This year’s conference, themed IMPACT, highlights the growing role of pharmacists and their teams in delivering exceptional healthcare and strengthening community well-being.

Opening the event, TWC Executive General Manager Nick Munroe acknowledged both the network’s strong performance over the past 12 months, along with the opportunities that lay ahead through the evolving community pharmacy landscape,

“While the community pharmacy sector continues to shift, our focus remains on elevating the customer experience and providing the support the TWC network requires to succeed.” Mr. Munroe said.

“The evolution of community pharmacy over the next few years will be a defining moment, and pharmacists have a critical role in supporting the delivery of primary healthcare for Australians,” he continued.

In the first half of FY25, TWC has continued to grow, expanding its network to 616 pharmacies, adding 52 new stores in the past year. Network sales increased by 11.0 per cent, with like-for-like sales up 9.3 per cent. This growth was fuelled by the success of the TWC offer including CareClinic programs, the myTWC app, and Rewards Plus.

The conference continues with strategic updates, key announcements, and insights from the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, the PSA, and industry leaders, alongside valuable knowledge-sharing sessions from across the TWC network.

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Announced yesterday, this is the largest investment in Medicare since its inception 40
years ago. By expanding the bulk billing incentive to all Australians, the reform will
significantly reduce out-of-pocket costs for GP visits.

AdPha President Tom Simpson says the investment will help limit unnecessary emergency
department visits but urges further action to improve medicine affordability.

‘Seeing a GP is a crucial first step in any patient’s healthcare journey.

‘When that step is skipped, patients often end up in emergency departments
unnecessarily, straining hospital resources and limiting access for those who need
urgent care.

‘Each year, 400,000 Australians visit emergency departments for conditions that could
often be prevented through regular GP visits and proper medication management.

‘Expanding bulk billing is a great step forward, but if we don’t also address the cost of
medicines, more Australians will continue to end up in hospitals unnecessarily.

‘Currently, 250,000 Australians are admitted to hospitals each year due to
medication-related issues, some of which can be linked to the cost of medicines.

‘We applaud the government for making it easier for Australians to visit their GP
without relying on their credit card. But if we truly want to reduce hospital admissions,people shouldn’t also have to worry about their bank balance when purchasing
essential medicines.’ says Mr Simpson

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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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As the peak body for all pharmacists practising across Australia’s health system, PSA highlights opportunities to support pharmacists as medicine experts to improve the quality use of medicines and medicine safety in all areas of practice.

PSA’s submission highlights opportunities to improve patient access to equitable healthcare and medicine safety by strengthening the role of pharmacists with sustainable funding models, calling for:

• Equitably funding pharmacist services, including annual indexation, rural and after-
  hours loading.
• Lifting remuneration to align with other health professions delivering vaccinations
  under the National Immunisation Program.
• Investing in First Nations health by funding the Integrating Pharmacists within
  Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (IPAC) program as recommended by
  the Medical Services Advisory Committee.
• Making medicines expertise and support more accessible to Australians living with
  chronic illness by doubling the Workforce Incentive Program funding for general
  practices that embed pharmacists, and funding pharmacists to participate in
  multidisciplinary case conferencing.
• Further supporting professional pharmacy practice by funding measures that bring
  standards and guidelines in line with growing scope of practice.

PSA National President, Associate Professor Fei Sim FPS, says that unlocking the full potential of pharmacists is critical to meeting the country’s growing health needs.

“Pharmacists are ready and willing to do more for our patients – now we need the tools and
support to do so sustainably,” she says.

“This budget is an opportunity to address long standing inequalities in funding, giving pharmacists the recognition that they deserve.

“Every day, Australians turn to their local pharmacist for timely, expert care. With investment in services, education, and workforce sustainability, we can continue to strengthen and scale up the services we provide, improving patient access to care and reducing pressure on the health system.

“Our message to government is clear, invest in pharmacists, and we will deliver better health outcomes for all Australians.”

PSA’s 2024-25 Federal Budget submission is available in full here: Budget Submissions.

Text by: PSA.

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Titled ‘Transforming the future of pharmacy – embracing change and innovation’ and hosted by CommBank Health, the workshop is the fifth edition of their ‘Pharmacy Owners Masterclass’ series.

The workshop will feature newly refreshed content and structure and will explore several vital and emerging aspects of pharmacy business management, including:

• Building and retaining great pharmacy teams;
• Utilising the 8 th CPA for success;
• Financing strategies for long-term growth;
• Utilising technology to your advantage;
• Building a robust approach to financial management.

APP Convenor, Kos Sclavos AM says that the workshop is must-attend for pharmacists wanting to enhance their business performance, or pharmacists wanting to buy into a pharmacy or step up into management positions.

“In today’s fast-evolving industry, staying ahead of the curve is essential and adaptability is
crucial,” says Mr Sclavos.

“Attend this workshop to elevate your pharmacy with innovative strategies, enhanced services and improved performance.

“Aspiring owners will also benefit greatly from attending this workshop.”

Workshop facilitators include Emma Brown and Anne Seah from RSM Australia, Pharmacy
Practice Manager for Good Price Pharmacy Warehouse, Carolyn Clementson, and Co-Founder and Director of Scrypt, Lloyd Smith.

The workshop will run from 12.30pm to 5.00pm.

Register today at appconference.com.au.

Text by: The Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Queensland.

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Effective immediately, pharmacists in the Territory are authorised to prescribe and administer a wider range of vaccines, including private market vaccines such as shingles and whooping cough vaccines when not covered under the National Immunisation Program (NIP).

Additionally, from today, NT pharmacists can also administer the Respiratory Syncytial Virus vaccine (RSV) at no cost to patients through the NIP during pregnancy from 28 to 36 weeks’ gestation.

PSA SA/NT President Dr Manya Angley FPS lauded the initiative, stating, “This development is a significant advancement in public health, enhancing access to essential vaccines for Territorians.

“The current measles alert in the NT is a timely reminder of the importance of staying up-to-date with vaccination and catching up on missed doses,” she continued.

“By empowering pharmacists to authorise and administer an expanded range of vaccines, including NIP vaccines like RSV, the Northern Territory Government is leveraging the expertise of pharmacists to improve healthcare delivery, particularly in remote and underserved communities”, Dr Angley said.

PSA has long advocated for the expansion of pharmacists’ roles in immunisation, recognising the potential to increase vaccination rates and reduce the burden on other healthcare providers. This change will make it easier for patients to access life-saving vaccines closer to home at their convenience.

PSA National President, Associate Professor Fei Sim FPS, encouraged other Australian states and territories to follow the Northern Territory’s leadership in this area.

“Expanding pharmacists’ vaccination authority nationwide will improve vaccination accessibility and immunisation coverage across the country. PSA urges all jurisdictions to consider similar measures, removing barriers such as limitations on vaccine, patient age, funding and location of vaccination,” A/Prof Sim concluded.

PSA remains committed to supporting pharmacists in delivering high-quality and accessible healthcare services and will continue to advocate for policies that optimise the role of pharmacists in Australia’s health system.

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Announced Friday morning by the Hon. Mark Butler MP, Minister for Health and Aged Care, the agreement will support the health and wellbeing of Australians through medication management reviews, First Nations programs, and rural workforce and training programs, and follow an independent review into the cost-effectiveness of current programs.
AdPha President Tom Simpson FANZCAP (Lead&Mgmt) says a patient-centred focus on evidence is native to Australian hospital pharmacy, the cradle of new models of pharmacy care.

‘Medicines management programs and primary care pharmacy services must be enhanced through the latest research and evidence and targeted to our most vulnerable Australians first and foremost, to maximise health outcomes for the community and keep people out of hospital wherever possible.
‘As Australia’s peak body of hospital pharmacy for more than 80 years, AdPha is the home of team-based pharmacy care that is led by the evidence. We look forward to helping shape pharmacy programs that better support the safe and effective care of older Australians, and improve medicines access for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.’

Mr Simpson says Australia’s pharmacy programs can be strengthened through the insight
of AdPha members who care for acutely unwell and at-risk Australians.

‘For decades AdPha members have forged new models of care in cost-constrained environments, in which their safety and efficacy, as well as their sustainability, must be proven in progressing from trial to pilot to program.
‘Our members bring valuable pharmacy expertise to the interdisciplinary teams providing care for the 250,000 Australians admitted to hospitals and 400,000 Australians presenting to emergency departments each year due to medication-related problems. With half of these preventable, better designed and more targeted pharmacy programs will reduce these costly hospital admissions and re-admissions.
‘Applying this knowledge of complex and transitional care models, which has accumulated in and around our hospitals, will ensure stronger pharmacy programs benefit more Australians.’

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The harm reduction measure will be offered at the upcoming Hardmission Festival, Pitch Music and Arts Festival, March Ultra Music Festival and The Warehouse Project.

This follows the pill-testing trial at the recent Beyond the Valley Festival. Pill testing was introduced following the spike in drug-related harm last year with nine people critically unwell at Hardmission Festival all experiencing hyperthermia after using high-potency MDMA in a hot and humid environment and one death related to a suspected overdose at Pitch Music and Arts Festival.

Victorian Minister for Mental Health Ingrid Stitt said, “Following a spike in drug harm last festival season, this service is more important than ever. It offers a sensible health-led approach that will save the lives of young Victorian festivalgoers.”

“The results from Beyond the Valley speak for themselves: pill testing does not encourage people to use drugs. It allows people to see what’s really in their substances and make informed health decisions.”

Associate Professor Arunogiri Associate Professor at Monash Addiction Research Centre and Acting Executive Clinical Director of Turning Point said, “It is fantastic to see the further expansion of the drug checking trial in Victoria. This evidence-based health measure will help keep more people safe and reduce illicit drug harms.

“The first festival trial at Beyond the Valley provided very encouraging data, consistent with research that shows drug checking often results in people discarding their drugs.

“With the increasing detection of dangerous substances such as nitazenes in the illicit drug supply, drug checking services can be a critical part of an early warning system. Making these measures more widely available is absolutely vital.”

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The Medicine Safety: Child and Adolescent Care report reveals the extent of medicine-related problems in children and adolescents.

PSA National President Associate Professor Fei Sim FPS said the report’s findings painted a sobering reality of medicine use in Australia’s children and adolescents, showing the urgent need for reform.

“As the peak body for all pharmacists in all areas of practice, PSA continues to advocate for pharmacists to be further empowered in their roles as medicine safety experts.

“Our health system is failing children and adolescents. As a health community, we must commit to doing better, but we also need to be given the resources and tools to do better. Pharmacists are critical to ensure the safe use of medicines and must be supported to do so.

“That means adequately staffing children’s hospital wards with the expertise of pharmacists, investing in systems that capture the data needed for evidence-based policy, and improving the quality use of medicines whenever medicines are used.

“It takes all of us, across all areas of practice and indeed across all health professions, to make a difference to the children and adolescents who rely on our care,” Associate Professor Sim concluded.

Read the report here: psa.org.au/medicine-safety-child-adolescent-care-report/

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The agreement will cover a range of pharmacy programs that no longer sit within the 8th Community Pharmacy Agreement, including but not limited to medication management programs (including Home Medicines Reviews and Residential Medication Management Reviews), Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander specific programs, and rural support programs that encompass pharmacists in a range of practice areas.

The new agreement will see PSA and the Commonwealth work together, alongside other pharmacy stakeholders, to strengthen programs that pharmacists deliver across the health system.

PSA National President Associate Professor Fei Sim FPS said the agreement was an opportunity to reform programs to ensure they are fit-for-purpose, now and into the future.

“PSA is the recognised peak body for all pharmacists, in all areas of practice across our health system. This agreement is an opportunity to reform program rules and funding arrangements to maximise the impact of pharmacists across the health sector,” Associate Professor Sim said.

“In negotiating a standalone agreement with the Australian Government, we are advocating for the changes we have long known need to happen, allowing pharmacists to best serve our communities.

“Members will be aware that following PSA’s advocacy, the government confirmed in late 2024 that these programs would have ongoing funding beyond the current financial year. Now that there is security of funding for these programs, our focus turns to removing the barriers that have prevented pharmacists from playing a greater role in patient care.”

As signatory to the new agreement, PSA will be seeking feedback from pharmacists and stakeholders on program arrangements and barriers.

“I encourage every pharmacist involved in these programs to have their say so that we can provide a full picture of the barriers, challenges and opportunities for pharmacists to provide better care for patients.

“PSA looks forward to continuing our work with the federal government to secure a stronger pharmacy profession now and into the future,” Associate Professor Sim concluded.

PSA consultant pharmacist adviser Debbie Rigby FPS also welcomed the announcement.

“As the home for credentialed pharmacists, it’s important that PSA is the organisation leading these discussions,” Ms Rigby said.

“I’m excited to be part of PSA’s team, advocating for improvements to these programs. As someone with a deep understanding of the current programs, I am committed to raising awareness of the benefits of these programs and further enhancing outcomes for patients.”

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