2025 marks the 27th year that Precedent Productions will honour the outstanding achievements and contributions of the Australian small business community.

With over 100 categories, this year’s awards will crown the nation’s Small Business Champions, with winners announced at two glittering red-carpet gala events at The Star Sydney on 28 and 29 March 2025.

The program is open to all industries and free to enter, with applications closing on 10 February 2025.

“Small businesses play a critical role in creating jobs and driving economic growth across a wide range of industries, often earning the title of the backbone of the national economy,” said Steve Loe, Founder and Managing Director of Precedent Productions. “The Australian Small Business Champion Awards provide an invaluable opportunity for operators to have their work evaluated by an expert panel, gain industry recognition, and benchmark themselves against the best in their field,” Mr. Loe added.

Among the program’s previous winners is Justin Vetsavong, CEO of Canberra-based Leaky Roof, who took home the 2024 Small Business Champion Entrepreneur Award. “This honour not only recognises my personal achievements but also shines a light on the incredible team behind me,” Justin shared, highlighting the transformative impact of the awards on his business.

Businesses from every corner of the nation – from regional hubs to capital cities – are encouraged to enter.

The Awards are proudly presented in partnership with NOVA Employment, Castaway Forecasting, BOA, VJB Group, Xcllusive Business Sales, and Big Clean.

The post Celebrating excellence: 2025 australian small business champion awards appeared first on Retail Pharmacy.

PSS Executive Officer, Kay Dunkley, was able to join the golfers for dinner in the club house and talk about the work of PSS, the benefits of peer support and what a difference the donation will make to enable PSS programs to continue and expand. On hearing of the successful outcome of the Charity Day, Curtis Ruhnau, PSS President, said “PSS values the support of VCGC, over several years, through their annual Charity Days. Their fundraising efforts are a further example of peer support, with members of the pharmacy profession providing funds which are used to support callers to PSS who need a listening ear from a pharmacy colleague, on what may be the worst day of their life.” Curtis also noted that although he is not a golfer, he can see how beneficial the VCGC is in bringing colleagues from pharmacy together for exercise and social connection in a pleasant outdoor environment. He said “All pharmacists need to include a relaxing and enjoyable activity such as golf in their lives to enhance wellbeing.”

The Pharmacists’ Support Service (PSS) is available to provide a listening ear from 8am to 11pm AEDT every day of the year. Call 1300 244 910 for anonymous and confidential support from a pharmacist colleague over the phone.
More information about PSS and some useful resources for pharmacists can be found on the PSS website at www.supportforpharmacists.org.au.
PSS relies on the generosity of the profession to continue its work. Donations to PSS can be made via the online portal which is linked to our website. Just click on the Donate Now button (www.givenow.com.au/pharmacistssupportservice). All donations over $2 are tax deductible and a receipt will be issued.

The Pharmacists’ Support Service is governed by representatives from the following organisations
 Australian Friendly Societies Pharmacies Association
 Australian Pharmacy Council
 Pharmaceutical Defence Ltd
 Pharmacy Guild of Australia
 Pharmaceutical Society of Australia
 Pharmaceutical Society of Victoria Ltd
 Professional Pharmacists Australia
 Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia
 National Australian Pharmacy Students’ Association.

The post Victorian Chemists Golf raises $8000 to support the work of PSS appeared first on Retail Pharmacy.

Commencing from 2025, these developments are a part of DHL’s $150m investment in robotics and automation in the region announced in 2022 by global Chief Executive Officer, Oscar de Bok.

DHL has signed an agreement with technology supplier Dematic and is investing $28 million upgrading its Horsley Park (New South Wales) Life Sciences and Healthcare site. From 2027, the site will feature the latest generation automated picking system combined with an additional 1,350m2 cool room, storing products for up to 30 customers at temperatures between two to eight degrees Celsius.

In New Zealand, DHL is supporting the growth of the industry with a $10m investment in automating the country’s most advanced life sciences and healthcare site. Located close to Auckland Airport, the new site features DHL’s first New-Zealand based goods to person (GTP) automation system – running 41 Geek+ robots – to deliver efficient and accurate goods distribution for up to 20 DHL customers.

The recently opened 14,100 sqm site manages the demands of the life sciences and healthcare industry with 11,000 temperature-controlled pallet spaces and other measures to manage cold chain, security and packaging requirements.

DHL has invested a further $8.5 million on a Hai Robotics at its Skyline site in Horningsea Park, New South Wales. From Q4 2025, this site will run 12 bots and five goods-to-person (GTP) pick stations, managing over 14,500 totes through six packing stations. This system will give the site capacity for over 20 customers.

These sites combine with DHL’s life sciences and healthcare site in Erskine Park, New South Wales, which is currently running Locus autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) to give a floor space of 4,125m²
DHL Supply Chain ANZ CEO, Steve Thompsett, said these automation rollouts are leading to a new era in life sciences and healthcare contract logistics in the region.

Each site’s systems have also been designed to pair with DHL’s custom reusable Cool Green Cell packaging products, which have been successfully deployed to our customers focused on compliance, re-usability, efficiencies in packing and reduction in transportation costs for our customers. These solutions are designed for spoil-free goods transport ranging from two to eight degrees Celsius, 15 to 25 and minus 20 degrees Celsius, enabling a wide range of choices for our customers.

While the sites use different technology providers and approaches to automated stock management, all systems improve safety, reduce foot traffic in warehouses and allow staff to work in more meaningful, higher-skilled roles.

“Our global CEO committed to a significant investment in warehouse automation in 2022 because it allows us to better serve our customers while giving more opportunities for staff,” Thompsett said.

“Our life sciences and healthcare customers and their customers who depend on the safe delivery of their products, which may require very specific temperature conditions, will reap benefits from the development of these sites for many years to come.

“We always look for the best automation solutions and partners to meet DHL’s and our customers’ needs, and we appreciate the input of all our project partners involved in these builds.

“Our Global Strategy 2030, which aims to accelerate sustainable growth, has a strong focus on addressing the shifts in the pharma market and these sites will help us to deliver for our customers.”

The post DHL Supply Chain Invests over $46m in Southern Hemisphere appeared first on Retail Pharmacy.

Since Blooms The Chemist rolled out in-store blister pack collection boxes across its entire pharmacy network in November 2022, over 15,000 kgs of aluminium and plastic have been recovered from recycled blister packs.

Blooms The Chemist was the first national pharmacy company in Australia to launch this initiative across its network of more than 115 stores with the support of sponsors, Gaviscon, Nurofen and Strepsils.

Blooms The Chemist Erina (NSW) has been a stand-out contributor across the country, recycling 624.21kgs of medicine packaging, closely followed by Blooms The Chemist Stud Park (VIC).

Blooms The Chemist Forestville (NSW), Blooms The Chemist Springwood (NSW) and Blooms The Chemist Castle Plaza (SA) were also amongst the top five network pharmacies that recovered a significant amount of recycled material.

Blooms The Chemist’s Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer Pamela Bishop said: “Thanks to our collaboration with Pharmacycle and the passion of our network pharmacies, we have been able to reach this remarkable milestone, and reduce our environmental impact while helping our customers do the same.

“We are incredibly proud as a network of community-minded pharmacies to be a leader in the industry in tackling environmental issues such as recycling medicine packaging.”

Pharmacycle’s Account Manager for Blooms The Chemist, Ursi Kernan, said: “With plastic packaging comprising a shocking 81.1 percent of Australia’s litter, it is more critical than ever for companies and Australians to step up and change our habits to create a better future.

“This joint initiative with Blooms The Chemist is important to help achieve better outcomes for the planet by delivering end-to-end recycling solutions to our community.

“By teaming up with Pharmacycle, the local community can conveniently recycle their blister packs by dropping by their local Blooms The Chemist.” 

The post Blooms The Chemist and Pharmacycle save over 10M medicine packs from landfill appeared first on Retail Pharmacy.

The first guide, Building a Thriving Team, offers insights into creating a shared vision, fostering trust, promoting inclusivity, and recognising achievements. The guide is aimed at leaders and managers to help them build engaged, collaborative, and engaged team members for long-term success.

The second guide, Inclusive Hiring in Australia, aims to equip leaders with strategies for hiring, supporting, and developing talent with disabilities. Highlighting the significant benefits of inclusive workplaces, from increased creative, morale, and corporate reputation.
Drawing on global examples and Australian disability employment statistics, this guide challenges leaders to embrace inclusivity as a powerful driver of innovation.
“Leadership isn’t just about achieving goals; it’s about empowering people to reach their full potential,” said Matthew Levy. “With Build a Thriving Team, I hope to provide leaders with practical tools to inspire trust and collaboration, while recognising the unique strengths of their teams.”
On inclusive hiring, Levy added, “Hiring people with disabilities goes far beyond compliance – it’s about tapping into a wealth of talent and perspective that can transform workplaces. With Inclusive Hiring in Australia, I want to show leaders how inclusion can spark creativity and create stronger, more resilient organisations.”

The post Building teams that thrive and embrace inclusion appeared first on Retail Pharmacy.

Having 15 years’ experience with the consumer health company in a variety of leadership roles across sales, strategy and marketing in regions including North Asia, Singapore and India, Mr Iyer has a proven track record in delivering significant results, growth and development.

In his most recent role as Marketing Director for North Asia, Mr Iyer successfully led the team through a robust business turnaround, delivering strong financial results while also driving talent growth and development.

“I am thrilled to take on this new role with Haleon Australia and New Zealand leading the marketing of many trusted household brands such as Panadol, Voltaren, Advil, Sensodyne, Centrum and Polident to name but a few,” Mr Iyer said.

“With a strong focus on innovation and people development, I am committed to building on Haleon’s success and delivering sustainable growth for our brands and customers in this exciting region.”

Congratulating Mr Iyer on his appointment, Anish Patel, General Manager, Haleon Australia and New Zealand added that his “global perspective and wealth of experience will be instrumental” to the company’s continued success.

“We know that Australian and New Zealand health consumers are some of the most sophisticated in the world,” Mr Patel said.

“Through our iconic brands, scale and talent, we have the potential to transform the self-care industry in this market and deliver more for consumers and our customers.”

Mr Iyer succeeds Cate Sefton, who has been Marketing Director for Haleon Australia and New Zealand for the past five years and has worked at Haleon for a total of 21 years across two tenures.

Haleon has expressed gratitude for Ms Sefton’s invaluable contributions and wished her success in her future endeavours as she pursues new opportunities.

The post Haleon appoints Nagraj Iyer as new Marketing Director for ANZ appeared first on Retail Pharmacy.

PharmX is set to offer customers a wider selection of products, made possible by a series of new partnerships established by the ordering platform. This strategic expansion aligns with PharmX’s FY25 growth objectives, which includes growing their supplier base and expanding active accounts, particularly targeting high-growth areas like beauty, technology and medicinal cannabis.

“PharmX is dedicated to supporting suppliers and pharmacies with a platform that simplifies and enhances their operations,” said Tom Culver, CEO of PharmX. “By welcoming these new suppliers, all of whom are leaders in their categories, we’re broadening our product catalogue to meet the increasingly diverse needs of our pharmacy partners, ensuring PharmX remains the top destination for pharmacies seeking comprehensive, reliable access to products from across the industry’s largest network.”
With these new partnerships, PharmX now offers over 80,000 SKUs across its Gateway and Marketplace solutions.

“PharmX provides direct access to a powerful and valuable pharmacy network,” said Sandy Mellis, CEO of VidaCorp. “Since our partnership began, PharmX has enabled millions of dollars in MCo orders across just a selection of pharmacy stores, growing each week. This partnership has unlocked an important market, allowing us to reach a broader customer base and generate strong sales. PharmX has been invaluable in supporting our growth and helping us achieve our commercial goals.”

With over two decades of dedicated service to the pharmacy industry, PharmX’s ongoing focus on innovation and expanding supplier access has solidified its reputation as the preferred platform for 99% of pharmacies across Australia and New Zealand. PharmX’s solutions are designed to help suppliers grow their businesses and support pharmacies in reducing costs, optimising operations, and delivering outstanding service to their communities.

The post PharmX will soon offer an array of new products appeared first on Retail Pharmacy.

Advanced Pharmacy Australia (AdPha)’s 48ᵗʰ national conference – Medicines Management 2024 (MM2024) – has begun with more than 1,000 delegates descending on Adelaide with the newly released practice standards a highlight of the opening plenary.

In opening statements, the Hon. Mark Butler MP, Minister for Health and Aged Care congratulated AdPha on a watershed year while emphasising the importance that hospital-informed care will have on expanded scope of practice and primary care going forward that is multidisciplinary, collaborative and puts the patient at the centre.
‘Your organisation has proved itself to be really positive agents for change and this year has proved that more than most.
‘The transition from SHPA to AdPha from hospital to advanced pharmacy has demonstrated to your profession to your members and to the government that you’re stepping up to support a profession, that is being called upon, to expand its scope of practice and to share its expertise in new and increasingly needed ways.
‘It’s often said that the only constant in life is change. And change is never easy.
‘The change comes opportunity though as well. And if you’re willing to embrace the change and lead into the challenge, those opportunities are maximized. Your organisation has really proved itself to be up to that task this year, and I think it’s stronger for it.’

AdPha President Tom Simpson FANZCAP (Lead&Mgmt) formally announced the release of AdPha’s Clinical Pharmacy Standards, Australia’s foremost standards for clinical pharmacy practice.
‘The Standards have been shaped by input from hundreds of members, and external organisations, reflecting the rapidly evolving pharmacy landscape in Australia, and the contemporary and emerging practices that complete the patient journey in and out of hospital.
‘They have been meticulously updated for current and leading practice, and I thank Editorial Committee Chair Professor Michael Dooley for his leadership and all editors and reviewers for their contributions.’

By offsetting carbon emissions for attendee travel through partnership with the Adelaide Convention Centre, Mr Simpson says the stage is set for the greenest ever Medicines Management conference, with sustainability announced as the theme for MedsAware 2025.
‘Adelaide Convention Centre is a beacon of sustainability – the world’s first convention centre to achieve EarthChecks coveted Master certification – and a number of MM2024 sessions are dedicated to both planetary and human health.
‘It is a fitting time and place to announce the theme for MedsAware: Deprescribing Action Week in 2025 will be empowering safe and sustainable use of medicines.
‘Building “planetary consciousness” in healthcare practice, policy, research, and education is critical; we cannot ignore the fact that climate change is the biggest health threat of this
century.’

The AdPha-led campaign, with returning partners including the Australian Deprescribing Network (ADeN), will go international for the first time, thanks to a newly signed Memorandum of Understanding with the European Association of Hospital Pharmacists (EAHP) also announced today.
‘We are excited to be forging stronger ties with our European counterparts.,’ says Mr Simpson.
‘This MoU will help bring international awareness to key patient care initiatives, such as our
deprescribing awareness campaign, and we are looking forward to engaging EAHP to help amplify what has already proven to be a successful national initiative.
‘We look forward to working together on this and many other initiatives to support our
practitioners and advance patient care across the globe.’
AdPha Chief Executive Kristin Michaels says the conference, under the theme ‘It starts with a spark’, boasts a wide-ranging and diverse program reflecting the importance of the scientific community as a catalyst for change.”The format for Medicines Management is constantly evolving and the team have done an incredible
job combining innovation and inspiration through topics including AI, synthetic opioids and
pharmacogenomics.
‘The program is replete with new ideas at the cutting-edge of pharmacy practice, all designed to illuminate new ways of thinking that can bring positive change to patients in our care.
‘This is what hospital pharmacists and technicians have always done and continue to do: lead hospital-informed change in diverse care settings to ensure safer and more
effective care reaches more Australians, in and around our hospitals.’

The post MM2024: Australia’s largest (and greenest) scientific pharmacy conference ignites in Adelaide appeared first on Retail Pharmacy.

Building upon their existing relationship, which has seen CH2 benefit from the PharmX Gateway—the leading EDI solution supporting orders for 99% of Australian pharmacies—the expanded alliance now includes the full suite of PharmX solutions. CH2 is broadening its product offering on PharmX’s Marketplace, adding over 10,000 products from
500 brands to meet pharmacies’ diverse and growing needs.

PharmX will also support CH2’s growth strategy through bespoke analytics services and predictive demand analytics. PharmX CEO, Tom Culver, said “We’re excited to strengthen our relationship with CH2 by offering our extended service portfolio that brings even greater value to our partners—not only for CH2 but also for our pharmacy customerExpanding CH2’s product range across our Marketplace strengthens our service offering and provides more accurate information on pricing and stock, which we know are highly valued by our pharmacy customers. We’re also seeing significant value in our data solutions. With our combined Gateway, Marketplace, and Analytics offerings, we are
thrilled to support CH2 in strengthening customer engagement while reinforcing our position as Australia’s largest pharmacy network provider.”

“Partnering with PharmX in this expanded capacity represents a significant milestone for CH2 as we continue to grow our reach amongst for Australian pharmacies,” said CH2 CEO, David Collins. “By leveraging PharmX’s full service offering, this partnership not only strengthens our engagement with existing customers but also allows us to connect
with new pharmacies across Australia, reinforcing CH2’s commitment to providing comprehensive, innovative solutions for the healthcare community.”
This strengthened relationship highlights PharmX and CH2’s shared vision for growth and innovation, aiming to enhance operations for pharmacies, ultimately driving long-term success across Australia’s healthcare landscape.

The post PharmX and CH2 agree to expand partnership services appeared first on Retail Pharmacy.

“Hospital pharmacy has never stood still, and neither can we.”

“How we represent current and prospective members, and how we explain the current
and future impact of hospital pharmacy, is key to strengthening our advocacy,
delivering against our mission and expanding opportunities for our profession.

“Through our new branding we signal where hospital pharmacy is going, rather than
reflecting what it has been. A driving force of hospital-informed change that is
increasingly delivered in diverse care settings.

“This is what AdPha members continue to do so well: work, innovate and deliver safer
and more effective care to Australians, at their most unwell, in and around our
hospitals.”

Mr Simpson says beyond numbers, it is the energy of members and measures of
engagement that defines the organisation.

“We are as strong as the projects and platforms that bring us together.

“The 2024 Honour Roll is our largest since its introduction in 2018, totaling almost 400
members who have contributed through state and territory Branch Committees, Specialty Practice Leadership Committees, and groups steering key AdPha programs, projects and events across advocacy, education, workforce development, as well as the Medicines Management national conference.

“Looking ahead, specialisation in our profession will continue, exemplified by our
Specialty Practice program, which now features four specialty groups with
membership of more than 1,000.

“A new blueprint will be born next week when we release the fully revised and updated
Clinical Pharmacy Standards, before gathering for Medicines Management 2024
(MM2024) in Adelaide.

“And we look to the future under a broader and more inclusive banner that embraces
the reality that our collaborative impact extends to pharmacy peers and
interdisciplinary colleagues.”

“The Board thanks every member – at all levels of participation – for a monumental
year, and there is so much more to come.”

The post Advanced Pharmacy Australia released its 2024 Annual Report this month appeared first on Retail Pharmacy.