Bachelor of Podiatry (Honours) student Julia McArdle always wanted a career in allied health.
“I always wanted to work in an allied health field and found out about podiatry through a La Trobe open day with my high school.”
“I knew that I wanted to do a hands-on course that allowed me to interact with patients. I liked that the course included time at the La Trobe Podiatry Clinic and allowed for students to experience various parts of the podiatric field throughout the course.”
Julia, who is now in her final year, has completed placement in a variety of settings, including La Trobe’s own Podiatry Clinic.
“A highlight was my first public placement at the Alfred Hospital where I was able to treat various foot and ankle wounds, often for diabetic patients. I was debriding and dressing wounds from my second day there, which gave me invaluable insight into the treatment of high-risk feet.”
“I also really liked working alongside La Trobe staff in the Podiatry Clinic as it allowed me to challenge my knowledge and create the best outcome for my patients.”
Julia is still deciding what to do after she graduates, with many opportunities on the horizon.
“I really like the idea of working privately and building a connection with my patients as well as the broad nature of presenting complaints.”
“At this stage, I think a mix of both public and private work sounds appealing as it will give me the chance to experience everything the degree has to offer.”
