Former podiatrist fined $6,000 for practising while suspended
20 Oct 2026
The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) prosecuted Heassan Al Hamid for claiming to be a registered podiatrist while unregistered, contrary to section 116 of the National Law.
His registration was suspended by the Podiatry Council of NSW in February 2024. The Parramatta Local Court heard that he continued providing podiatry consultations and promoting his services for 18 months after the suspension.
Mr Al Hamid also maintained social media profiles identifying him as a podiatrist and appeared on a nationally broadcast television program, where he was introduced as a podiatrist and provided advice about podiatric conditions.
Some of the patients he treated were particularly vulnerable, including children and people with intellectual disabilities who were non-verbal or had limited ability to communicate, and people with reduced mobility. There was no suggestion that patients were harmed during this period.
On 15 October 2026, Mr Al Hamid pleaded guilty to holding himself out as a registered podiatrist while unregistered.
Judge Catherine Follent acknowledged his early guilty plea but described the offending as serious, brazen and prolonged.
The court convicted Mr Al Hamid, fined him $6,000 and ordered him to pay Ahpra’s legal costs of $8,831.
Ahpra chief executive Justin Untersteiner said the case reinforced the need for media organisations to verify the registration status of people presented as qualified health practitioners.
He said Ahpra had written to media organisations urging them to check the public register before promoting anyone claiming to be authorised to practise in a health profession.
The national register covers nearly one million practitioners across 16 professions. It allows the public to check registration status, including suspensions and any conditions or restrictions placed on a practitioner’s registration.
Australia has more than 6,100 registered podiatrists.
The case was separate from disciplinary proceedings brought by the Health Care Complaints Commission before the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
Those proceedings concerned allegations that Mr Al Hamid had repeatedly breached an earlier supervision order, failed to meet training, education and insurance requirements, and made false or misleading statements to the Podiatry Council of NSW.
In March 2026, the tribunal found him guilty of unsatisfactory professional conduct and professional misconduct. It cancelled his registration, imposed a 12-month non-review period and prohibited him from providing any health service until the tribunal makes a reinstatement order.
Members of the public can check a practitioner's credentials through the Ahpra Register of Practitioners and report concerns to Ahpra.
Former podiatrist fined $6,000 for practising while suspended
Source: Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra).