Foot and ankle

Foot and ankle care in Wollongong

Care for bunions and toe deformity, arthritis, ankle replacement, tendon and heel conditions, instability, sprains and fractures, with two foot and ankle specialists working alongside podiatry, imaging and rehabilitation.

Request a specialist appointment Book podiatry or allied health

A referral is generally required for an orthopaedic appointment. Podiatry, physiotherapy and exercise physiology can generally be booked directly.

Dr Meghan Dares, foot and ankle orthopaedic surgeon

Dr Sheraz Anjum, foot and ankle orthopaedic surgeon

Foot and ankle specialistsDr Meghan Dares · Dr Sheraz AnjumTwo foot and ankle specialists connected with podiatry, imaging and rehabilitation

Two subspecialist surgeonsDifferent areas of depth across forefoot, ankle arthritis, replacement, deformity, trauma and sports injury.

Direct-access podiatryBiomechanics, footwear, pressure, orthoses and lower-limb assessment, available directly or alongside specialist care.

Imaging and recovery connectedOn-site imaging, physiotherapy, exercise rehabilitation and nursing can remain part of one plan.

How the pathway can work

Start with the problem you recognise.

Start with a referred specialist appointment, direct allied health booking or the Fracture and Injury Clinic. The options below explain where to begin.

Specialist assessment

Orthopaedic assessment for diagnosis and a clear explanation of the problem, covering non-operative management and surgery such as bunion correction or ankle replacement where it is warranted. A current referral is generally required.

Podiatry

Direct assessment of foot and lower-limb pain, biomechanics, pressure, footwear and orthotic needs.

Explore podiatry →

Physiotherapy

Movement, strength, symptom management and rehabilitation for non-operative and surgical pathways.

Explore physiotherapy →

Whichever way you start, on-site X-ray and ultrasound, exercise rehabilitation and nursing care connect to the same plan rather than being a separate referral.

Specialist depth for decisions that need it

Two foot and ankle specialists.

The relevant surgeon is matched to the condition, treatment question and required area of subspecialty expertise.

Foot and ankle specialist

Dr Meghan Dares

Particular expertise in minimally invasive bunion correction, forefoot deformity, instability, Achilles and tendon conditions, and sporting injuries.

BunionsForefootInstabilitySports injury

View Dr Dares' profile →

Foot and ankle specialist

Dr Sheraz Anjum

Particular expertise in ankle replacement, arthritis, complex deformity, Achilles and tendon conditions, trauma and limb reconstruction.

Ankle replacementArthritisDeformityAchilles

View Dr Anjum's profile →

Conditions and treatment pathways

Foot and ankle conditions we treat

Bunions and forefoot deformity

Full assessment of pain, alignment and footwear tolerance, with non-operative, minimally invasive and surgical options where appropriate.

Ankle arthritis and replacement

Care for advanced arthritis, including activity modification, injections, fusion or ankle replacement for selected patients.

Plantar heel pain

Podiatry, physiotherapy, injections, shockwave and laser therapy, with further assessment when symptoms persist or the diagnosis is uncertain.

Achilles and tendon conditions

Acute rupture, tendinopathy and other tendon disorders managed through rehabilitation, injections or surgery when required.

Ankle instability and sports injury

Ligament injury, recurrent giving way, cartilage damage and return-to-sport planning.

Flatfoot and complex deformity

Assessment of alignment, pain, gait and joint health, with coordinated surgical or non-surgical care.

Foot and ankle fractures

Prompt assessment, imaging, immobilisation, surgical decisions and structured rehabilitation for suitable injuries.

Big toe and midfoot arthritis

Treatment options matched to pain, footwear, activity goals and the joints involved.

Wrap-around care, on site

Down the corridor, not across town

Foot and ankle problems usually need more than one set of hands. Podiatry, imaging and specialist review sit in the same building, so biomechanics, orthoses, a scan and a surgical opinion can be brought together rather than chased separately.

Steffan EvansPodiatrist

Thomas VelliosPodiatrist

Mikayla MoranMSK Sonographer

Brenda MavundukureRadiographer

On-site X-ray and musculoskeletal ultrasound sit alongside podiatry and specialist review in one pathway. See the full team or read more about imaging and investigations.

Example pathways

Three ways the same team works together

These are examples rather than fixed tracks. They show how referral, imaging, surgery and rehabilitation connect in practice when it all sits in the one building. The people above appear in all three.

Route one · With surgery

A bunion that has become painful to walk on

A GP referral brings you to Dr Meghan Dares or Dr Sheraz Anjum, with weight-bearing X-rays on site rather than a separate trip to a radiology practice.
The decision to operate is made together — the images alongside the examination, and what you are trying to get back to. Podiatry may be involved beforehand for footwear and load while the operation is planned.
After surgery, nursing supports wound care and the boot phase. Podiatry manages footwear and orthoses as you come out of it.
Physiotherapy restores gait and ankle movement, and exercise physiology rebuilds walking capacity and a return to sport.

Involved: orthopaedic surgeon · imaging · nursing · podiatry · physiotherapy · exercise physiology

Route two · Without surgery

Heel pain better managed without an operation

Specialist review, with ultrasound on site where it would answer the question.
The decision is made to trial non-surgical treatment first. Surgery is not being considered at this stage, and the heel is better managed through podiatry and physiotherapy.
Rather than sending you elsewhere, the specialist introduces you to the podiatrist in the same building and sets the plan with them: load management, footwear and orthoses where indicated, with calf and foot strength work alongside. An injection may be used where it is clinically appropriate.
The specialist stays across how you go. If the heel does not settle as expected, review is arranged without starting again from the beginning.

Involved: orthopaedic surgeon · imaging · podiatry · physiotherapy

Route three · Straight to allied health

Foot pain that has not been assessed

Podiatry can be booked directly. No GP referral is needed to be assessed.
Biomechanical assessment comes first, with imaging on site if it would change what is done.
For many people this is the whole path back to comfortable walking, with orthoses, footwear, load and strength work continuing under the podiatrist who did the assessment.
If a surgical opinion is warranted, Patient Services arranges this and works with your GP on the referral, rather than leaving you to start the process yourself.

Involved: podiatry · imaging · physiotherapy · orthopaedic surgeon where needed

These are illustrations of how the model works, not treatment plans. Your pathway depends on your diagnosis and is decided with your clinician.

One plan

Assessment, treatment and recovery connected.

Clarify the source of pain

Clinical assessment considers alignment, movement, footwear, load and the patient's goals.

Use investigations selectively

X-ray, ultrasound, pressure assessment or other investigations are used when they inform the plan.

Match treatment to the condition

Footwear, orthoses, rehabilitation, injections or surgery are considered in context.

Reconnect movement

Podiatry, physiotherapy, exercise rehabilitation, nursing and follow-up support recovery.

Your next step

Choose your next appointment

If you are unsure where to start, call the patient services team on (02) 4250 4500.

Specialist appointmentReferral generally required Podiatry or allied healthDirect booking available Recent injuryCheck clinic suitability Not sureCall Patient Services