PSA26: National President says a strong profession needs a strong professional home

31 July 2026

 

PSA26: The Home of Pharmacists, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia’s (PSA) annual national conference has commenced with National President, Professor Mark Naunton MPS, calling on pharmacists to embrace the profession’s expanding role in healthcare, declaring that a strong and united profession is essential to delivering better outcomes for Australians.

 

Opening PSA26, Professor Naunton reflected on his own professional journey, highlighting PSA’s role as the professional home for pharmacists across every practice setting. 

 

“PSA has been a home for me throughout my career, and it continues to be a home for thousands of pharmacists across Australia,” Professor Naunton said.

 

“When we put people first, organisations flourish. When PSA puts members first, pharmacists flourish, and most importantly, so do the patients and communities they serve.”

 

Professor Naunton said pharmacy was entering a period of significant change, with expanded scope of practice, increasing demand for healthcare services, and growing complexity in medicines use creating new opportunities and responsibilities for pharmacists. 

 

“The healthcare needs of Australians are growing in complexity, and our profession continues to evolve. These changes require leadership, courage, and vision,” he said.  

 

“As we look to the future of pharmacy practice, I remain optimistic.” 

 

Professor Naunton highlighted PSA’s work supporting pharmacists through education, professional standards, medicines safety advocacy, and workforce development, including the integration of the Australasian College of Pharmacy into PSA and the ongoing delivery of education programs that support evolving pharmacist services.  

 

“With pharmacists’ scope of practice rapidly expanding across the country, PSA continues to support members by preparing high-quality education and training. It is one of our top priorities.” 

 

The PSA President also acknowledged recent progress in securing paid placements for pharmacy students and thanked the Australian Government for its support of workforce reform and professional practice initiatives.  

 

“This workforce analysis, the first undertaken for the profession in more than 30 years, will help inform where future investments must be made to support quality use of medicines and safe care for Australians, regardless of where they live.”  

 

Professor Naunton also reinforced PSA’s longstanding commitment to medicines safety, ahead of the release of PSA’s eighth Medicines Safety Report focusing on culturally and linguistically diverse communities.  

 

He said medicines safety had become Australia’s 10th National Health Priority, the result of sustained advocacy by PSA and its members. 

 

Looking ahead, Professor Naunton outlined his vision for a stronger profession united through a stronger PSA. 

 

“It is my vision that PSA continues to be the home for all pharmacists. A stronger PSA means a more educated and more supported profession,” he said. 

 

“A place where we can learn, create change, lead and give back.” 

 

“Because when pharmacists have a strong and stable home, they have the confidence to practise at their very best. And when pharmacists are at their very best, Australians receive better care, use medicines more safely, and lead healthier lives.”   

 

 

Media contact: Leah Jacobsen 

E: leah.jacobsen@psa.org.au or media@psa.org.au 

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia is the only national peak body that represents all of Australia’s pharmacists across all practice settings. We want every Australian to have access to the best healthcare, and this must include optimising access to pharmacists’ knowledge and medicines expertise at the forefront of our healthcare system.