This year’s Street Party theme, ‘Country Hoedown’ promises a lively celebration, with APP2025 Conference Chairman Kos Sclavos AM encouraging attendees to join in the fun.

“The APP Street Party is the perfect chance to unwind, network, and celebrate with industry friends after a busy few days of learning,” says Mr Sclavos.

“The ‘Country Hoedown’ theme has generated a lot of excitement, and we expect tickets to sell out quickly.”

Something for everyone

Held at The Star Gold Coast, the party will span two venues.

The Ballroom will feature live music, line dancing, and a headline performance from Furnace & Fundamentals.

Meanwhile, the Marquee will offer a more relaxed atmosphere with acoustic tunes interactive games, and a photo booth.

Tickets include a buffet dinner, a signature cocktail on arrival, and a 5-hour drinks package.

For more information and to secure tickets, visit appconference.com.

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‘Exceptional initiative in pharmacy delivery’

A pharmacist at the Royal Hobart Hospital and a recently graduated PSA intern, Ms Dowling has demonstrated exceptional initiative in pharmacy delivery.

Her work in medicines governance and access included vaccine prescribing and distribution, leading to updates in the Tasmanian Medication Formulary and guiding pharmacy supply decisions.

Ms Dowling has also played a key role in improving vancomycin level monitoring in the neurosurgery ward, identifying administration errors, and developing targeted education for nursing staff to enhance patient safety.

Beyond her clinical contributions, Ms Dowling has been a leader among her peers — mentoring new pharmacy interns, supervising University of Tasmania pharmacy students, and facilitating education sessions for fellow interns.

‘An incredible example of what it means to be a pharmacist’

PSA Tasmania President Mark Kirschbaum FPS praised Ms Dowling for her dedication to advancing pharmacy practice.

“Lucinda has set an incredible example of what it means to be a pharmacist — demonstrating leadership, initiative, and a dedication to medicines safety that will serve her well throughout her career,” he said.

‘On behalf of PSA, I congratulate Lucinda on this well-deserved recognition and look forward to continuing to support her throughout her undoubtedly bright pharmacy career ahead.”

The award was presented at the PSA Intern of the Year and Welcome to the Profession event on 21 February 2025 at T42 Hobart.

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Nicolette Senserrick joins as General Manager of Medical Relations, and Craig Thompson steps in as General Manager of Medical Sales.

The new hires follow significant developments for the company, including the introduction of same-day pharmacy delivery in Sydney through its Leafio brand and a new strategic distribution partnership with the IPA network.

Rhys Staley, Executive Director and Vice President at Montu, says he is excited about the new appointments.

“These new appointments reflect our intention to continue leading from the front throughout 2025.

“Moreover, they further our dedication to shaping the future of medical cannabis in Australia,” he says.

GM of Medical Sales, Mr Thompson, who brings 7 years’ experience working within the medicinal cannabis industry, says he is looking forward to being part of a dynamic and innovative home-grown business.

“Montu has consistently stood out to me as a key player in driving growth and change within the medicinal cannabis industry,” says Mr Thompson.

He aims to ensure the field team is well-equipped for success in their healthcare practitioner relationships.

GM Medical Relations, Ms Senserrick joins from WooliesX B2B and Woolworths at Work where she led dynamic teams to push powerful products to market.

At Montu, Ms Senserrick will be responsible for engaging with practitioners who may be unfamiliar with treating patients with medicinal cannabis.

“I am beyond excited to join Montu to help Australian health practitioners better navigate the medicinal cannabis landscape and prescribe with greater confidence,” she says.

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“Patients are suffering unnecessarily, enduring heightened pain and distress, because the medications that typically control their symptoms are either unavailable or prohibitively expensive,” says Dr Peter Allcroft, Chair, Palliative Care Australia.

Despite repeated calls for action from the palliative care sector, Palliative Care Australia (PCA) says there has been little progress toward ensuring a stable supply of these life-changing drugs.

“A collective of 7 organisations wrote to parliamentarians in early December [2024] trying to escalate this issue after months and months of slow or no progress, people, including children are dying without adequate pain relief,” says Dr Allcroft.

‘Supply becoming increasingly uncertain’

Most of the affected medicines are vital opioid analgesics that have been used for decades to manage severe pain and other symptoms in palliative care patients.

With their supply becoming increasingly uncertain, clinicians are forced to prescribe less effective alternatives, resulting in less reliable pain relief and risking unwanted side effects.

Adding to the distress is cost, with many of the alternative medications not subsidised through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

One of the most startling examples is hydromorphone SR, which costs the public $182 for 32mg, which a non-PBS-listed alternative is $4209 for 100 tablets.

PCA campaign to resolve the ongoing issue

As part of the ‘better access to palliative care’ campaign leading up to the federal election, PCA has launched an 11 point plan to resolve this ongoing issue.

“Our recommendations centre on establishing a national stockpile of critical medicines, fostering domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing, strengthening the PBS, and empowering the TGA,” says Dr Allcroft.

“Four hundred people die every day of a terminal illness — limited or no access to these critical medications has a ripple effect through families and communities.”

With nearly 20,000 signatures already on the campaign’s petition, advocates hope the issue will be addressed ahead of the federal election, ensuring better quality of life for those in palliative care.

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The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has granted approval for semaglutide 2.4mg (Wegovy) as an adjunct therapy to reduce major adverse CVD events, including cardiovascular death, non-fatal heart attacks, and non-fatal strokes.

The approval follows findings from the SELECT trial, a global study involving more than 17,000 participants across 41 countries, including Australia.

Results published in late 2023 showed that Wegovy reduced cardiovascular events by 20% in people with pre-existing heart disease who were overweight or obese but did not have diabetes.

Professor Stephen Nicholls, lead of the Australian arm of the SELECT trial and Director of the Victorian Heart Institute at Monash University, emphasises the significance of the approval.

“This approval highlights the critical role of overweight and obesity as major drivers of heart disease — on par with cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes and smoking,” he says.

“It reinforces that these risks can be actively reduced with targeted therapies.

“The SELECT trial demonstrated that the cardiovascular benefits of semaglutide extend beyond weight loss.

“This drug also positively impacts inflammation, blood lipids and blood pressure, which are all crucial in preventing heart attacks and strokes.

“What this tells us is that if you have heart disease and are overweight or obese, not only are you at a higher risk of another cardiovascular event, but that risk can now be significantly reduced.

“This is a groundbreaking result for patients.”

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Longitudinal research from Insightfully, commissioned by the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, found that more than 1 in 5 people have not filled a prescription in the past 3 years due to cost. This figure rises to 1 in 3 in regional Australia. Women, younger people, and those with dependents are most affected.

Pharmacy Guild National Councillor Mario Barone stresses the urgency of addressing this issue.

“We know what happens when people can’t afford their medicine – they get sicker,” he says. “Often there are complications that mean time off work, time in hospital and time recovering.”

Calls for government action 

Mr Barone urges the government to reduce the PBS general co-payment to ease financial pressure on patients.

“This non-inflationary measure would reduce out-of-pocket prescription costs for patients,” he says.

“Community pharmacists see patients struggling to afford their medicine every day.

“The government can, and should, take action to address these challenges and make sure medicine stops being a luxury item.”

Sydney pharmacist Claudia, echoes these concerns, explaining she sees multiple patients each week who are struggling to afford their medication.

“In the past 6 months I’d say 3-4 patients a week are struggling to afford their medication,” she says.

“We had a patient and realised he was only taking 50% of the medications he was meant to be taking just because he couldn’t afford to get all his medications.

“People are having to choose what they can and can’t get.”

Cost of living a top priority

With cost of living ranked as a top priority for voters, followed by healthcare, the Guild is calling on the government to act swiftly to improve medicine affordability.

“Australians are being forced to make tough choices between filling prescriptions and paying the rent, buying groceries and putting petrol in the car.

In the face of this evidence the government must act and make medicine more affordable by reducing the co-payment for general patients,” says Mr Barone.

For more information, visit: affordablemedicines.com.au.

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The 22 April 2025 deadline ensures applications are processed before interim funding arrangements end on 30 June.

PSA guarantees that pharmacists who submit a complete MMR RPL application before 22 April will have their RPL processed and new credential issued before 1 July.

Submission made after this date will still be processed, however, may not be completed before 1 July.

Pharmacists are reminded that from 1 July 2025, those who have not obtained a new credential will be unable to claim fees for MMR services, as current Medication Review Numbers (MRNs) will become invalid.

PSA continues to support consultant pharmacists by offering complimentary MMR RPL for professional plus members.

PSA National President Associate Professor Fei Sim FPS says the guarantee gives pharmacists certainty about their ability to continue providing MMR services uninterrupted.

“The temporary extension of MRNs meant that pharmacists had more time to transition to new credentials, minimising disruption to patient services and allowing the existing workforce to continue providing MMR services,” says Associate Professor Sim.

“As we now approach the end of this extension, our team is preparing for an influx of applications.

“To ensure that critical MMR services are not interrupted, PSA is guaranteeing that all RPL applications submitted before 22 April will be processed before 1 July.

“I strongly encourage pharmacists who have not yet enrolled in the RPL course and submitted the required evidence to do so as soon as possible, ensuring that your services are not interrupted on 1 July.”

PSA Consultant Pharmacist Community of Specialty Interest (CSI) Chair Deborah Hawthorne FPS CredPharm (MMR) also encourages pharmacists to connect with the CSI for support.

“As the temporary extension of our MRNs comes to an end, now is time to gather and submit evidence for your RPL,” says Ms Hawthorne.

“Our Consultant Pharmacists CSI Facebook group is a valuable resource for members undertaking RPL, particularly when it comes to the peer review process.

“I encourage PSA members to join our community and reach out to peers for support as we near 1 July.”

PSA has provided pharmacists detailed information and a step-by-step guide to submitting RPL evidence on a dedicated webpage, available here.

PSA’s credentialing team is also available to assist learners via credentialing@psa.org.au.

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Led by Monash University and published in the Medical Journal of Australia, the recommendations address the unique challenges faced by some 39,000 people living with this chronic neurological condition.

Senior author Associate Professor Mastura Monif, a neurologist and researcher from the Monash University School of Translational Medicine and head of Alfred Health’s Neuroimmunology Service, said although Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) adopted an international MS guideline in 2009 (which was last updated in 2015), specific and recent consensus recommendations were needed to guide best practice on locally available therapies and local practices.

“New disease-modifying therapies are more effective and better tolerated,” says Associate Professor Monif.

“But it’s a much more complex treatment landscape than it was 20 years ago, and there is new evidence being generated all the time on many aspects of the disease.

“It is really important that the approach used is focused on both the effectiveness and safety for the individual so they can get the best possible outcome.”

Developed by more than 30 experts from the Australian and New Zealand Association of Neurologists working group — including MS specialists, nurses, allied health professionals, and patient advocacy groups — the statement covers pre-assessment, therapy selection, monitoring, symptom management, and special considerations such as pregnancy and infections.

MS Australia CEO Rohan Greenland welcomes the guidelines as an “invaluable resource, especially for generalist clinicians navigating this rapidly evolving field”.

“They provide a clear and ready reference to best-practice evidence and expert consensus – an important milestone in MS care in Australia,” he says.

First author Dr Jessica Shipley, an MS and Neuroimmunology fellow at Alfred Health, says the recommendations are for everyone involved in managing MS, regardless of healthcare setting or location.

“These recommendations will be a valuable resource for everyone from GPs,  to neurologists, doctors in training, medical students, allied health professionals, nursing staff, and consumers or patients,” says Dr Shipley.

The recommendations can be found here:

• Part 1: Consensus recommendations on MS management in Australia and New Zealand.
• Part 2: Consensus recommendations ons MS management in Australia and New Zealand.

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However, delegates are still able to register for the conference as usual.

APP2025, taking place on the Gold Coast next month (20-22 March), will showcase over 250 companies and more than 450 exhibitor stands, covering everything from prescription and OTC medicine providers, software providers, complementary medicines suppliers, finance companies, and more.

“We have over 250 different companies participating in this year’s Trade Exhibition,” said
conference convenor, Kos Sclavos AM.

“With a wide variety of exhibitors and over 450 stands, there’s sure to be something of interest for all of our delegates.”

This year, the exhibition hall is set to become a physical manifestation of the APP2025
conference theme ‘Unlocking Your Opportunities’, providing delegates opportunities to network and keep up to date with industry trends.

“Whether delegates are looking for inspiration, seeking partnerships, or even just wanting
to keep ahead of industry trends, this year’s Trade Exhibition will deliver an incredible
experience filled with opportunities for growth and success,” said Mr Sclavos.

APP2025 will also feature a comprehensive three-day education program offering a mix of industry updates, clinical insights, business strategies, and motivational talks delivered by more than 120 experts and thought leaders.

Register for APP2025 at appconference.com.

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Announced on 6 February 2025 by by the Minister for Health and Wellbeing Chris Picton MP, effective immediately, South Australian pharmacist immunisers can authorise and administer any vaccine within their individual scope of practice, including for the first time travel health vaccines for cholera, rabies and typhoid.

The SA Government has also removed age-based restrictions, improving accessibility.

PSA South Australia and Northern Territory President Dr Manya Angley FPS welcomes the move.

“South Australian pharmacists will be authorised to prescribe and administer vaccines from the same vaccine formulary as every other vaccinator – the Australian Immunisation Handbook,” says Dr Angley.

“This will dramatically improve access and convenience for South Australians.

“South Australia is leading the nation in scope of pharmacist-administered vaccines, a fact that we should be very proud of.”

‘The reforms are nation-leading’

PSA National President Associate Professor Fei Sim FPS describes the reforms as “nation-leading” and urges other jurisdictions to adopt the South Australian approach.

“Regulation should enable, rather than restrict good health care provision,” she says.

“This approach will unlock a new level of care, and should be the standard all other states and territories aspire to.

“PSA is advocating to regulators in every other Australian jurisdiction urging for alignment of these regulatory changes in each jurisdiction to unleash the potential of pharmacists in protecting the health and wellbeing of Australians.”

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