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

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.

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.

05/11/2025

Shoe decorating competition Whittlesea Agricultural Society & Whittlesea Show.

These are some of the decorated shoe and boots from local primary schools at the Whittlesea show, over 200 entries with some of the footwear taking on a new life.

A riding boot that is now a tractor, a court shoe that is now a shed, a gumboot that is now a horses head (that wont make you feel threatened if it was found in your bed!) and some that had become cars and even more.

Some very creative thinking that is definitely outside the shoe box!

Just think, this is art that is sourced by recycling footwear!

Thank you and well done to all that gave it ago.

02/11/2025

the last two days have been amazing fun.

Over 140 contenders each day as we work out who can throw a boot the longest distance and they seem to throwing further each year. l think we have held the boot throwing event for over 20 years now, to the point those that competed as children are now bring their children to have ago.

The footage is from the open women's practice throw as they consider their best technique.

Thanks to the Whittlesea show and there volunteers, big thanks to Wally, Marcel, Dexter, Ethan, Peter and Larni for their help. as always.

23/10/2025

Can you beat Beverly?

Balance testing is a crucial component of any assessments, particularly for individuals recovering from injury, surgery, managing neurological or even age-related conditions, a bit like young 89year Beverly, seen here in the images and test results, as she strives to keep up with her much older 90year old husband Keith.

Beverly is just showing us how she does her exercises, seated to stand and lift your hands and a single leg stance all part of her morning ritual .

Effective balance is essential for performing daily activities that include catching up with friends at the garden club, at the Whittlesea show or simply grabbing a coffee with friends and doing all of this safely, as we stive to help prevent falls.

There are variety of standardized tests clinicians use to evaluate a patient’s static and dynamic balance capabilities. Common balance assessments include the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, and Functional Reach Test, but most of these are known as subjective measures.

Clinically we want an objective measure, that means a measure that is both reliable and repeatable, even in 6 months or even a years time after an event and know that the data is captured in the same way with same accuracy.

For this reason, we use technology to measure balance, a pressure mat known as a MobileMat, and we measure your gait, weight distribution per limb, per section of your feet and its all done safely and carefully in a very short period of time with reliable and repeatable subjective device.

But what about all these measures and assessments, how do they help you to improve your gait and or your balance?

Once we have a measure we are then able to better understand what your risks or limits might be, then we can start looking at what type of footwear best suits you, what type of soling or even what type of footwear modification can help to improve your safe mobility, that might be a sole build-up, a toe skate or even a buttress, but we wont know until we complete the assessment and share that data collection with you.

So back to the original question, can you beat Beverly?
Bev has a balance eyes open 10.88cm over 8 seconds and 13.88cm eyes closed. Just for the record 10cm to 12cm over 8 seconds is considered within the healthy range.

So if you have had a recent fall, a bit of a scary moment or recent hip or knee replacement, phone Rebekah on 9465 0880 and book an appointment and lets see what we can do for you.

Bilby shoes are a recognised provider HCP, NDIS, TAC, DVA and pretty much anyone else you can think of.

17/10/2025

ISPM (in shoe pressure mapping) workshop online.
Our senior clinician David Sutton is at it again, the other week he was training Podiatrist from a high risk clinic in Belgium.

Sadly for David, it was a webinar so that means he didnt get any overseas travel.

Never the less, it does create lots of opportunities to do more of this type of workshop and engagement with like minded clinicians from many different locations around the world.

David is involved in teaching not only nationally but internationally the application of ISPM and how we can off load the high risk foot, created by complications with diabetes, giving those with pressure injuries the most days ulcer free possible.

This is done by following the Diabetes Feet Australian guidelines for diabetic feet as we aim to achieve a peak pressure of 200kPa providing the most ulcer free day.

"Its always interesting to see how other people handle their data, the way they choose to use it to guide their prescription of footwear and orthosis.

Of course, the main thing l do teach is how we gather that data, no matter where you are as we all strive to provider our patients with more ulcer free days.
Objective data rules always and its only through measuring our devices that we are able to improve the outcome."

29/09/2025

It is our job, actually no, it is our pleasure to make the custom footwear that you need.
Every pair of custom made footwear we produce has a purpose, to support and protect the feet, whilst you walk and stand around chatting, but its also about designing it with the patient and their guardians to met their wants and goals.
The colours were selected by his guardians and approved by him with a smile and a node of approval.
This pair of MGF boots are a very unique shape to match the form of the individuals feet and a high rubber soling wrapping up and along the medial hallux (big toe) area to protect his feet and give the boots a longer life.
Our custom made boots and lasts are Australian made by my sons and l. Make an appointment on 9465 0880 for your next pair.
Bilby shoes Est. 1995, family owned and operated.

26/09/2025

Had some shoe fun the other night. Our senior Pedorthis David Sutton was a speaker at an event organised by the Australian Podiatry Association and the footwear brand Ziera Shoes.

These type of events are great for bridging the gap between the podiatry community and the footwear industry, it helps to build better knowledge of footwear, what is actually available and how it might help our clients and patients a like, through better footwear choices.

Speaker included Prof Hylton Menz, Prof Antoni Caserta, Ameer Nor Azhar Phd Candidate and David Sutton

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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