Talking with Katrin Wegener
Name: Katrin Wegener
Date of Birth: 22 July
Profession: Certified Pedorthist Custom Maker, Australia; Orthopaedic Shoemaker,
Germany; Podologe, Germany
Place of Residence: Sydney, Australia
Company and Position: Shoetech Pty Ltd trading as Footpower, Manager; Pedorthic Association of Australia, President
Journey
I grew up in a small village in Germany and my apprenticeship as an orthopaedic shoemaker took place twenty minutes away from my parents’ place. When I finished, I received an award for second place in the 1999 state graduation competition. Upon completion of my apprenticeship, I changed companies. In 2006, I passed the supplementary exam to achieve the status of the German state-recognised Podologe (Podiatrist). Until here, I lived and worked all my live in the beautiful Sauerland region of Germany but that was about to change.
In 2009, I had the opportunity to work in Australia. Initially planned for 2 years, I fell in love with the country and applied for permanent residency. A new country has new rules. I retrained and qualified as an Australian Certified Pedorthist CM.
In 2013 I was elected onto the board of the Pedorthic Association of Australia. I like sharing my experience and became involved in providing training as part of the Australian pedorthic certification educational program. Subsequently I participated on the certification panel for the Medical Grade Footwear Pedorthic Register. Trying to continually develop myself further, I obtained a Certificate in Small Business Management in 2015. I then stepped up more and more into the manager position at Footpower.
For the last few years, I have been Chairperson of the annual Pedorthic Symposium in Australian and became President of the Association in December 2017.
I am convinced that my profession was predestined. However, I didn’t know that when I was young. In my last year of high school, I went to an information centre for high school graduates and completed an aptitude test of my likes and dislikes. The best matches were optometrist, interior designer, orthopaedic shoemaker or jewellery maker.
My grandfather was a bespoke shoemaker, and this struck a chord with me, even though he died when I was only ten years old. It is probably in my genes!
I found out years later that my patron saint, St Katherine of Alexandria, is the patron saint of shoemakers and tanneries. Additionally, my birthday saint, St Mary Magdalene, looks after feet.
With double support, it must be the right profession!
A typical day in my profession begins at around 8.30am with starting the computer and getting equipment ready for the day. If it is a clinic day, patient appointments usually start at 9:00am. Working in Australia is highly independent, and one must develop his/her own treatment plan. Often, we only have a diagnose on a referral and nothing else. At times we get not even a diagnosis, but a patient may find out about us from a friend. It is usually up to us to decide on what to do, including on when to refer on.
On a laboratory day, I check if work has been done for the next days and allocate work to my colleagues. Once my managerial work is done I like to dive right into it hands on.
Coffee and lunch breaks are times for socialising and discussing work matters with colleagues. The quieter time after 5pm, I use for preparing, answering emails and writing ever increasing reports and correspondence for 3rd parties.
Conference calls of the Board of Management and other association work is also reserved for the evening hours. After work I may stroll down to the beach to enjoy the sunset or a swim in the surf.
What I like about the pedorthic profession is the variety and diversity. There are so many different aspects. On the one hand, I see a broad variety of patients such as children with cerebral palsy (CP), professional rugby players and patients with diabetic or post-polio conditions. On the other hand, I can design and make shoes, produce orthoses, perform shoe modifications and look after students on placement. All with an increasing amount of responsibility and accountability. The position of the certified pedorthist in Australia has grown substantially in recent years.
For me it is important to use my God-given talents for the benefit of others. As a Pedorthist, I can make a significant difference in people’s lives.
