Podiatry

part of KDGP’s Allied Health Program

Kimberley Podiatry Service

The focus of the KDGP podiatry service is primary health care, with an emphasis on people with foot complications as a result of chronic disease and foot ulceration, and capacity building for health staff involved in the care of these clients.

Services provided include the following:

  • Individual Podiatry consultations
  • Foot wound care – care planning, wound care, client and staff education
  • Specialist Footwear and orthotic prescription and issue (via CAEP)
  • Minor nail surgery
  • Group programs for clients – Indigenous Diabetic Foot education, Basic Foot Care workshops
  • Training, in-servicing and mentoring of Aboriginal Health Workers, Allied Health Staff, Medical and Nursing Staff
  • Regionally specific resource development

Brydie Donnelly and Lesley Newcombe are the two podiatrists currently employed by the KDGP, both are based in Broome, and service the entire Kimberley region.

Broome:

  • Broome Medical Clinic
  • Broome aged care and HACC services
  • Broome Regional Aboriginal Medical Service (BRAMS)
  • Kimberley Satellite Dialysis Centre (KSDC)
  • Communities of Bidyadanga, Beagle Bay, Lombadina and One Arm Point

Derby:

  • Derby Hospital Outpatients
  • Derby Aboriginal Health Service (DAHS)
  • Derby aged care and HACC services

Fitzroy Crossing:

  • Fitzroy Valley Hospital Outpatients
  • Wankatjunka community clinic
  • Bayulu community clinic
  • HACC and aged care services

Kununurra:

  • Ord Valley Aboriginal Health Service (OVAHS)
  • Kununurra District Hospital Outpatients
  • Kununurra Aged Care Services
  • Communities of Kalumburu and Oombulgurri
  • Wyndham HACC and Aged Care Services
  • Wyndham District Hospital Outpatients

Halls Creek:

  • Yura Yungi Aboriginal Medical Service
  • HACC and aged care services
  • Warmun Community clinic and aged care service

Less frequent services are provided at the following locations throughout the Kimberley;

  • Noonkanbah
  • Looma
  • Balgo
  • Billiluna
  • Mulan

Individual consultations, group sessions, training, community liaison, support and education are also provided at in various remote communities throughout the Kimberley.

A range of skills are employed by podiatrists. Direct consultations include a clinical history composition, physical examination, and diagnosis, preparation of a treatment plan and provision of a range of therapies. Clinical assessment techniques aim to secure a diagnosis and prognosis and take into account clinical, medical and surgical history, footwear, occupational and lifestyle factors, and may incorporate the use of diagnostic equipment such as vascular scopes or radiology. Gait analysis will often be undertaken through visual or computerized means and might include range of motion studies, postural alignment evaluation or dynamic force and pressure studies.