The implementation of the paediatric footwear program at community health level

Background Children spend around 30 hours a week in their school shoes that’s in excess of 15,000 hours during their school years. Correctly fitted shoes help reduce the risk of injury, improve comfort and assist in gross motor development and participation. Recent research indicates that foot deformities in children who wear incorrectly fitting footwear are increased, following the closure of a local shoe store and parents relating to podiatry staff of the financial difficulties of providing appropriate footwear, the podiatrist developed a quality project. The aim of the project was to provide cost effective and safe footwear for children that attend the services of Greater Dandenong and Cardinia Casey Community Health.