It’s Foot Health Week!

In celebration of Foot Health Week, we sat down with Rocky Bay’s newest podiatrist, Jaclyn, to learn more about her Podiatry career, the importance of foot health and what she’s looking forward to achieving at Rocky Bay.

Jac has seven years of experience working rurally across Queensland and Western Australia, mainly in hospitals.

“I started my career in the middle of south-west QLD. It was incredibly rural, and I travelled to different sites to deliver podiatry services,” Jac says. 

Jac’s next move was toward Townsville and Cairns, working in high-risk foot clinics within multidisciplinary teams.

 “I’ve also done project work, like steering committee podiatry workforce development looking at poditrists interests in QLD – what they are interested/invested in and whether they’re getting proper support /supervision,” Jac says.

This work also extended to collaborating with Allied Health Assistants to conduct foot health screenings in rural centres.

Now at Rocky Bay, she is embracing a new challenge of working with children and a broader demographic.

“I’m enjoying the challenge of applying the same skills in a different environment,” Jac says.

What she enjoys most about Podiatry is the opportunity to give people the confidence and accessibility to live the kind of life they want.

“Your foot health can hold you back from opportunities in life, it can be such a restriction on your life and goals if something happens to your feet,” Jac says.

 “Giving people the confidence to achieve their goals safely, with as much support as they need, is what I love.”

Looking forward, she hopes to grow the podiatry services at Rocky Bay.

“I’ve always been in positions where I’ve helped build services. When I moved to Townsville , I was the only podiatrist at the hospital, so I built the service from there,” Jac says.

Jac is passionate about making podiatry services more accessible and ensuring that people can see a podiatrist when needed.

On the importance of looking after your foot health, Jac says everyone is different, and foot health is a broad spectrum.

“If your feet aren’t causing problems, that’s great, but if you fall into high-risk categories, like having diabetes, foot pain or falls, more frequent visits may be necessary,” Jac says.

Jac highlights the direct connection between foot health and mental well-being.

“There’s a research-based link between high-risk foot conditions and mental health issues like depression and anxiety,” Jac says.

“If something limits your ability to fully participate in life – whether it’s pain or discomfort – it impacts your mental state,” Jac says.

Jac offers two essential tips for maintaining foot health:

1. Daily Foot Checks: Check your feet every day – tops and bottoms. Whether it’s after a run or when taking your shoes off, a visual assessment can catch problems early. Early intervention is key.
2. Proper Footwear: “Make sure your shoes fit well – they need to be wide and deep enough to accommodate your feet. Don’t forget velcro straps or laces for a good fit every day.

These simple practices can prevent a host of foot-related problems down the line!

Outside of work, Jac is an avid runner and gushes over her rescue American Staffy.

“Taking her to the park or pond is one of my favourite things to do,” she says.

With a wealth of experience Rocky Bay’s newest podiatrist is excited to bring her expertise to the community, helping people maintain their foot health and achieve goals with confidence.

To find out more about accessing Podiatry services at Rocky Bay, head here: https://www.rockybay.org.au/services/health-wellness/podiatry/