The Pharmacy Student of the Year (PSOTY) competition showcases the top pharmacy students in Australia, celebrating their exceptional skills, knowledge, and dedication to the pharmacy profession. The Wildcard category provides students who did not win their local competition another opportunity to compete and demonstrate their capabilities on a national stage at PSA25 in August.

PSA National President Associate Professor Fei Sim FPS congratulated Brielle Geard on their outstanding achievement.

“The PSOTY competition is a valuable platform for pharmacy students to showcase their clinical knowledge, communication skills, and professionalism. Brielle has demonstrated excellence in all these areas, and this award highlights their potential as a future leader in the pharmacy profession,” Associate Professor Sim said.

The Wildcard competition involved a rigorous assessment process, with participants judged on their ability to solve complex clinical scenarios while effectively communicating with patients and healthcare teams. Brielle stood out for their exceptional communication skills and knowledge.

Ms Geard will now progress to the final round of the PSOTY competition, to be held at PSA25 in Sydney, where they will compete against other state and territory winners for the coveted Pharmacy Student of the Year title.

PSA acknowledges and thanks the National Australian Pharmacy Students’ Association (NAPSA) for its ongoing support in the Pharmacy Student of the Year competition, which nurtures and inspires the next generation of pharmacists.

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In the first year of partnership, PSA and Audirie have:

• Empowered thousands of pharmacists, interns, and pharmacy assistants through immersive AI-powered simulations.
• Enhanced patient counselling and clinical communication skills with cutting-edge technology tailored to the unique needs of pharmacy professionals.
• Strengthened our shared commitment to excellence in education and improved health outcomes for communities across Australia.

PSA is expanding use of AI-powered pharmacist prescriber simulations in 2025, giving more learners access to nation-leading technology.

PSA National President Associate Professor Fei Sim FPS expressed her enthusiasm for the ongoing partnership and the upcoming launch of the AI-powered simulations.

“Our collaboration with Audirie is boosting the capacity of our education programs to deliver real-world experience for pharmacists, interns and assistants, setting them up to succeed in new roles,” Associate Professor Sim said.

“Integrating pharmacist prescriber simulations means learners will be able to practically apply knowledge, counselling and prescribing for an AI-driven patient in real-life clinical scenarios.

“PSA is proud to be leading the integration of artificial intelligence in pharmacist education, giving our learners the best and most comprehensive education experience in the Australian market.”

Audirie Co-founder and CEO Michael Alexander also highlighted the utilisation of AI as a powerful tool in improving learning outcomes.

“Our partnership with PSA has been a transformative journey. Over the past year, we’ve empowered pharmacists, pharmacy assistants and pharmacy interns with cutting-edge AI simulations that enhance their skills and confidence. Together, we are shaping the future of pharmacy education and professional development in Australia.”

“The integration of AI into the upcoming PSA Pharmacist Prescriber modules represents the next step in our shared vision to elevate the profession. By combining innovative technology with PSA’s expertise, we are equipping pharmacists with tools to excel in their evolving roles and deliver better patient outcomes.”

About Audirie
Audirie is a leading provider of AI-driven communication solutions, committed to transforming the way individuals learn and grow. With a focus on immersive learning experiences, Audirie harnesses the power of artificial intelligence to deliver innovative and effective training programs across various industries.

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PSA is committed to elevating professional practice and ensuring pharmacists are recognised for their additional skills and qualifications. The new post nominals enable members to display their advanced practice credentials in a way that validates their expertise and commitment to high-quality patient care.

Credentialed pharmacist post-nominals provide visible acknowledgement of the advanced clinical skills and area of specialisation, enabling pharmacists to be readily recognised as key players in multidisciplinary teams.

Post-nominals are linked to the members current PSA postnominal MPS or FPS, followed by CredPharm with the appropriate credentials in brackets. For example, a PSA Fellow who has achieved their MMR credential would use post nominals FPS CredPharm (MMR).

PSA’s Consultant Pharmacists Community of Speciality Interest Chair Deborah Hawthorne FPS CredPharm (MMR) is excited that members are now able to have their credentials recognised through the addition of post nominals.

“Our credentialed pharmacist workforce is a really passionate and skilled group of professionals. It’s critical for them to be able to have their expertise recognised by all members of the care team, Ms Hawthorne said.

“It’s also important that they’re easily recognisable to consumers – we’ve done a lot of advocacy work with consumer groups recently and for them to have a way of knowing that their pharmacist is qualified and part of a practice community that drives innovation and career-long learning is essential.

“These post nominals will go a long way to driving public trust and confidence in our credentialed pharmacist workforce,” Ms Hawthorne concluded.

PSA National President Associate Professor Fei Sim FPS said the recognition of PSA’s credentialed pharmacist members through post nominals is the next logical step in support for credentialed pharmacists.

“PSA is the home for credentialed pharmacists, as the only organisation with a track record of consistent support, training and advocacy for credentialed pharmacists across all areas of practice.

“We have a long and proud history of advocating for credentialed pharmacists and are focused on how we can continue growing and supporting this workforce.

“PSA is committed to supporting credentialed pharmacists in a way unmatched by any other organisation at present. I am proud that PSA continues to be the home for credentialed pharmacists,” Associate Professor Sim said.

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This will apply from 1 January 2025 for pharmacy graduates, who have completed the course requirements.

This will allow graduates of such programs to use the title ‘Doctor’. This will provide the same recognition that other health professionals with Masters Extended degrees receive, such as physiotherapists, optometrists, and dentists.

The AQF defines a Master’s Degree (Extended) “to qualify individuals who apply an advanced body of knowledge in a range of contexts for professional practice and as a pathway for further learning”. The AQF defines this postgraduate degree as being awarded, following completion of a minimum of a 3-year of a Level 7 qualification, such that the volume of learning of a Master’s Degree (Extended) is typically 3–4 years following completion of a minimum of a 3-year Bachelor (Level 7) qualification.

APC Chair Professor Sarah Roberts-Thomson said, “We are pleased to see that the anomaly that did not previously allow Masters (Extended) programs, to now be able to use a title that has been available to other health professions.

“APC will continue to accredit programs of study for registration as a pharmacist which meet the APC Accreditation Standards and Performance Outcomes 2020 to meet the needs of the Australian community,” Prof Roberts-Thomson concluded.

The Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA), allows Universities to self-accredit their degree standard to determine the AQF level of qualification. The APC does not assess the AQF level of a program. Currently APC accredits a range of programs including BPharm, BPharm (Hons) and MPharm programs.

The current list of APC Australian accredited pharmacy degree programs.

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Dr Jacinta Johnson FANZCAP (Edu., Research), Chair of the AdPha Training Program Advisory Committee, says the ongoing investment in the next generation of pharmacists is encouraging.

‘This announcement is another signal to students they are valued for their skills when entering the workforce.
‘We know Australian pharmacy students want dynamic and fulfilling careers in the profession. This begins with diverse learning options, and is reinforced by the ability to grow and specialise in different disciplines.’

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Minister for Health and Aged Care, Mark Butler announced the change to the Australian Qualification Framework, at the Guild’s Annual Parliamentary Dinner at Parliament House in Canberra last night.

The change means graduates of a new Level 9 Extended Masters of Pharmacy degree will earn the title of Doctor of Pharmacy. It elevates the profession in line with the recognition bestowed on other health professionals such as physiotherapists, podiatrists, optometrists and dentists. Study for the Extended Masters will include the intern year and graduates will be able to participate in the full scope of practice upon their registration.

“This recognition significantly enhances the professional credibility of pharmacists and reinforces their critical role in community health within Australia and globally,” Pharmacy Guild National President Professor Trent Twomey said.

“It’s an important step forward for future community pharmacists who will soon be able to start their careers with the highest possible qualification.

“It provides recognition for the extended scope of clinical practice being undertaken by pharmacists and will be better for pharmacists, patients and primary healthcare.

“Importantly, the Extended Masters program brings Australia’s registerable pharmacy degree in line with that delivered in comparative countries, making pharmacy a more attractive study and career option for Australian students.”

Speaking at the Pharmacy Guild’s Parliamentary Dinner Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler said:

“The Albanese government is delivering on a commitment to pharmacists who can now join other health professionals recognised with the title Doctor when they finish an Extended Masters.

“Opportunities to extend the education and scope of a pharmacists work will help attract and retain pharmacists in our workforce which means more pharmacists, happier pharmacists. Working in more places, providing more services and cheaper medicines to more Australians. This can only be a good thing.”

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Next year’s theme, “Breaking Boundaries: Education as an Enabler of Trust in Healthcare,” spotlights the role of interprofessional education (IPE) and its importance in enabling and fostering trust across healthcare professions and healthcare education.

Bronwyn Clarke, CEO says: “Trust is an essential ingredient of safe and effective healthcare. Our collective role is to prepare a future health workforce that will work together and trust each other and have health professionals that are trusted by our communities. Through our annual IPE Colloquium event, we facilitate discussions and sharing of ideas. We are really looking forward to hearing about the impactful work already happening in this space and showcasing this at next year’s event”

About the EOI

APC encourages teams of at least 2 educators from different professions to submit EOIs to present. Areas of focus could include (but are not limited to):

• An IPE activity that develops trust between students
• How to design and implement an IPE activity through a consumer-led approach
• Examples of student-led or student-driven IPE

Presenters will have the chance to contribute to a vital discussion on how trust-building efforts within IPE can reshape the future of healthcare delivery.

What’s in it for you? Two presenters per submission will receive sponsored event registration, round-trip travel within Australia, and accommodation for one night. There’s also an opportunity to involve students in your presentation to highlight the next generation’s perspective on interprofessional learning

Key dates:

• Submissions Open: 5 November 2024
• Submissions Close: 2 February 2025
• Presenters Announced: Mid-March 2025
• Event Date: 13 May 2025

Submission requirements:

To submit an EOI, applicants must provide:

1. Abstract (max. 300 words) detailing the IPE activity, its impact, and key learnings.
2. 1-minute video featuring the presenters providing an elevator pitch of their proposed presentation.

For submission guidelines and more information on how to submit visit: Program | IPE Colloquium

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Advanced Pharmacy Australia (AdPha) today is celebrating the incredible response from pharmacists to ANZCAP’s landmark recognition programs, which have supported practitioners from pharmacy practice settings across Australia and New Zealand to demonstrate and display their experience and expertise.

Unveiled on World Pharmacist Day last year at the 81st FIP World Congress, more than 2,500 Australian pharmacists have now been formally recognised for their prior professional experience; Training Programs leading to ANZCAP recognition are now available at more than 60 hospitals and health care sites; and the first practitioners have been recognised through the portfolio-builder Independent Pathway.

President Tom Simpson FANZCAP (Lead&Mgmt) says AdPha is marking the milestone by confirming details of recognition renewal, while celebrating Pharmacy Residency Training Program expansion into community pharmacy.

‘ANZCAP is the largest, most inclusive and most innovative program of its kind in Australian pharmacy, and we’re pleased today to share details on the renewal and revalidation process.

‘With annual, ‘midcycle’, and five-year milestones, the renewal framework ensures recognitions are appropriately maintained as per the robust governance of the College.

‘We’re also pleased to announce Ramsay Pharmacy has opened the first AdPha Primary Care Resident Training Program at Ramsay Pharmacy Mt Pleasant in Qld. We’re proud to build on AdPha’s long-history of early career hospital pharmacy residencies by offering fast-tracked education programs in this primary care setting.’

Ella Raguz, Medication Safety & Quality Manager at Ramsay Pharmacy and the first Ramsay hospital pharmacist to complete a residency in 2020, says the program – which sees Tyron Hochmuth enrolled as its first community resident – marks a significant step forward for early career community pharmacists.

‘This Pharmacist Resident Training Program offers crucial career progression and recognition for community pharmacists.

‘Having been the first hospital resident at Ramsay, it’s a lovely full-circle moment to launch this initiative for Ramsay pharmacy.’

Earlier this month, ANZCAP also announced its inaugural Pharmacy Student of the Year award winner as Thaddeus Chai – a driven and passionate fourth-year pharmacy student at Monash University who was awarded for demonstrating his diverse skills through ANZCAP’s portfolio building platform.

AdPha Chief Executive Kristin Michaels says it’s wonderful to see many students like Thaddeus adopting ANZCAP’s portfolio-building platform, echoing the strong uptake and desire for recognition across the pharmacy profession.

‘For students especially, ANZCAP is invaluable in supporting them to take full ownership of their career progression by providing them with a platform to track and reflect at each stage of their professional journey.

‘It’s incredible how much ANZCAP has achieved in its first year and we have been blown away by the broad participation, which speaks to the widespread desire for recognition in Australian and New Zealand pharmacy.’

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Completion of the course allows pharmacists to autonomously prescribe hormonal contraception for female patients aged 16 years and older under the Pilot.

PSA’s training program features cutting-edge AI technology, allowing pharmacists to engage with a virtual patient in a simulated consultation to build confidence and competence in prescribing.

PSA General Manager – Education and Training Kerri Barwick encouraged pharmacists to undertake training to deliver contraception prescribing services.

“This new training initiative is an important step forward in supporting the role of pharmacists in reproductive health,” Ms Barwick said.

“Pharmacists prescribing hormonal contraception will mean more accessible care for Queensland women, putting patient care first and ensuring safe and effective contraception options are available when and where they’re needed.

“PSA’s training program is one of the first to utilise artificial intelligence, giving pharmacists the opportunity to test their skills in a simulated clinical environment. We’re excited to continue to innovate how we deliver nation-leading education to Australian pharmacists.

“PSA continues to work closely with the Queensland Government to deliver training and education to pharmacists as part of the Queensland community pharmacy pilots. On behalf of PSA, we again commend the Queensland Government for implementing the most progressive scope of practice pilot in the country.”

The Sexual and Reproductive Health Contraceptive Service – Queensland is open for enrolments now.

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