PSA congratulates the pharmacists recognised on the 2026 Australia Day Honours List

26 January 2026 

  

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) wishes to congratulate Emeritus Professor Colin Burton Chapman and Mr Dipak Sanghvi of Victoria on being appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) as part of the 2026 Australia Day Honours.

 

Emeritus Professor Colin Burton Chapman has been recognised with the AM for significant service to pharmacy and pharmaceutical science research, education and practice.

 

Mr Dipak Sanghvi has been recognised with the AM for significant service to community health through governance and board roles.

 

The PSA also extend its congratulations to Mr Rhys Hollington London, Mr Bruce Vincent Townsend, and Mr Maurice Alan Renshaw on being awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM).

 

Mr Rhys Hollington London has been recognised with the OAM for service to the community of Wynyard, Tasmania.

 

Mr Bruce Vincent Townsend has been recognised with the OAM for service to the community of Raymond Terrace, NSW.

 

Mr Maurice Alan Renshaw from New South Wales has been recognised with the OAM for service to the pharmaceutical industry.

 

PSA National President, Professor Mark Naunton MPS, acknowledged the high honour of this recognition and thanked the recipients for their previous and ongoing contributions to the pharmacy profession.

 

“It is evident that pharmacists play a vital role in their communities and the healthcare system. To have multiple pharmacists recognised on the prestigious Australia Day Honours List is a phenomenal outcome.” Professor Naunton said.

 

“On behalf of PSA and the pharmacy profession, I would like to extend my congratulations to Emeritus Professor Colin Burton Chapman, Mr Dipak Sanghvi, Mr Rhys Hollington London, Mr Bruce Vincent, and Mr Maurice Alan Renshaw on their well-deserved recognition.”

 

 

 

Media contact: Leah Jacobsen 

M: 0480 099 798   E: leah.jacobsen@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. 

PSA announces 2026 NAPSA Wildcard Pharmacy Student of the Year

16 January 2026

 

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) has tonight announced that Grace Nicolson from the University of Western Australia is the 2026 National Australian Pharmacy Students’ Association (NAPSA) Wildcard Pharmacy Student of the Year (PSOTY).

 

The 2026 NAPSA Congress, a week-long event of education sessions, workshops, social gatherings, networking opportunities, trade exhibitions, and more, was hosted by the University of Sydney from 11 January to 16 January.

 

The PSOTY Wildcard Final takes place on the last day of Congress, where final-year pharmacy students compete by demonstrating their counselling skills to the panel of pharmacist judges.

 

The winner was selected by an esteemed pharmacist judging panel, Caroline Diamantis FPS, Lily Pham MPS, and Ian Currie MPS Product Manager at Viatris.

 

Speaking from the Congress, community pharmacist and PSA National Vice-President, Caroline Diamantis FPS, congratulated Grace on being named this year’s NAPSA Wildcard PSOTY Winner.

 

“The PSOTY Wildcard competition is rigorous. Not only do the finalists need to solve complex, clinical case studies, but they also need to explain them clearly and effectively, while providing clinical information on stage before a panel of pharmacists and over 300 of their peers,” she said.

 

“It is by no means easy, so I want to congratulate Grace and every student who put their hand up to compete. The PSOTY competition is a wonderful experience that ensures current students, our future pharmacists, have the confidence and leadership skills necessary to succeed in the profession.”

 

Grace will compete against the other state and territory PSOTY winners at PSA26 for the chance to be crowned the National PSOTY. 

 

The PSA acknowledges and thanks Viatris and NAPSA for their ongoing support in the PSOTY competition, which nurtures and inspires the next generation of pharmacists.

 

 

Media contact: Leah Jacobsen 

M: 0480 099 798   E: leah.jacobsen@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. 

“Implement them all”; PSA back every recommendation of the Pharmacy Programs Cost Effectiveness Review

22 December 2025

 

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) has thrown its full support behind every recommendation of the Deloitte Pharmacy Programs Cost Effectiveness Review’s Final Report which was released by the Australian Government today.

 

The review, undertaken by Deloitte on behalf of the Australian Government makes eight recommendations for reform of pharmacist-led programs to improve cost effectiveness and sustainability.

 

In particular the review’s recommendations proposed the removal of caps to providers of Home Medicines Reviews (HMRs), introduction of increased program flexibility, alternate funding mechanisms to incentivise service provision in rural and remote communities and introduction of effective evaluation frameworks which include quality outcome indicators.

 

PSA National President Associate Professor Fei Sim hailed the report’s recommendations.

 

“The review and its recommendations are vindication for Australian pharmacists who have been calling out for reform to these programs for many years. It recognises measures such as HMR caps mean consultant pharmacists are unable to make a full-time living from this life-saving work,” she said.

 

“Every recommendation is important, and PSA encourages the government to implement them all.  This report provides a blueprint for programs reform,” A/Prof Sim concluded.

 

PSA’s pharmacy agreements lead negotiator Associate Professor Shane Jackson echoed this sentiment, emphasising the report provides a clear pathway to reform:

 

“The review’s recommendations reinforce PSA’s long-held position on pharmacist program reforms,” he said.

 

“We will be using the upcoming budget processes to progress reforms through the First Pharmacy Programs Agreement, which have now been backed by the government’s own review. These reforms need to happen, and they need to happen as soon as possible,” A/Prof Jackson concluded.

 

The report is available at Pharmacy Programs Cost Effectiveness Review – Final Report

PSA enters into Heads of Agreement for the First Pharmacy Programs Agreement to progress partnership and certainty

22 December 2025

 

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) has entered into a Heads of Agreement for a Pharmacy Programs with the Australian Government. This Heads of Agreement represents a key milestone in the progression to signing the First Pharmacy Programs Agreement (1PPA).

 

This Heads of Agreement confirms the Government’s intention to provide ongoing funding, outside the Eighth Community Pharmacy Agreement (8CPA), for programs central to the safe and effective use of medicines across the health system. These programs include six medication management programs and all legacy rural workforce and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander programs previously included in the 8CPA.

 

PSA and the Department of Health have agreed to use their best endeavours to agree on the final 1PPA as soon as reasonably practicable, after the relevant budgetary processes have been concluded.

 

The Heads of Agreement contains a shared intention between the Australian Government and PSA to advance the central pillars of the National Medicine Policy 2022 and 10th National Health Priority Area of Quality Use of Medicines and Medicine Safety. It recognises the central role of pharmacists in optimising quality use of medicines and medicine safety and the critical role of the pharmacy workforce.

 

The Heads of Agreement recognises the desirability of ensuring fair and equitable remuneration for pharmacists; addressing barriers to effective services delivery; addressing rural and regional disadvantages; and working towards culturally safe and appropriate care for patients.

 

The Heads of Agreement also recognises the desirability of supporting ongoing review and, when appropriate, reform of pharmacy program design and service delivery, within relevant budgetary and policy constraints of the Commonwealth and the Australian Government.

 

Importantly, the Heads of Agreement recognises the desirability of supporting the Australian Government’s Closing the Gap initiative and its aims to reduce health and life expectancy inequalities between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians, with a strong focus on improving access to culturally safe and equitable health services.

 

PSA National President, Associate Professor Fei Sim FPS, said the Heads of Agreement marks a significant milestone in establishing certainty for the profession and ensuring pharmacists can continue their vital work across communities.

 

“Today’s announcement demonstrates a clear commitment from the government to work in partnership with PSA to secure the future of essential pharmacist programs,” A/Prof Sim said.

 

“These programs are essential to quality use of medicines and patient safety across the health system – from medicine reviews to aged care and to rural and remote communities. The Heads of Agreement gives PSA a firm foundation to negotiate the details required in the coming months, ensuring Australians can continue to benefit from essential pharmacist services.”

 

PSA National President-Elect, Professor Mark Naunton MPS, emphasised the 1PPA will go beyond providing funding certainty.

 

“The Heads of Agreement signals a new phase of collaboration. It demonstrates the Government’s confidence in the programs we as pharmacists deliver,” said Prof Naunton.

 

Deborah Hawthorne FPS, Chair of PSA’s Consultant Pharmacist Community of Specialty Interest, reflected on the importance of the reforms PSA is seeking.

 

“The 1PPA is a critical agreement. The pharmacist programs it contains support medicine safety and quality of life for some of Australia’s most vulnerable patients,” Ms Hawthorne said.

 

“It is essential they are modernised to meet the community’s evolving health needs and remunerated fairly in recognition of pharmacists’ expertise, particularly as payments for many services haven’t had an adjustment for CPI for over six years.”

 

PSA Consultant Pharmacist Advisor, Debbie Rigby FPS, echoed these sentiments.

 

“PSA is seeking a number of common-sense changes to pharmacy programs, including those delivered by consultant pharmacists, to improve patient access, fair remuneration and quality.  These are priorities as finalisation of the agreement continues”, Ms Rigby said.

 

“PSA is the home of all pharmacists. We are committed to achieving a good outcome for the profession to enable pharmacists to sustainably provide their medicines expertise and care to Australians.”

 

PSA Negotiations Lead Associate, Professor Shane Jackson FPS, welcomed the commitment of Government to reach an agreement once the Commonwealth budgetary processes are complete.

 

“PSA intends, through the upcoming 2026-27 budget process, to pursue a pathway forward to ensure these programs can deliver fair and equitable remuneration for pharmacists and reduce barriers to service delivery.

 

“The PSA has and will continue to work constructively with the Department. We look forward further engagement with our members and the entire profession as we look to finalising the full agreement and delivering strong outcomes for the profession and for Australians.” A/Prof Jackson concluded.

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Media contact:   Leah Jacobsen

M: 0480 099 798  E: leah.jacobsen@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.

PSA welcomes the expansion of the Victorian Community Pharmacy Program to include impetigo treatment and new hormonal contraceptives

19 December 2025 

 

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) congratulates the Victorian Minister for Health, Mary-Anne Thomas, on the announcement regarding the expansion of the Victorian Community Pharmacy Program.

 

Victorian Minister for Health, Mary-Anne Thomas, has today announced the expansion of the Victorian Community Pharmacy Program to include impetigo (school sores) in individuals 24 months and older, and hormonal contraceptive continuation, extending beyond oral contraceptives to include depot injection and hormonal ring contraceptives.

 

The expansion will provide enhanced convenience, allowing patients, including parents, to access impetigo treatment for those over 24 months of age and improve access for those continuing hormonal contraception, including injections and rings, without the need for a prescription from the GP.

 

This expansion will raise the total number of common health services available in community pharmacies to six. All additional service consultations will be available at no patient cost, funded by the Victorian Government.

 

PSA Victorian President, Atinuke Abraham FPS, applauds this expansion, which empowers community pharmacists to deliver more comprehensive and accessible care.

 

“This expansion improves access to safe and effective health care for Victorians, complementing the existing services for uncomplicated UTIs, shingles, plaque psoriasis, and travel health,” she said.

 

“We look forward to additional common health conditions and well-being services being introduced to the Victorian Community Pharmacist Program as soon as possible.

 

“Victoria’s approach to pharmacist-led consultations is grounded in equity of access for patients, including through funding of pharmacist consultations.

 

“With PSA’s training formally recognised by the Victorian government earlier this month, it’s an exciting time to be a pharmacist in Victoria. We encourage Victorian community pharmacists to enrol in PSA’s prescribing course to be ready to deliver safe, evidence-based prescribing in line with state protocols.”

 

To enrol in PSA’s Pharmacist Prescribing Scope of Practice Training program, visit this link.    

 

 

Media contact: Leah Jacobsen   

M: 0480 099 798   E: leah.jacobsen@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.