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Infection control

Infection control and prevention is critical in providing safe, high‑quality health care for patients and a safe working environment for staff.

What the regulators expect

We expect podiatrists to meet their infection control obligations and maintain high standards of care. Your practice must align with the Podiatry Board of Australia’s policies, codes and guidelines. You must also be aware of, and comply with, federal and NSW legal requirements relating to infection prevention and control.

The Podiatry Board of Australia has adopted the National Health and Medical Research Council Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Infection in Healthcare. The Board also has its own Guidelines on Infection Prevention and Control and a self‑audit tool to help podiatrists assess and improve their compliance.

Council inspections

The Council inspects podiatry practices to assess and audit infection control compliance. We take breaches of infection control very seriously, as we have a legal obligation to protect the health and safety of the NSW public.

Under the law, the Council can authorise podiatry practitioners to act on our behalf to carry out inspections. These practitioners are considered ‘authorised persons’. They can enter a practice to conduct an inspection and confirm compliance with approved standards, codes and obligations regarding infection prevention and control. An inspection can take place even if we have not received a complaint about a podiatrist.

Practitioners should be available for the inspection and assist the Council’s authorised person as they carry out their work under the law. This can include:

  • entering and inspecting the premises

  • asking you to produce records

  • inspecting and copying extracts or notes from records and/or seizing the records

  • examining and inspecting any apparatus or equipment

  • taking photographs, filming video footage with or without audio, or recording the inspection

  • requiring any person on the premises to answer questions or provide information.

The Podiatry Board of Australia has website has useful resources available on infection control.

Resources

The Podiatry Board of Australia has website has useful resources available on infection control.

Codes and guidelines