looking for participants. Further information can be found here >>
Keep an eye out for NDIS updates here >>
DVA: Department of Veteran Affairs
The Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) is inviting podiatrists and other stakeholders to help shape the future of allied health services for the veteran community.
The consultation will help inform the development of new allied health arrangements announced in the 2026–27 Federal Budget. DVA is seeking feedback to help ensure future arrangements improve access to high-quality care and better meet the needs of veterans.
Consultation activities will commence from August 2026. You can register your interest to receive updates on opportunities to provide feedback, participate in discussions and contribute to the design of these reforms.
Complete DVA's Expression of Interest form to register your interest here >>
1. Contributing to the My Health Record consultation for the profession
The APodA recently contributed to the Australian Government's consultation on sharing medicines-related information from online prescribing services to My Health Record by default.
This consultation aims to help inform future digital health reforms at improving medicines safety and ensuring prescribing information is more readily available to patients, their podiatrists and other healthcare providers.
The APodA highlighted that many endorsed podiatrists face practical barriers to participating in these initiatives. Current clinical information systems commonly used by podiatrists often lack My Health Record integration and electronic prescribing capability. We also raised the unique challenges faced by endorsed podiatrists, who are one of the few health professions with prescribing rights but do not have access to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). As a result, they are not issued PBS prescriber numbers, creating additional technical barriers to using some electronic prescribing systems and participating fully in Australia's evolving digital medicines ecosystem.
If you have any feedback on how My Health Record reforms can better support your patients and care, please email advocacy@podiatry.org.au.
2. Survey
The Australian Digital Health Agency is inviting health practitioners to complete a short survey on Real-time Prescription Monitoring (RTPM). The survey seeks feedback on how RTPM is used in practice, including its integration with clinical workflows and its role in supporting safer prescribing and dispensing decisions.
Feedback will help inform ongoing improvements to RTPM and ensure the system continues to support safer medicines use across Australia.
The survey takes approximately 15 minutes to complete and is open until 18 September 2026.
Access the survey here >>
Reminder: Check the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods
APodA would like to remind members to check whether therapeutic goods are included in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) before purchasing, importing or using them in practice.
If you are unsure whether a therapeutic good is required to be included in the ARTG, or have questions about your obligations, please contact the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) on 1800 020 653 for guidance.
Checking the ARTG before sourcing therapeutic goods helps ensure products meet Australia's regulatory requirements, supports patient safety, and reduces the risk of inadvertently using or importing unapproved therapeutic goods
You can also read the latest TGA news update here >>
New Australian Open Disclosure Framework released
The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care has released the Australian Open Disclosure Framework - Better communication, for better care (June 2026), along with the supporting fact sheet, Open disclosure - when and how to do it.
The Framework provides a nationally consistent approach to communicating with patients when healthcare does not go to plan and now applies across all Australian healthcare settings, including allied health professionals such as podiatrists.
The updated Framework has a stronger focus on:
- Open, honest and timely communication.
- Person-centred care and meaningful apologies.
- Learning from incidents to improve patient safety and quality of care.
We encourage members to familiarise themselves with the updated Framework and supporting resources.
More information
Access the Framework and supporting fact sheet here >>
Ahpra updates
1. Revised Criminal History Registration Standard now in effect
The revised Criminal history registration standard is now in effect, following its commencement on 15 July 2026.
The standard guides the National Boards in assessing how a person's criminal history may be relevant to their suitability for registration as a health practitioner. The primary considerations remain the protection of the public and maintaining confidence in the safe practice of registered health practitioners.
Alongside the revised standard, Ahpra and the National Boards have also released a Guide to the application of the Criminal history registration standard, as well as supporting information for registered practitioners, students, applicants and the public to help explain how the standard is applied.
Members can access the revised registration standard, guidance and supporting resources on the Ahpra website here >>
2. Updated health records guidelines now in effect
The Podiatry Board of Australia’s updated Guidelines on health records came into effect on 28 July 2026, replacing the former Guidelines on clinical records.
The updated guidelines reinforce existing record-keeping requirements and provide contemporary guidance on privacy, confidentiality, documentation and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in health record keeping.
All registered podiatrists and podiatric surgeons are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the updated guidelines here >>
<< Back to latest news