Former podiatrist fined over "quite brazen" offending that included a TV appearance

A New South Wales man has been convicted and fined $6000 (and ordered to pay Ahpra’s legal costs of $8831) for falsely holding himself out as a registered health practitioner after his registration was suspended, in February 2024, by the Podiatry Council of NSW. Ahpra prosecuted the man who continued working and promoting his work for 18 months; this promotion included platforms such as social media and a nationally broadcast television program.

As heard in the Parramatta Local Court, the man was introduced as a podiatrist on the television program and gave advice about a range of podiatric conditions. Ahpra CEO Justin Untersteiner said the case prompted the regulator to last year write to media organisations urging them to check the Register of practitioners before promoting anyone who claimed to be authorised or qualified to practise in a health profession.

“Ahpra maintains a national register of nearly 1 million practitioners across 16 professions that anyone can check at any time,” Untersteiner said. “The register lists every practitioner who is authorised and qualified to practise in Australia. It also shows when a practitioner has been suspended or had restrictions or conditions placed on their registration to protect the public. The register is vitally important for transparency and for maintaining trust in the professions.”

Regarding the patients the man treated, Ahpra said many were vulnerable, including children, individuals with intellectual disability — who were non-verbal or had reduced capacity to communicate — and with impaired mobility. During this period, Ahpra said there is no suggestion any patients were harmed.

The man pleaded guilty to holding himself out as registered podiatrist whilst unregistered in court on 15 October. The early guilty plea was noted by Judge Catherine Follent, but Follent also said the man’s offending was “objectively serious”, “quite brazen” and continued “over a prolonged period”.

There are more than 6100 registered podiatrists in Australia, Ahpra advised. Anyone wanting to check the status of a practitioner, or someone claiming to be registered, should search the Register of practitioners and raise any concerns with Ahpra.

Image credit: iStock.com/claudiodivizia