A new medical centre dedicated to foot and ankle issues opened at 74 Auburn St, Wollongong on Monday and is likely to create 10 jobs within 12 months.
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The official opening was meant to happen sooner but there were delays in completing the purpose built medical facility during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wollongong Foot & Ankle Centre has overcome those challenges and is ready to provide the community with foot and ankle surgery expertise along with innovative and high-tech podiatry all in one location.
Chief executive Wynter Dares said it is a state-of-the art facility with a modern rehab gym and ultrasound facilities.
It has specially designed consulting rooms for orthopaedic surgeon Dr Meghan Dares and podiatrist Tim Bransdon who has relocated his team from Wollongong Podiatry.
Dr Dares specialises in surgery of the foot and ankle and has worked in the Illawarra for two years after gaining international experience in South Africa, the UK and Australia.
"The best thing about Wollongong Foot and Ankle Centre is we can combine both my surgical experience and Tim's experience in rehab and recovery to get the best patient outcomes sooner," she said.
Mr Bransdon said their two areas of expertise will provide a comprehensive service all in one place for anyone with food and ankle injuries, conditions, concerns and pain
He has been working in the Illawarra for 10 years helping people combat foot and ankle ailments. And also teaches StrongFeet and Running Lab programs to practitioners and coaches.
"Wollongong Podiatry has been in Wollongong for 34 years and I have been at the helm for 10," he said.
"This is the first time we have collaborated or merged with anybody. It is a big deal to take such a popular and well established clinic and take it to a whole new level by combining Dr Dares' service and expertise with what we have been offering for years. Now we are together we can take people so much further".
Mr Dares said the whole approach of having a surgeon and podiatrist in one location was to provide a very patient centric service.
He said the move has already created five jobs and is likely to create five more within the next 12 months.
"We have employed more admin staff and I have employed more podiatry staff," he said.
"The growth of us working together over the last six months even in separate practices has allowed.
"And now we have actually got the space to expand further".
Dr Dares said during the constructions and fit out they used local business because they wanted to keep jobs local throughout the whole process.
"We have built it with room for more growth," she said.
Wollongong Foot and Ankle Centre is presently seeking NDIS registration and that is also likely to result in more positions being created.
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Greg Ellis
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
