Dr Michelle Kaminski1,2,3, A/Prof Caroline Robinson4, Dr Glen Whittaker2, Dr Malia Ho3, Dr Daniel Bonanno2, Prof Shannon Munteanu2, Prof Mollie Dollinger5, Ms Sia Kazantzis6, Dr Xia Li7, Dr Ryan Causby8, Dr Mike Frecklington9, Dr Steven Walmsley10, Prof Vivienne Chuter11, Dr Sarah Casey12, Dr Matthew Cotchett2
1Department of Podiatry, Monash Health, Melbourne,, Australia, 2Discipline of Podiatry, School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Melbourne,, Australia, 3School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Monash University, Melbourne,, Australia, 4School of Allied Health, Exercise and Sports Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Albury,, Australia, 5Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley,, Australia, 6Melbourne School of Health Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne,, Australia, 7Mathematics and Statistics, School of Computing, Engineering and Mathematical Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne,, Australia, 8Allied Health and Human Performance Unit, University of South Australia, Adelaide,, Australia, 9Department of Podiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, , New Zealand, 10Discipline of Podiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane,, Australia, 11School of Health Science, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown,, Australia, 12Discipline of Podiatry, School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown,, Australia
Biography:
Dr. Michelle Kaminski is the Podiatry Research Lead at Monash Health with over 14 years of clinical and research experience in high-risk foot conditions. Michelle is also an Adjunct Lecturer at La Trobe University and an Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at Monash University. Michelle has led several large research projects in the public health and university sectors and is passionate about embedding research into clinical practice and mentoring emerging clinician-researchers. A career highlight was her involvement in developing the Australian guidelines for diabetes-related foot disease, where she served as secretary and first author of the Prevention Guideline.
Abstract:
Background:
The decline in podiatry student enrolments across Australia and New Zealand presents a workforce crisis that threatens the profession’s sustainability and the delivery of essential healthcare services to communities. Recent data highlights a limited understanding of the podiatry profession among allied health students and identifies actions to address negative stereotypes and build knowledge of the profession’s scope of practice, career opportunities, job prospects and earning potential. As part of a larger research initiative, this study explored student perspectives on marketing the podiatry profession to increase student enrolments.
Methods:
A convergent mixed methods study design was employed, including an online survey (278 podiatry students and 553 non-podiatry students responding) and two online workshops with nine first-year podiatry students. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and regression models, while qualitative data underwent inductive thematic analysis by three independent assessors.
Results:
Four over-arching themes emerged as important marketing strategies for increasing student enrolments: (i) enhance the visibility, perception, and advocacy of podiatry; (ii) emphasise holistic and diverse practice in podiatry; (iii) enable early exposure and experience of podiatry practice; (iv) improve course entry pathways and flexibility.
Conclusions:
To enhance the visibility and appeal of podiatry as a career, strategies should focus on addressing misconceptions about the discipline, expanding promotional efforts to broader audiences, leveraging relevant media platforms, reducing financial and academic barriers for prospective students, and improving study flexibility. Strengthening enrolments and reducing attrition are fundamental to ensuring the sustainability and growth of the podiatry profession in Australia and New Zealand.