New online training to support people living with diabetes

Wednesday 6 March 2019

JOINT MEDIA RELEASE

A new online course to support pharmacists in caring for people living with diabetes has been launched today by the peak national body for all pharmacists, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) and Diabetes Qualified (DQ), the training arm of Diabetes NSW & ACT.

The Diabetes in Practice for Pharmacists course aims to help improve pharmacists’ health literacy to better support people living with diabetes to make informed choices about their health and thus improve health outcomes.

Diabetes in Practice for Pharmacists also supports several of the national priority actions in the recently released National Diabetes Implementation Strategy, contributing to the strategy’s goal of prioritising Australia’s response to diabetes and its complications and comorbidities, and reducing the impact of diabetes in the community.

PSA National President Dr Chris Freeman said the course focused on applying diabetes knowledge in everyday practice and supporting patients through better engagement, asking more meaningful questions and giving advice or referring on as needed.

“This new training program supports some of the key actions in PSA’s Pharmacists in 2023 by helping pharmacists in all practice settings have more supportive and meaningful conversations with their patients to prevent medicine misadventure and create better health outcomes,” Dr Freeman said.

“Diabetes is explained in simple terms using case studies and real life scenarios to provide examples of appropriate language to answer questions from a person living with diabetes about diabetes management and related products.”

Sturt Eastwood, CEO of Diabetes NSW & ACT said, “For many people living with diabetes their pharmacist is the health professional they see the most, so there is ample opportunity to have a conversation about diabetes care. We know that education leads to more effective self-care, which leads to reduced complications and better health outcomes.”

The course includes interactive modules and is relevant for pharmacists, intern pharmacists and pharmacy students with a special interest in diabetes. The introductory module is free for PSA members and the course provides pharmacists with the flexibility to work at their own pace.

To access individual modules or the full course, please visit the PSA website or DQ website.

The PSA and Australian Diabetes Educators Association (ADEA) co-developed Pharmacist Diabetes Educator career pathway also supports pharmacists providing services to people living with diabetes.

Media contacts:
PSA: Jarryd Luke, 0487 922 176
DQ: Danilia Walker, 02 9552 9904

Leadership change at PSA

On Monday 25 February, Graham Catt decided to step down from his role as Chief Executive Officer of PSA. The Board has extended its best wishes to Graham for the future.

To ensure a seamless transition and certainty for our members and stakeholders, Dr Shane Jackson has been appointed as interim CEO and Belinda Wood appointed as Deputy CEO. Shane will step down from the PSA Board over this period.

The PSA Board thanks Shane for stepping into the role as interim CEO which will continue to see PSA focussed on ensuring that pharmacists are able to practise to full scope, and that they are appropriately remunerated and recognised for their key role in healthcare.

We look forward to Pharmacists in 2023 guiding the work of the PSA over the next few years and see that Shane and Belinda will be able to guide this work in the immediate future.

Media contact:
Jarryd Luke
Senior Communications Officer
0487 922 176

PSA recognises leadership of retiring Pharmacy Guild Executive Director, David Quilty

Sun 24 February, 2019

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) today acknowledges the leadership of David Quilty as he steps down from his role as Executive Director for the Pharmacy Guild of Australia.

PSA National President Dr Chris Freeman said PSA had enjoyed a good working relationship with the Pharmacy Guild under David Quilty’s leadership.

“On behalf of the PSA Board, CEO and staff, I thank David for his leadership over the past six years,” Dr Freeman said.

“David has been a passionate and relentless advocate for community pharmacy and will be remembered for his role in negotiating the Sixth Community Pharmacy Agreement in 2015, and Pharmacy Compact in 2017. We wish David all the very best in his retirement.

“PSA looks forward to continuing to engage constructively with the incoming Executive Director on key issues of common interest to progress the roles, recognition and remuneration for pharmacists, so they can provide the best possible care to patients.”

Media contact:
Jarryd Luke
Senior Communications Officer
0487 922 176

Medicine safety should be a priority in 2019-20 Federal Budget

Wednesday 6 February 2019

Innovative and cost-effective solutions to current health system challenges, including harm caused by medicine misuse, have been recommended by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) in its 2019-20 Federal Budget submission.

PSA National President Dr Chris Freeman said PSA’s Medicine Safety: Take Care report, released last week, showed medicine safety was a major problem in Australia.

“PSA’s Medicine Safety report reveals that 250,000 people go to hospital each year because of medicine misuse, costing the health system $1.4 billion annually,” Dr Freeman said.

“Every day, pharmacists are faced with situations where the health system fails to meet their patients’ needs. Pharmacists want to use their knowledge to provide more effective care.

“The public considers pharmacists approachable, knowledgeable and highly trusted. People value pharmacists’ expertise and want to see it put to full use.

“However, structural and funding barriers are holding pharmacists back from participating in key Government initiatives. As the peak national body for pharmacists, PSA has made cost-effective recommendations for removing these obstacles and maximising the safe use of medicines.”

PSA recommends the 2019-20 Federal Budget makes provision to:

• Provide seed funding to embed pharmacists in residential aged care facilities to improve the Quality Use of Medicines and in particular to reduce harm caused by overuse of psychotropic medicines, opioids and antibiotics
• Grow the extensive immunisation network in primary care to boost vaccination rates
• Facilitate the appointment of a Commonwealth Chief Pharmacist to improve the Commonwealth Government’s coordination and responsiveness to medication issues in Australia’s complex healthcare system
• Establish funding mechanisms to facilitate collaborative practice between Aboriginal Health Services and community pharmacies
• Add pharmacists to the list of eligible allied health professionals that can deliver MBS services to patients with chronic diseases under the allied health chronic disease management items.

These recommendations aim to enhance the Government’s existing health investments and do not duplicate or inhibit any initiatives in the 6th Community Pharmacy Agreement.

“The 2019-20 Federal Budget is an opportunity to enhance the use of pharmacists’ skills and expertise for the betterment of Australia’s health,” Dr Freeman said. “We urge the Government to partner with pharmacists to unlock this opportunity by funding the initiatives in PSA’s submission.”

Media contact:

Jarryd Luke
Senior Communications Officer
0487 922 176

Alyssa Murray wins Pharmacy Student of the Year Wildcard

Sunday January 27, 2019

Alyssa Murray from Queensland has won the National Australian Pharmacy Students’ Association (NAPSA) Wildcard for the 2019 PSA Pharmacy Student of the Year (PSOTY) Award.

PSA National President Dr Chris Freeman announced the award at the NAPSA Congress Gala Ball in Adelaide tonight.

Dr Freeman congratulated Ms Murray on her exceptional achievement.

“Ms Murray and all of the finalists demonstrated exceptional counselling skills and impressive pharmacy knowledge,” Dr Freeman said.

“It was great to see so much talent on display at the competition today.

“Seeing these rising stars in action fills me with confidence about the future of the profession.”

Ms Murray is completing a Bachelor of Pharmacy at the University of Queensland and is a member of the Queensland Pharmacy Students Association (QPSA).

The judges were impressed by the strong field of finalists:

• Noor Shoaib, La Trobe University (VIC)
• Vivien Banks, University of Queensland (QLD)
• Jacqui Leggett, Queensland University of Technology (QLD)
• Stephanie Samios, University of Queensland (QLD)
• Sean Richardson, University of South Australia (SA)

The award is proudly sponsored by Mylan.

Ms Murray will now travel to PSA’s national conference PSA19 from 26 to 28 July 2019 in Sydney to compete in the prestigious national final.

“PSA thanks Mylan for their fantastic support of this award,” Dr Freeman said.

Media contact:
Jarryd Luke
Senior Communications Officer
0487 922 176
media@psa.org.au

Pharmacists recognised in Australia Day Honours

Saturday January 26, 2019

Respected pharmacists and PSA members Grant Kardachi FPS, Dr Geraldine Moses FPS, Emil Dan FPS, Dr Carol Armour FPS and Dr Ross Holland FPS have been congratulated by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) for being awarded the status of Member of the Order of Australia (AM).

PSA also applauds PSA members Geoffrey Pritchard FPS, Leonard Levy MPS and Robert Kalaf MPS for receiving the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM).

Pharmacists Jim Siderov, Paul Sinclair and Bakhos Georges were also honoured with the Member of the Order of Australia during the Australia Day celebrations last night.

PSA National President Dr Chris Freeman congratulated all of the pharmacists who were recognised.

“I applaud all of the exceptional pharmacists for their tireless dedication to their profession, to their community’s health and to their peak national body, PSA,” Dr Freeman said.

“The pharmacy profession has been well represented in this year’s awards. It’s inspiring to see so many pharmacists honoured for their pioneering work to improve Australia’s health.

“These respected leaders and role models have set an inspiring example for our profession.”

Mr Kardachi from Unley Park in South Australia is a past National President and current National Board Director of PSA. Mr Kardachi has owned several community pharmacies while supporting research projects in medication management. He has served the state of South Australia through various foundations, boards and committees.

From Corinda in Queensland, Dr Moses is a hospital-based drug information consultant and clinical pharmacist. She provides the Australian Dental Association’s national drug information advisory service Pharma-Advice. Dr Moses is an adjunct associate professor at the University of Queensland and co-founder of medicines education service Pharmeducation. She has served as a member of the PSA Queensland Branch Committee and received PSA’s prestigious Bowl of Hygeia Award in 1993.

Mr Dan from Marourbra in NSW received a PSA Lifetime Award of Excellence in 2009 and has since become a PSA Life Fellow. He was an early pioneer of asthma research in Australia, founding the anti-allergy and asthma treatment initiative Allersearch. His groundbreakng work in this area also includes research for smoking cessation services in pharmacy at the Woolcock Institute of Respiratory Medicine, and lecturing for PSA and the Asthma Foundation.

Dr Armour is a Professor of Pharmacy and Associate Dean of Career Development, Sydney Medical School at the University of Sydney. She was recognised for significant service to medical education and asthma management.

Dr Holland was recognised for significant service to pharmacy practice, medical education and professional organisations. Hailing from NSW, he is a PSA Life Fellow and has served as the Dean of Academic Studies at the Australian College of Pharmacy Practice. He is a Past Faculty Member of the World Health Organisation Regional Teacher Training Centre, South Korean Clinical Pharmacy Association.

Recognised for his service to the pharmacy profession, Mr Pritchard from Milsons Point in NSW is a PSA Life Fellow and served as a Liaison Officer for the PSA NSW Branch. His contributions include Director of Pharmacy Services at the Sydney Olympic Games and a number of roles at the Pharmacy Council of New South Wales.

Mr Levy from North Caulfield in Victoria has made longstanding contributions to the Victorian Branch of PSA, including as a Councillor and Chair of various committees. He has contributed many years of service to the Pharmacy Board of Victoria.

Mr Kalaf has worked as a pharmacist at Cooranbong Pharmacy and Compounding in NSW for more than 25 years. His community service roles include President of the Cooranbong Chamber of Commerce, Member of the Sewerage Development Committee and Member of the Tidy Towns Committee.

Media contact:
Jarryd Luke
Senior Communications Officer
0487 922 176