Diabetes-related foot complications affect at least 15% of all individuals with diabetes, are the commonest cause for lower limb amputation in developed countries and are the leading cause for hospitalisation for this patient group. The spectrum of conditions that can affect the feet and the complex pathophysiology leading to their development explains why dedicated inter-disciplinary teams of health professionals are needed in order to achieve the best clinical outcomes.  However, the development of these interdisciplinary teams is not generally supported by the traditional models of service provision and funding on which most Australian hospitals depend.  This means that in order for health professionals to develop foot services and conform to national and international guidelines, we need to become more innovative in our approach and to prioritise current services to meet the clinical problem that we already face rather than ignoring it.  Funding will always be a major barrier but hospital executives and politicians will often come to the discussion table when they are shown the data on local amputation rates, misdirected use of resources and re-admission rates.  Research demonstrates that individuals admitted to a single unit with defined treatment protocols have improved clinical outcomes, with reduced amputation rates, which from a hospital point of view means less demand on theatre time, reduced admissions and a more systematic approach to resource utilisation.  Although no benchmarks exist on the makeup of an interdisciplinary foot service, it is generally accepted that it should consist of at least a diabetes physician, surgeon, podiatrist /wound nurse, footwear technician, diabetes nurse educator and radiologist.   The presence of local champions is also a necessary component in successfully implementing change within an institution.