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Bilby shoes

Pedorthics & Footwear Retailer. Custom made, modified, extra depth or just really comfortable footwear. And we have never, ever met a foot we couldn't fit

Melbourne's leading Pedorthic clinic providing biomechanical assessments, orthotics, medical grade footwear, custom made footwear and in-shoe pressure mapping, by appointment only.

08/05/2026

Not many feet have a generic shape, yet we seem to see people being fitted with a generic shaped shoe.

Normally that would pass, but when you have a complication like diabetes, the risk is far too and needs to be addressed by better fitting footwear and in the case of charcot, custom made footwear and orthosis is the only save way to go.

In the image of the pressure mapping, the feet are of the same size, but very little surface of the charcot foot is touching the pressure mat, increasing the pressure and the risks.

l often get asked why a charcot deformity requires custom footwear.
The answer is often found by measuring the plantar pressure, even in the static moment as we have done here.

To the left, plantar pressure in the static, a patient with charcot deformity, two amputations and two active ulcers and really struggling to just retain their balance. We chose not to take a dynamic due to the current active ulcers.

To the right, plantar pressure of myself, mainstream foot structure and function with no balance issues, just as an example.

This data capture forms three crucial rolls, because its objective and repeatable.

The first and most important part, that is patient education, this data allows us to talk to patient and their family about where the risks are and why. Explaining the target is 200kPa in the dynamic, they measured 432kPa under the right in the static, it will be higher in the dynamic.

Second part is reporting our finding to the referrer to ensure they too understand why we are taking the actions that we are.

Third part is to support our justifications for intervention and report our findings to the funding bodies.

So the question of what type of footwear is based on the foots ability to change to the form of the footwear, most footwear having 19mm of heel pitch and toe spring of 16mm.

The charcot, fused foot cannot change its form nor can it flex to match the shape of the mainstream footwear profile, so we need to make the footwear and orthosis to match the feet, we need to cradle and control and in this case no heel pitch or toe spring.

The data in the image is taken using a MobileMat, a pressure measuring device.
If you would like to know more book an appointment by calling Rebekah on 9465 0880.

13/04/2026

Epidermolysis bullosa: It's a complex condition, even the slightest knock, bump or rubbing can cause the skin to blister and breakdown creating a wound and over time, another scar.

Infection is always a concern.

With this in mind we have created this custom-made footwear.

Once we received the 3D LASER scan of the feet, we complete a clear check fit to check the fit is correct and all of this done complete with bandaging.

The footwear are then created with a full lambswool lining with removable insert under the foot.

The footwear still features a firm heel support, behind the lambswool and firm rocker sole that is supper light.

The extra inlays inside the footwear allow for adjustments to the volume of bandaging required or to remove the insert if it becomes soiled at anytime.

Its all about the individual and their needs.

Bilby shoes are by appointment only.

18/03/2026

The Pedorthic Association of Australia have just released the official definition of MGF (medical grade footwear) now Pedorthic footwear.

Whilst a lot of funding like SAH, SWEP, DVA and NDIS approvals are based on the term MGF/pedorthic footwear, there has not been good consensus or in some cases no actual definition of what MGF/pedorthic footwear means.

The definition just released by the PAA, has been done in consultation with and now endorsed by other allied health bodies, like the Australian Podiatry Association and the Australian Physiotherapy Association plus governing bodies like DFA and individuals like Prof Sicco Bus Amsterdam University and Prof Hylton Menz Latrobe University just to name a few.

In short, the PAA have solid national and international agreement across multiple disciplines of the pedorthic definition.

If you would like to know more, see the link below.

https://pedorthics.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/PAA-Pedorthic-Footwear-Standards.pdf

Feet Australia

17/03/2026

Alice Springs hospital high risk foot unit.

This week our senior pedorthist, David and our podiatrist Michael have been spending some time at the Alice Springs hospital.
An amazing team of podiatry and P&O caring for a large number of people in the area and their needs.

Michael and David were there to provide training and support with the in-shoe pressure mapping system FscanGo and the MobileMat pressure mapping system.

We also took the time to see some of the patients wearing our custom-made footwear that we have provided.

A very busy time for their team Simone Tribe, Pushpa Kumara P., Myriam Steffen, Jaeyeon Park and Zauhaib Hussan Mirza.

We did have some delays getting there due to the flooding of the normally dry Todd River, reaching the highest its been for 50 years according to some of the patients and it came up over night, amazing sight, an amazing time.

27/02/2026

Not just a Charcot deformity: Other than the obvious deformity to the foot, in this case a significant rocker plantar aspect of the right due to complications of diabetes, but there is also significant changes in movement, their gait, balance and in their confidence.

In gait, we can see the heel is not taking first load and the hallux is not taking last load, very short steps are been taken.

Part of this is due to poor balance or even a fear of a falling. This can be seen in the CoF trajectory line.

Some of this has come about from the lack of activity during the hospital stay and the healing process and often wearing CAM boot for long periods and a lack of symmetry in movement, something Ryan Crews talks about in his 2018 paper, Crews, R. T., & Candela, J. (2018). https://diabetesjournals.org/care/article-abstract/41/7/1400/36424/Decreasing-an-Offloading-Device-s-Size-and?redirectedFrom=fulltext

So what is next, how do we help these patients to improve their confidence, their balance and increase their activity levels?

For my part, its about sharing the data, the improved off loading shown in the ISPM, 162kPa for the right and 139kPa for left and instilling in them that they should now slowly and gradually improve their activity levels with confidence.

Other than sharing the data, we also ask them to show us if they can stand on one foot, for 3 seconds, this request is often met with "l cant" but we explain they stand on one foot during their gait cycle and that we will support them in their attempts, they are often surprised at what they can actually achieve.

This was achieved by utilizing our Australain made custom footwear and custom orthosis.

So, if you or someone you know has issue with their feet and needs help, come and see us.

Call Rebekah on 9465 0880 to book an appointment.

*ISPM is a measure of 8 steps of each foot and the average is then considered, with

20/02/2026

Our senior Pedorhist David, has been busy with this recent study published in The journal of knee surgery.

Using pressure mapping technology to measure the cause and effect on the foot posture in gait, 5 years post the peroneus longus tendon (PLT) being used as autograft for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR).

17 athletes were assessed with David not knowing which foot and knee had been operated on, making the study a blind.

Data collected and considered were CoF, GRF, 3Box protocols along with PP values to better understand what the eyes cant see, objective data

https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/a-2796-8372

14/12/2025

So Guys, that is 2025 almost done!
It has been an amazingly busy year, full of change.

Thank you everyone for the interaction, we learn from you so often.

Next year, January our senior clinician will start his 47th year of playing with feet and footwear and how things have changed.

When he started, looking back over some of David's notes, no mention of the term Diabetes and now it is the dominate pathology, complication that we deal with.

Back in the late 1970's David's first patient that he cast for boots was a polio survivor, that was a chain smoker, his main concern was "the boy better be quick, l only have 20 ci******es left", David's mentor just smiled and said, "You can borrow my pipe if he doesnt" and the term "chain" and "pipe" are not in reference to metal objects either😁.
By the time he was finished, there was more plaster on David than the patient, but no one noticed through the small smoke filled room.
The room used for the casting was the storage room full of leather soles, shanks, threads, EVA and heels at Collingwood tafe.

These days, we have dedicated clinical rooms, we digitally scan the foot and ankle, 3D print the last and then pressure mapping to ensure the outcome for the high risk diabetic foot.

These tools have made an amazing change to the way we do things, improving the time it takes, the accuracy and the results for the individual patient is now measurable.

We close December 20th and re open January 20th 2026.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas. Be safe. Be happy.
We cant wait for 2026, see you there!

24/11/2025

Eat your heart out Superman, these are Batman boots!

Every person that we see has a need to express themselves in many different ways and its our pleasure to help them.

Whilst the medical needs for this patient include a significant bilateral deformity of the feet that has resulted in poor balance and an altered gait cycle, it means we need to custom design and make the footwear and orthosis to meet their physical needs, but we must also try to meet their emotional needs.

We all talk about getting our patients to wear our devices more often and the best way to do this is to listen to what they want.

Want to know more, phone Rebekah on 9465 0880 and book an appointment.

Bilby shoes est. 1995, our custom made footwear are made right here in our Thomastown location by my sons and l.

14/11/2025

Did you know its world diabetes day?

So what has that got to do with feet and footwear? Everything.

Sadly there is a diabetic related amputation every 20seconds and most of it is avoidable.

By wearing proper footwear, medical grade and when necessary custom orthosis with in shoe pressure mapping

So, if you have ever had a pressure wound on your feet, an amputation of a toe or a charcot deformity, you need to take a step up and get some pressure mapping down and help prevent further ulceration and or amputation.

Bilby shoes are the leading Pedorthic facility in Victoria dealing with the footwear and orthosis requirements that meet the DFA guidelines.

Make an appointment, call Rebekah on 9465 0880 and let make a difference.

10/11/2025

The national DFA (Diabetic feet Australia) conference.
DFA are the peak governing body and the authors of the national guidelines for the treatment and preventing of diabetic related foot complication.

That include the reduction of ulceration and amputation of the lower limb as a result of diabetes related complications.

Want to know more?

We always want to know more and how we as pedorthist play a crucial role in this area.

Our senior clinician David, is currently at the conference to hear the latest work been done and he is also there to present some of the crucial clinical work he does in this area with specifically designed and made footwear and orthosis, these are then measured and checked using state of the art in shoe pressure mapping technology.

The in shoe pressure mapping is done to ensure we meet the DFA guidelines of 200kPa

If you would like to know more about ulcer prevention, charcot foot deformities and the likes, book an appointment by calling Rebekah on 9465 0880 and lets start the journey.

The image attached is of a group of fellow pedorthist at the DFA congress from around Australia.
The conference had about 400 clinicians of different disciplines attending from around Australia and overseas. it has been a busy few days.

Address

2 Northgate Drive
Thomastown, VIC
3074

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 5pm
Tuesday	8am - 5pm
Wednesday	8am - 5pm
Thursday	8am - 5pm
Friday	8am - 5pm
Saturday	8am - 1pm

Telephone

+61394650880

Website

https://www.bilbyshoes.com.au/

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