One of the most common questions we hear at People Podiatry — on the phone, at home visits and in the clinic — is some version of: “Do I need to see my GP first?” The short answer is no, you do not need a referral to see a podiatrist in Australia. Podiatrists are primary healthcare practitioners, which means you can simply book an appointment, the same way you would with a dentist or an optometrist. There are, however, a few important situations where a GP referral unlocks funding — and knowing them can save you real money. This guide covers all of it.
The short answer: book directly, no referral needed
In every Australian state and territory, you can make a podiatry appointment without any referral, letter or care plan. This applies to:
- Routine skin and nail care — nail cutting, corns, calluses, cracked heels;
- Foot, heel and arch pain assessments;
- Ingrown toenail treatment;
- Diabetic foot checks;
- Children’s foot concerns;
- Home visit podiatry for seniors and people who cannot travel.
If your feet are bothering you today, you can call People Podiatry Australia on 08 9297 4800 (clinic) or 0415 708 817 (home visits) and book straight in — no paperwork required.
When a referral or care plan IS worth getting
While you never need a referral to be treated, four funding pathways require GP or specialist involvement. If you qualify, the savings are significant.
1. Medicare rebates through a Chronic Disease Management (CDM) plan
Medicare does not cover podiatry for the general public. The exception is the Chronic Disease Management program (you may know it by its old name, an EPC or Enhanced Primary Care plan). If you have a chronic medical condition that has lasted — or is expected to last — six months or more (for example diabetes, arthritis or a chronic musculoskeletal condition), your GP can prepare a CDM plan allocating you up to five Medicare-rebated allied health visits per calendar year, which can be used for podiatry.
How it works in practice:
- Book a longer appointment with your GP and ask whether a CDM plan suits your situation;
- Your GP creates the plan and refers you to a podiatrist — you can nominate People Podiatry by name;
- You attend your podiatry visits and claim the Medicare rebate for each one (many clinics process this on the spot);
- The rebate covers a substantial part of each visit fee; any gap is your out-of-pocket cost.
2. DVA — Department of Veterans’ Affairs
Veterans holding a Gold Card — or a White Card where foot care relates to an accepted condition — can access podiatry fully funded by DVA, including home visits where clinically necessary. This pathway does require a GP referral (a D904 referral form), which is then valid for an extended treatment cycle.
3. Home Care Packages and Support at Home
Older Australians receiving a Home Care Package can generally fund podiatry — including home visit podiatry — directly from their package budget. Strictly speaking this is not a “referral”, but it does require your care coordinator to approve the service. As aged care transitions to the Support at Home program, podiatry remains a supported allied health category. People Podiatry works with package providers across Perth and can invoice them directly.
4. NDIS participants
If your NDIS plan includes allied health or capacity-building supports relevant to foot health and mobility, podiatry can be funded through your plan — self-managed, plan-managed or agency-managed. Again, no medical referral is needed, but the service must align with your plan goals.
What about private health insurance?
No referral needed. If your extras cover includes podiatry, simply attend your appointment and claim through your fund — most clinics, including ours, can process HICAPS claims on the spot so you only pay the gap. Check your policy for annual limits and per-visit rebates, which vary widely between funds and cover levels.
Quick reference: who needs what?
- Paying privately or using extras cover — no referral, just book;
- Wanting Medicare rebates — GP visit first for a CDM plan (up to five rebated visits per year);
- DVA Gold or eligible White Card — GP referral (D904) required, then fully funded;
- Home Care Package / Support at Home — coordinator approval, funded from your package;
- NDIS — no referral, must fit your plan;
- Hospital or specialist surgical care — if your podiatrist identifies something needing surgical or specialist input, they will refer you onward, just as a GP would.
Why seeing a podiatrist early beats waiting
Because no referral is needed, there is no reason to sit on a foot problem while it worsens. The conditions we treat at People Podiatry are almost always simpler to fix early:
- An ingrown toenail treated in week one is a quick conservative fix; left for months, it may need a minor procedure — see our ingrown toenail treatment service;
- Early heel pain often resolves with load management and footwear changes; chronic plantar fasciitis can take many months;
- For people with diabetes, a small pressure area caught at a routine check is trivial; an established wound is a medical emergency. Regular checks through our diabetic foot care service are the safest habit you can build;
- For seniors, professional nail and skin care every six to eight weeks directly reduces falls risk and keeps you mobile — the heart of our aged care podiatry service.
Booking with People Podiatry — clinic or your own home
People Podiatry Australia makes access easy for every kind of patient across Perth. Book a clinic appointment, or take advantage of our mobile service that brings AHPRA-registered podiatrists to homes, retirement villages and aged care facilities. We handle CDM rebates, DVA arrangements and Home Care Package invoicing every week, and we are always happy to explain your funding options in plain language before you commit to anything.
Call the clinic on 08 9297 4800, our home visit line on 0415 708 817, or reach us through the contact page. You can browse everything we offer on our services page.
A note for families booking on behalf of a parent
Adult children and carers arrange a large share of the appointments we see, and no referral is needed for that either — you can book for a parent directly, attend the appointment with them, and be included in any care discussions with their consent. If your parent has a Home Care Package, bring the provider’s details to the first visit (or mention them when booking) and we will sort the invoicing side so there is nothing for your family to pay upfront where the package covers it. It is one less thing to organise, which is usually exactly what carers need.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a CDM plan for home visits?
Yes. Medicare rebates under a Chronic Disease Management plan apply to eligible podiatry services whether they are delivered in a clinic or at your home.
How many podiatry visits does Medicare cover per year?
A CDM plan provides up to five allied health visits per calendar year in total — shared across all allied health services on your plan (for example podiatry and physiotherapy combined), so discuss the split with your GP.
Does a referral last forever?
CDM plans are reviewed by your GP, typically annually, and DVA referrals operate in treatment cycles. Private and NDIS patients never need a referral at all.
Can a podiatrist refer me for X-rays or to a specialist?
Yes. Podiatrists can refer you for many imaging services and to medical specialists where needed, and we always coordinate with your GP so your care stays joined up.