Bilby shoes

The new Australian pathway into pedorthics is taking shape.

The Pedorthic Association of Australia is working with Western University to establish an Australian pathway through Western University’s Post-Degree Diploma in Pedorthics.

To introduce the course and what it could mean for prospective students, we are holding a Student Information Session on Thursday 10 September at the Novotel Sydney on Darling Harbour.

The session will provide an opportunity to:

• Hear directly from Western University about the course and Australian pathway
• Learn more about how the program will be delivered
• Hear from practising pedorthists about their experience and career pathways
• Ask questions about the course and profession

Attendees will also be invited to stay for the PAA Conference Welcome Reception, with an opportunity to meet pedorthists, speak with exhibitors and continue the conversation.

Applications for the first Australian intake are planned to open on 1 November 2026, with the first cohort commencing in September 2027.

If you are considering pedorthics as a future field of study or career path, we would love to see you there.

Thursday 10 September 2026
Registration from 4:30 pm
Student Information Session: 5:00–6:00 pm
Novotel Sydney on Darling Harbour

Register here:

https://pedorthics.org.au/events/uwo-student-information-session/

Custom made footwear part 2

Once we have 3D printed you're custom last, crafted you're custom orthosis, we then invite you back to do what is known as the Clear check fit.

This is a vacuumed formed shell of you're custom made last, complete with a sole and you're orthosis for a full weightbearing assessment.

This allows us, and you to check that the last does fit you're feet before we start making the footwear.

Its also at this appointment that we select the style and material options for the footwear, it really is all about you!

Bilby shoes CMF are created right here in our Thomastown facility by my sons and l.

We are by appointment only, give us a call on 9465 0880 to book your appointment.

Custom made footwear part 1.
Sometimes we get asked why people need CMF (custom made footwear) and the answer is as varied as are the people we see.

Some feet change shape due to genetic conditions, infection, injury, surgery and many other conditions, including Diabetes that can lead to the feet changing shape like charcot and or amputations.

For those that do require CMF, here at Bilby shoes, we take a 3D LASER scan of the feet and then we 3D print the individual foot models known as the last.

This is just the start of the process and the details required to achieve the outcome we need.

Bilby shoes CMF are created right here in our Thomastown facility by my sons and l.

We are by appointment only, give us a call on 9465 0880 to book your appointment.

Not many feet have a generic shape, yet we seem to see people being fitted with a generic shaped shoe.

Normally that would pass, but when you have a complication like diabetes, the risk is far too and needs to be addressed by better fitting footwear and in the case of charcot, custom made footwear and orthosis is the only save way to go.

In the image of the pressure mapping, the feet are of the same size, but very little surface of the charcot foot is touching the pressure mat, increasing the pressure and the risks.

l often get asked why a charcot deformity requires custom footwear.
The answer is often found by measuring the plantar pressure, even in the static moment as we have done here.

To the left, plantar pressure in the static, a patient with charcot deformity, two amputations and two active ulcers and really struggling to just retain their balance. We chose not to take a dynamic due to the current active ulcers.

To the right, plantar pressure of myself, mainstream foot structure and function with no balance issues, just as an example.

This data capture forms three crucial rolls, because its objective and repeatable.

The first and most important part, that is patient education, this data allows us to talk to patient and their family about where the risks are and why. Explaining the target is 200kPa in the dynamic, they measured 432kPa under the right in the static, it will be higher in the dynamic.

Second part is reporting our finding to the referrer to ensure they too understand why we are taking the actions that we are.

Third part is to support our justifications for intervention and report our findings to the funding bodies.

So the question of what type of footwear is based on the foots ability to change to the form of the footwear, most footwear having 19mm of heel pitch and toe spring of 16mm.

The charcot, fused foot cannot change its form nor can it flex to match the shape of the mainstream footwear profile, so we need to make the footwear and orthosis to match the feet, we need to cradle and control and in this case no heel pitch or toe spring.

The data in the image is taken using a MobileMat, a pressure measuring device.
If you would like to know more book an appointment by calling Rebekah on 9465 0880.