Medical grade footwear
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Information and resources for health providers and contracted suppliers. Learn how to prescribe or supply medical grade footwear to eligible clients.
Back to topHealth providers
What is Medical Grade Footwear
Medical grade footwear (MGF) may be provided when suitable everyday footwear cannot accommodate, or be modified to accommodate, the individual's clinical needs because of a foot or ankle deformity.
Medical grade footwear includes:
- ready-made extra depth and/or width footwear
- custom-made footwear manufactured by a contracted supplier to fit a client's individual foot and/or ankle structure.
Medical grade footwear does not include:
- everyday footwear that can be purchased from a retail shop (sneakers, casual shoes, formal shoes)
- inappropriate styles of footwear (slippers, slip-on footwear, open-toed footwear, high-heeled footwear or orthotic footwear)
- footwear for the primary purpose of accommodating foot orthoses.
Who is eligible for MGF
Our clients may be eligible for MGF if they have been clinically assessed as having a deformity of either or both the foot or the ankle. They must hold either a:
- Veteran Card - All Conditions (also known as the Veteran Gold Card)
- Veteran Card - Specific Conditions (also known as the Veteran White Card) and the footwear is to treat an accepted health condition
Who can prescribe MGF
You can prescribe MGF if you are a podiatrist or medical specialist such as a:
- orthopaedic surgeon
- rehabilitation specialist
- rheumatologist.
Before a podiatrist can assess the client you must have a valid referral from a:
- general practitioner (GP)
- medical specialist
- health professional as part of hospital discharge.
Prescribing MGF
Before you prescribe
Assessing health providers must follow the rules and supply limits in our guidelines:
- National Guideline for the Medical Grade Footwear Program (DOCX 67 KB)
- Footwear Prescription - Flowchart of clinical pathway 2023 (DOCX)
Before you treat a client with a Veteran Card – Specific Conditions you must check their eligibility by contacting our provider line 1800 550 457.
How to prescribe MGF
As a health provider you need to complete Section A of the current prescription form:
Then send the prescription form to a contracted MGF supplier:
When required, the contracted MGF supplier will seek prior approval from us. The supplier will send the MGF to you as the assessing health provider to issue to the client, unless you have made other arrangements with the supplier.
Ready-made MGF
If you are prescribing ready-made MGF you can either:
- select footwear from the ready-made MGF register; or
- specify the required features of the footwear that can be sourced from the ready-made MGF register.
Register of DVA-approved ready-made MGF footwear (XLSX 101 KB)
Custom made MGF
If you are prescribing custom made MGF you will need to specify:
- the footwear requirements; and
- any modifications to accommodate the foot function and structure.
Recreational MGF
Clients may be eligible for an additional pair of recreational MGF (e.g. bowling or golf shoes) if the client is participating in recreational sporting activity. Before prescribing recreational MGF, ensure the client is already prescribed ready-made and/or custom MGF ie. the recreational MGF cannot be the first pair of MGF received.
Follow-up assessment
Within 1-2 months of the newly supplied MGF, assessing health providers should check the quality, fit and suitability of the supplied MGF. If any problems are identified at this stage, liaise with the MGF supplier to adequately resolve the issue in a timely manner.
Back to topContracted suppliers
As a contracted supplier, you should:
- accept the assessing health provider's prescription (Section A of the current prescription form)
- work with the client and the assessing health provider to supply the MGF according to the prescription
- measure, fit and trial the MGF with the client
- seek prior approval from us when we require it
- complete and send Section B of the prescription form to the assessing health provider
- send the MGF to the assessing health provider to issue to the client, unless you have made other arrangements with the provider.
Current prescription form
Contracted suppliers must follow the rules set out in the MGF Terms and Conditions (DOCX 79 KB)
Notice to prospective suppliers
Applications to become a contracted supplier under the MGF Program closed on 30 June 2026.
We are undertaking a review of the MGF Program and are not accepting applications from new suppliers.
Updates will be published on this page when further information becomes available.
Notes
Fees
Register of ready made MGF footwear
MGF Technical Specifications
List of MGF contracted suppliers
Obtaining prior approval
You must obtain prior approval from us for:
- custom made MGF
- recreational MGF
- the supply of more than two pairs of MGF at any one time
- repairs and modifications not listed in the Medical Grade Footwear Schedule of Fees
- MGF for Veteran Card – Specific Conditions holders. The assessing health provider must confirm the client's eligibility before submitting the prescription form.
Complete Section B of the prescription form received from the assessing health provider and send to AMBRAPMGF@dva.gov.au with supporting documentation.
Back to topContact Us
To speak to us about MGF you can:
- call our Health Provider Line on 1800 550 457
- email: AMBRAPMGF@dva.gov.au