Your feet have questions. We’ve got answers!

Frequently Asked Questions: 

1. What does a podiatrist do?

Podiatrists are foot and lower limb specialists. We diagnose, treat, and prevent a wide range of conditions—everything from heel pain and sports injuries to skin issues, ingrown toenails, diabetic foot care, and custom orthotics.

 

2. Do I need a referral to see a podiatrist?

No referral is needed for private appointments. However, if you’re accessing care through Medicare, DVA, or NDIS, you may need a referral from your GP.

 

3. Can podiatrists treat children?

Absolutely. We treat common childhood concerns like flat feet, in-toeing, toe walking, heel pain (Sever’s), and developmental walking delays.

 

4. Can you help with knee, hip, or back pain?

Yes! Often these pains are linked to poor foot alignment or biomechanics. We assess your gait and posture to treat the cause—not just the symptoms.

 

5. What’s the difference between custom and off-the-shelf orthotics?

Custom orthotics are tailored to your exact foot shape and needs using 3D scans. Off-the-shelf orthotics are pre-made and best for mild, general support.

 

6. Do you cut toenails and remove calluses?

Yes! This is part of general foot care. We safely treat thick nails, calluses, corns, cracked heels, and fungal nails—especially important for elderly or diabetic patients.

 

7. Can you help with ingrown toenails?

Yes. We offer both conservative care and permanent surgical solutions using partial nail avulsion with or without phenolisation.

 

8. Do you treat fungal nail infections?

We sure do. We offer accurate diagnosis, effective topical treatments, oral medication referrals, and debridement for thickened nails.

 

9. How do I know if I need orthotics?

If you experience pain in your feet, ankles, knees or lower back—or if you’re always wearing out one side of your shoes—an orthotic assessment may be helpful.

 

10. What kind of shoes should I be wearing?

Supportive, cushioned, activity-appropriate footwear. We can recommend specific brands, styles, and modifications based on your needs and gait.

 

11. How long do orthotics last?

Typically 1–5 years, depending on materials, usage, and activity level. Top covers may need replacing earlier.

 

12. Is it normal for my child to walk on their toes or with feet turned in?

It can be part of development—but it’s worth assessing, especially if it persists beyond age 3, causes tripping, or seems painful.

 

13. Do you do diabetic foot assessments?

Yes. We provide full vascular, neurological and dermatological foot health checks for diabetes management and prevention of serious complications.

 

14. Can you help with warts or plantar verrucae?

Yes. We offer painless, professional treatments to remove stubborn plantar warts, including debridement, acids, and occlusion therapy.

 

15. Do you bulk bill?

We do not bulk bill the Medicare Chronic Disease Management (CDM) plans. We charge the clinic fee of $75 and you will receive the rebate of $60.35 from Medicare within 24 hours after the appointment. If you don’t receive your rebate within 24 hours please call 0422389652 and we will guide you in the right direction.

 

16. How can I make sure my bank details are lodged with Medicare? 

Call the patient Medicare line on 132011 and after verifying yourself you can check or update your bank details. Note: This is a 24 hour service so you are better to call them when it’s not business hours to save you waiting on hold. 

 

17. How can I see if I have any remaining EPCs left in the calendar year?

Call the patient Medicare line on 132011 and ask if you have any EPC visits remaining for the current year. They can provide you with this information on the spot.

 

18. If I am with DVA will it cover Podiatry visits? 

If you are a gold card holder we require a referral from your GP which is valid for 12 visits in one calendar year. If you are a White Card Holder you will need to find out if you will be covered for Podiatry visits – if so we require a referral from your GP.

 

19. Does Private Health cover Podiatry? 

All private health funds and covers are different. Your private health fund may cover part of the appointment and other costs that may be associated with the appointment.  Best thing to do is to call your health fund to find out any details in regards to your rebate.

Common codes used are:

• F004 – Initial Consultation

• F012 – Subsequest Consultation

• F118 – Biomechanical Examination

• F301 – 3D Scan (x 2: left and right)

• F221 – Orthotic (x 2: left and right)

• F546 – Ingrown Toenail Surgery (single edge)

• F548 – Ingrown Toenail Surgery (additional edge)

 If you need further item codes and prices to quote to your health fund, please give us a call or text on 0422 389 652, or email on info@toetalpodiatry.com.au 

 

20. Do you have a HICAPS machine on site to do instant claiming? 

We have a HICAPS machine at the following locations: Tarragindi, Upper Mount Gravatt, Salisbury Medical Centre and Acacia Ridge.

At Morningside you will receive an invoice for you to claim manually through your health fund.

 

21. What do I do before my First Podiatry Appointment? 

Please be sure to complete our New Patient Form which would have been sent via an email link after booking the appointment.  If you haven’t received this email please contact us to send it to you.

If you can’t fill this in please arrive to your appointment time 10 minutes earlier to fill it out manually.

 

22. What should I bring to my Podiatry Appointment? 

This depends on what you are seeing us for. 

If you are coming for footwear advice; please bring a few of your most common shoes you wear regularly! 

23. Do you treat sports injuries?

Absolutely. We specialise in treating and preventing running injuries, overuse issues, tendinopathies, and stress-related injuries of the foot and leg.

 

24. Can you treat corns and calluses permanently?

We can provide long-term relief and prevention by addressing the underlying cause—often with footwear advice, padding, or orthotics.

 

25. How do I book an appointment?

Easy! Call the specific location you’d like to go to (can be found on our locations tab, call us on 0422 389 652, or email info@toetalpodiatry.com.au

 

26. What’s the difference between a podiatrist and a physiotherapist?

Podiatrists specialise specifically in the feet and lower limbs and are trained in dermatology, orthotics, surgery, and diabetic care. Physios take a broader approach across the whole body but may refer to us for targeted lower limb issues.

 

27. Why is foot pain worse in the morning?

Common in conditions like plantar fasciitis or Achilles tendinopathy. The tissues tighten overnight—treatment often includes stretching, footwear, and orthotics.

 

From your team at Toe-tal Podiatry.

We keep you one step ahead!