As the profession’s peak body and the only Australian Government-recognised pharmacy organisation, we’re your connection to government. We advocate for you so that you can deliver high quality, accessible care for all Australians.
We’re stronger together
What have we achieved together?
Signing the Strategic Agreement on Pharmacist Professional Practice
This key agreement between PSA and the Australian Government delivers a program of work to further develop contemporary standards and guidelines that define pharmacy practice across all areas of practice.
Expanding Scope of Practice
We have worked with State and Territory governments to pilot new programs and expand scope of practice for pharmacists to:
- initiate, authorise and administer vaccinations,
- treat skin conditions,
-
administer medicines by injection,
- treat uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs),
- resupply oral contraceptives, and
- offer travel health services.
Securing investment for aged care pharmacists
Following PSA’s long-term advocacy, we established aged care as a major new career pathway for pharmacists, securing $333.7 million in federal funding for on-site pharmacists – the largest federal investment in pharmacy outside of Community Pharmacy Agreements.
The Aged Care On-site Pharmacists (ACOP) program was established in 2024. Funds are available to employ an on-site pharmacist to work with patients and aged care staff to reduce medication-related harm and optimise the use of medicines, improving health outcomes of residents and building confidence with families and carers.
Providing a home for pharmacist services outside the 8CPA
PSA is leading a process to provide a home for pharmacist services not encompassed in the 8th Community Pharmacy Agreement (8CPA). We support the 8CPA being focused on core community pharmacy programs, recognizing that it should not be a catch-all for all programs that can be delivered by pharmacists.
The 8CPA includes a clause noting that the governance of programs which are not Community Pharmacy Programs will continue for the next 12 months under the 8CPA. Importantly, medicine review services, including Home Medicines Reviews (HMRs) and Residential Medication Management Reviews (RMMRs), continue to be funded through the federal government’s forward estimates as ongoing programs.
Advancing a vision for the future
Following deep consultation with our members, consumers and other health stakeholders, PSA delivered our vision for the profession, Pharmacists in 2030. This vision maps the direction of the pharmacy profession over the coming years, identifying key areas for reform in both practice and workforce development necessary to meet the health challenges of the future.
The actions that form Pharmacists in 2030 empower pharmacists to embrace their full potential to not only meet Australia’s surging health needs over the next six years, but also to build capacity to address health challenges beyond 2030.
