APodA advocacy update: January 2026
27 Jan 2026
Media coverage: Stepping into the national spotlight
This year’s Back to School campaign reached new heights, with APodA taking centre stage on national television.
CEO Hilary Shelton shared simple, evidence based foot health tips on Channel 7 and WIN TV, helping families across Australia start the school year on the right foot. Thank you to everyone who helped amplify this important message nationwide.
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS): Pushing for a fair go for podiatry
The APodA is actively advocating in Canberra to secure PBS access for endorsed podiatrists, reducing delays, duplication and out‑of‑pocket costs for patients. We’ve lodged our case with the Department of Health, engaged MPs and Senators across Parliament, and requested a Senate hearing to put the profession’s evidence on record.
This change is simple, sensible and overdue. Endorsed podiatrists are already trained and regulated, yet patients must currently pay privately or see another prescriber to access PBS pricing. Aligning podiatry with the current prescribing reforms is a practical fix that improves access, especially in regional and remote communities.
The APodA will keep members updated as the Bill progresses.
NDIS: Your voice can shape the future of care
Several major NDIS consultations are now underway, and the APodA is preparing submissions to ensure podiatry is strongly represented.
If you’d like to contribute your insights, contact advocacy@podiatry.org.au.
1. 2025–26 Annual Pricing Review
The NDIS is reviewing:
- Differentiated pricing for service delivery
- Therapy supports and how they are delivered
You can share your feedback by completing the NDIS survey, assisting APodA with our submission, or lodging your own. More information can be found here.
This Consultation closes 8 February 2026.
2. Getting It Right: New Definition for NDIS Providers
This consultation explores:
- Definition of a NDIS provider
- Registration of providers based on the risk of the supports they provide
- Impacts of a new provider definition on a new registration model
- Proposed obligations for registered NDIS providers
This work may influence a future Universal Registration approach across government. Further information about this Consultation can be found here.
This Consultation will close 28 February 2026.
3. I-CAN Assessment Tool
In mid-2026, the NDIS will introduce a Needs Assessment Tool: the Instrument for Classification and Assessment of Support Needs (I-CAN) version 6. The tool has been developed by the Centre of Disability Studies (CDS).
More information on the I-CAN tool can be found here.
Podiatrists are not currently included in the list of allied health clinicians eligible to become I-CAN assessors.
APodA are in contact with the Centre of Disability Studies and are advocating for podiatrists to be included as eligible assessors.
In the meantime, if you are interested in becoming an assessor, you can contact the Centre of Disability Studies directly here.
Aged care: Stay informed on aged care reform
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has released the recording and slides from its recent webinar on Associated Providers under the Aged Care Act 2025. It’s a valuable overview of upcoming changes and what they mean for your practice.
The webinar recording can be found here, and the presentation slides can be found here.
Department of Veteran Affaris (DVA): Faster access and less red tape for veteran care
The DVA is streamlining its claiming processes to help veterans access treatment sooner and reduce administrative pressure on providers. From 1 January 2026, selected services will no longer require prior financial approval for eligible Veteran Card holders.
A new podiatry item, F118 Neurological Diabetes Foot Assessment ($94.60), has also been added to the Podiatrists Schedule of Fees and can be claimed through standard channels. Updated fee information is available on the DVA website here.
The DVA has shared further details in its latest Provider News update.
Infection control: Strengthening safe practice through new infection control guidance
The Podiatry Board of Australia has refreshed its approach to infection prevention and control, replacing its previous guidelines and audit tool with new guidance and a self‑reflection tool designed to better support practitioners in delivering safe, evidence based care.
These updated resources aim to help practitioners:
- understand their regulatory obligations
- access reliable, relevant information
- reflect on their own practice
- identify opportunities for improvement
While the expectation to practise safely and minimise infection risk remains unchanged, the Board is moving away from prescriptive rules. Practitioners are now encouraged to apply professional judgment and a risk based approach, ensuring their processes are appropriate for their practice setting and grounded in current evidence.
The APodA has developed additional resources to support members, including customised infection control policies and procedures (for members only).
Have your say on the future of personalised medical devices
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is seeking feedback on proposed updates to conformity assessment requirements for medical devices, including personalised devices such as custom‑made orthoses. This consultation is an important opportunity to help shape a clearer, more streamlined, and internationally aligned regulatory framework.
These proposed changes aim to:
- simplify and clarify conformity assessment processes
- align Australia’s framework with global standards
- strengthen expectations around quality systems and design controls
- improve clinical evidence and post‑market monitoring requirements
If you are an APodA member involved in manufacturing personalised medical devices, you are encouraged to review the consultation and share your insights.
This Consultation closes on 27 February 2026.
NSW Health Update: Strengthening diabetes care pathways in NSW
NSW Health will begin implementing new Diabetes Specialist Referral Criteria (SRC) from 24 March 2026, helping ensure people with diabetes are referred to specialist care at the right time and in the right way.
A three‑month transition period (to 20 June 2026) will support Local Health Districts and Specialty Health Networks to embed the SRC into:
- specialist outpatient referral screening and triage
- HealthPathways
- electronic referral (e‑Referral) systems, where appropriate
The SRC will also be published on the NSW Health website to guide clinicians in determining when specialist referral is required for the conditions it covers.
Further information can be found on the NSW Health outpatient referrals section of the NSW Health website.
For enquiries, please email: MOH-Outpatients@health.nsw.gov.au
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