Competency Standards for Pharmacists in  Australia  2003

Introduction

The Competency Standards for Pharmacists in Australia 2003 were developed by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia on behalf of the Australian pharmacy profession.  This project was funded by a grant from the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing through the Third Community Pharmacy Agreement Research and Development Grants Program.

The document was formally launched by Emeritus Professor Lloyd Sansom AO on 15 December 2003.

Background

The new document has been developed from two earlier documents:

Competency Standards for Entry-Level Pharmacists in Australia 1994

This was mainly used by registering authorities as a basis for their assessment of applicants for initial registration as a pharmacist, and by pharmacy schools and other bodies providing pharmacy degree courses and pre-registration training courses for the development of curricula.

Competency Standards for Pharmacists in Australia 2001

This document was expanded from the 1994 document to describe the competencies expected of all practising pharmacists.  It was suggested that it could therefore also be used by registering authorities for the re-registration of pharmacists, although at the time no registering authority had the legislative power to undertake this duty.

At the time of adoption by the profession of the 2001 document, it was noted that there were several areas where improvement could be made.  Representatives of pharmacy organisations noted that a thorough further review of the document was warranted.

The result of that review is the Competency Standards for Pharmacists in Australia 2003.

Stakeholder organisations

The following organisations participated in the development of the new competency standards.

  • Association of Hospital Pharmacists
  • Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers, Australia
  • Australian Association of Consultant Pharmacy
  • Australian College of Pharmacy Practice
  • Australian Institute of Pharmacy Management
  • Committee of Heads of Pharmacy Schools of Australia and New Zealand
  • Consumers’ Health Forum of Australia
  • Council of Pharmacy Registering Authorities
  • Department of Health and Ageing
  • Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia
  • The Pharmacy Guild of Australia
  • Pharmaceutical Society of Australia

Issues which guided the review

  • The principal issues, as agreed by stakeholders, which guided the review and revision of the competency standards were to:
  • follow the Australian National Training Authority Training Packages guidelines as far as possible;
  • address the concept of ‘core’ and ‘non-core’ competencies;
  • encompass all areas of developing practice as well as established practice;
  • include the possibility of pharmacists’ practice being restricted to a particular area or areas of professional service; and
  • take into account the February 2000 Final Report of the National Competition Policy Review of Pharmacy Legislation, particularly with regard to the recommendations concerning initial registration and re-registration of pharmacists.

Features of the new competency standards

As a result of a comprehensive review of the competency standards, the following features can be noted in relation to the Competency Standards for Pharmacists in Australia 2003:

  • A single competency standards framework has been retained.
  • The previous Units have been restructured and rearranged to provide greater flexibility in the application of the standards.  The new structure consists of Functional Areas (see list below), Units, Elements, Performance Criteria, Evidence Guides and Range of Variables.
  • The introductory section has been expanded to outline the necessary underpinning body of knowledge and skills.  It also outlines briefly how pharmacy practice in Australia is strongly underpinned by the quality use of medicines.
  • New elements have been incorporated to cover gaps and emerging areas of practice which were identified by stakeholders.
  • Supplementary performance criteria were introduced to recognise specialised roles or roles requiring extended responsibilities or additional functions.
  • The ‘potential applications’ section has been expanded to include suggestions on how the competency standards might be applied under different circumstances.
  • Cross-references between the competency standards and relevant professional practice standards have been included to enhance the link between the two types of standards.
  • A brief guide has been included to show how the competency framework can be applied and customised according to pharmacists’ roles and services.

List of Functional Areas of the new competency standards

  • Functional Area 1  Practise pharmacy in a professional and ethical manner
  • Functional Area 2  Manage work issues and interpersonal relationships in pharmacy practice
  • Functional Area 3  Promote and contribute to optimal use of medicines
  • Functional Area 4  Dispense medicines
  • Functional Area 5  Prepare pharmaceutical products
  • Functional Area 6  Provide primary health care
  • Functional Area 7  Provide medicines and health information and education
  • Functional Area 8  Apply organisational skills in the practise of pharmacy

Potential applications for the new competency standards

There are a number of ways that the new competency standards might be used by the pharmacy profession.  Examples of potential applications are shown in this diagram.

Availability of the document

The Competency Standards for Pharmacists in Australia 2003 can be downloaded as a pdf file or a hardcopy version can be purchased from PSA National Product Sales.

Download pdf file [NB: file size 1.6 MB]
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