Ms Natalie Morgan1, Ms Courtney Hammond1, Ms Beth Tiernan2, A/Prof Kim Morey1
1SAHMRI, Adelaide, Australia, 2University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
Biography:
Natalie holds the position of Podiatrist for the Walk Strong, Walk Tall program. Natalie holds a Bachelor of Podiatry, and 30 years' experience. Natalie is passionate about sharing her knowledge with others outside of Podiatry to improve foot health for community members experiencing Diabetes.
Abstract:
Courtney Hammond is an Eastern Arrernte and Tanganekald woman with ties to Country in lower South East of South Australia and Central Australia. She is the Community Engagement and Education Officer, Walk Strong, Walk Tall program. She holds a Bachelor of Health and Medical Sciences, and a Master of Public Health from The University of Adelaide.
The program targets non-podiatry clinicians, offering training that is adapted to the needs of individual workplaces; mainly directed at Aboriginal health practitioners but is open to all clinicians involved in diabetic foot care. The training involves mixed methods to cater to diverse learning styles and workplace contexts. It is also aligned with quality improvement initiative in clinical units. Pre- and post-training surveys assess the changes in participants’ knowledge and confidence regarding DRFD care.
To enhance the impact, the training content has been modified to meet the Australian skills framework requirements. A partnership with a registered training organisation has enabled the certification of participants in basic foot care (CHCCCS032), which is available as an elective in various healthcare qualification courses.
Results: Over the past six months, 14 training sessions were conducted, with participants reporting significant improvements in knowledge and confidence. As of 2025, Australian skills framework accredited training will be delivered, providing nationally recognised certification, with early results able to be shared at the conference.
Conclusions: The WSWT workforce training program demonstrates strong interest from non-podiatry clinicians in contributing to DRFD care, recognising their role in multidisciplinary teams to improve healthcare outcomes, particularly for rural and remote communities. This training helps bridge healthcare gaps, complementing podiatry by supporting a collaborative, community-focused approach to care, enabling community members’ foot health self-care, and access to appropriate clinical assessment and management locally.