Assistant Minister Stoker will join more than 150 community pharmacists and pharmacy industry representatives at Victoria Park Ballroom on Wednesday 5 March to address this year’s campaign theme #AccelerateAction.

Chris Owen, President of The Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Queensland, expressed his pride in hosting this significant event.

“As an industry made up of 70% women, International Women’s Day holds great
importance to The Guild and to the community pharmacy industry as a whole,” says Mr Owen.

“This event provides an opportunity for meaningful conversations and celebrating the
women in our community.

“This will be the fourth year The Queensland Guild has hosted this important event, and we look forward to hearing from our guest speaker, Assistant Minister Stoker.”

With experience across business, law, and government, Assistant Minister Stoker’s presentation will offer key insights on how to Accelerate Action.

Celebrating International Women’s Day and recognising women in the pharmacy industry, attendees can enjoy Assistant Minister Stoker’s insights, a delicious hot breakfast, networking, and a chance to win fabulous lucky door prizes.

Tickets are limited and are selling quickly. For further details and to book, click here.

Text by: The Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Queensland.

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This marks a significant milestone in the implementation of the Community Pharmacy Full Scope of Practice initiative.

“This is a significant milestone for healthcare in the Northern Territory,” says Peter Hatswell, President of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, NT Branch.

Following a successful pilot, James Cook University (JCU) has the Graduate Certificate of Advanced Practice and Prescribing for Pharmacists.

The course includes residential components in Darwin, making it more accessible for local pharmacists.

Charles Darwin University is planning to host the residential components of the course in Darwin, with scheduling currently under discussion.

“The training will equip our pharmacists with the skills and knowledge needed to provide a wider range of health services, improving access to care for all Territorians,” says Mr Hatswell.

Government backing

The NT Government is backing the initiative with a $1 million subsidy, fulfilling its July 2024 election promise to expand pharmacist-led healthcare services.

“We’re thrilled to see the CLP government following through on their commitment to expand pharmacists’ scope of practice,” says Mr Hatswell.

“This program will allow pharmacists to treat up to 21 conditions, including ear infections, asthma, and minor wounds, significantly reducing the burden on our healthcare system.”

Enrollment details

Pharmacists interested in enrolling can find course information at: Graduate Certificate of Advanced Practice and Prescribing for Pharmacists.

Details about the training subsidy and application process are available at: Australasian College of Pharmacy.

The Community Pharmacy Full Scope of Practice program regulatory changes are expected to be implemented by August 2025, paving the way for expanded healthcare services in Northern Territory pharmacies.

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“As the former Queensland Branch President, Chris was my deputy, so I’ve had the pleasure of working with Chris first-hand over a number of years,” says Mr Twomey.

“Chris is a great leader and a fantastic pharmacist; in 2020, he was awarded the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Queensland Branch’s President’s Award in recognition of his outstanding commitment to community pharmacy and he is also the immediate Past-President of the Australasian College of Pharmacy,” he says.

Mr Owen, a third-generation pharmacist, says he was honoured and humbled by the opportunity to serve in the role.

“It’s an absolute pleasure to serve community pharmacy and a leader of industry. I am inspired by the dedication of our profession to their patients, especially throughout the pandemic,” says Mr Owen, “it has been truly amazing to see the way in which pharmacists and their team members have risen to the challenge of Covid-19 in their local communities.”

Mr Owen is a strong supporter of supporting early career and young pharmacists into ownership, seeing this as an avenue to better establish pharmacies as community health hubs.

“I bought my first pharmacy in 2009, but I remember growing up working over holiday periods with Mum and Dad in their pharmacies.”

“Working in pharmacy in those early years, I really felt part of the community, engrained in it. This sense of community inspired me to give back to the profession and to advocate for the role and scope of pharmacists, particularly in rural areas,” says Mr Owen.

Mr Owen also said the increasing role community pharmacies are playing in the fight against Covid-19 was demonstrating the need for community pharmacies to be able to provide their full scope of practice.

“Now, more than ever, communities across Queensland are depending on their local pharmacies to provide health care support and advice, and we know community pharmacies are only too happy to step up and meet the needs of their communities,” says Mr Owen.

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