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Enhanced access to contraception in NSW will support more women
15 April 2026
The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) today acknowledges the NSW Government’s announcement enabling pharmacists who complete recognised postgraduate studies to prescribe and supply selected contraceptives, improving women’s access to healthcare.
The $4.5 million investment builds on the successful oral contraceptive pill resupply trial, recognising the role of pharmacists as highly accessible, trusted healthcare professionals in their communities.
Under the initiative, pharmacists who complete accredited postgraduate education and the NSW reproductive health induction will be able to prescribe and supply selected contraceptive options to women over 18 years of age.
PSA NSW Branch President, Luke Kelly FPS, said the announcement reflects modern healthcare needs and improves access to contraception.
“Access to contraception should be free from unnecessary barriers and give women the flexibility to receive safe and timely healthcare,” he said.
“We welcome the support to fund the consultation fee for the service, as out-of-pocket costs continue to represent a barrier to health care for so many people.”
The PSA looks forward to working with the NSW Government, stakeholders, and education providers as they continue to support the implementation of pharmacists delivering a broader range of health services.
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’s annual celebration calls on Australians to thank their pharmacist!
26 March 2026
The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) is calling for Australians to recognise, celebrate, and thank their pharmacists this Thank Your Pharmacist Day.
With the theme “wherever medicines are,” this Thank Your Pharmacist Day we celebrate the 41,000 Australian pharmacists working across various practice settings to support the health and well-being of our communities.
PSA National President, Professor Mark Naunton MPS, said Thank Your Pharmacist Day is an opportunity to acknowledge the breadth of pharmacists’ roles and the trust communities place in them every day.
“Wherever there are medicines, there are pharmacists ensuring these medicines are used safely, supporting people to manage their health, and helping to prevent harm,” Professor Naunton said.
“Pharmacists practice in a wide range of settings and increasingly provide care beyond the traditional dispensary, supporting patients wherever medicines touch their lives.
“We have pharmacists educating the next generation of pharmacists, advocating for regulatory and policy change, working in software, innovation, and distribution, who are not often seen, and they deserve to be celebrated today and every day.
“Thank you to every pharmacist out there, whether you are in community pharmacy, hospital pharmacy, aged care, general practice, defence, academia, industry, providing home medicines reviews, you name it, we see you, we hear you, we are advocating for you, and we are here to support you.”
The PSA remains committed to empowering pharmacists through advocacy, education and practice support for all pharmacists, regardless of where they are in their professional journey.
The PSA is encouraging Australians to take part in Thank Your Pharmacist Day by thanking their pharmacist in person or sharing a message of appreciation on social media using #ThankYourPharmacistDay or #TYPD26.
Further information, including resources to get involved, is available at: https://www.psa.org.au/thankyourpharmacist/
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 launches its Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan
19 March 2026
The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) today recognises National Close the Gap Day and reaffirms its commitment to supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health equity through a range of initiatives to enable pharmacists to deliver culturally safe care to First Nations people.
Recognising this, the PSA is proud to launch its Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan 2025-2027 (RAP). In encouraging meaningful action towards health equity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, PSA’s Innovate RAP reinforces its commitment to reconciliation, equity, and culturally safe healthcare for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The Innovate RAP outlines the shift from reflection to action, embedding cultural safety in pharmacy education, strengthening partnerships with Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations, and supporting greater Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce participation across the profession.
PSA National President, Professor Mark Naunton MPS, reflected that building a more inclusive and responsive pharmacy profession is at the forefront of PSA’s work.
“Our Innovate RAP moves our commitment from abstract into action, embedding cultural safety into the education we produce, strengthening partnerships with community-controlled health organisations, and increasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce representation.
“The PSA is committed to walking alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, guided by respect and shared purpose. We will continue to advocate, educate, and lead with integrity, ensuring that every Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person has access to health care that is not only safe and effective, but also culturally safe and empowering.
“I extend my sincerest thanks to our RAP Working Group, our partners at NACCHO, and all those who have contributed to this plan as we continue to shape a future where reconciliation is lived every day, in our workplaces, our communities, and our care.”
In developing PSA’s Innovate RAP, the PSA commissioned Summah Holden, a proud Dunghutti woman, pharmacy student, and talented artist, to develop the accompanying artwork.
Ms Holden reflected on how the artwork tells the story of PSA’s reconciliation journey through the lens of Country, culture, and community:
“This piece is one I am incredibly proud of. It holds my pride, softness, advocacy, and my love for our people by honouring the voices, histories, and medicines that have guided us for generations, while celebrating the steps PSA is taking to walk alongside the community with respect, truth, and action,” said Summah.
“I wanted to show what culturally safe care looks like when it’s lived. Listening first, learning with humility, and embedding that knowledge into practice. Every layer represents First Nations knowledge. The landscapes, medicines, symbols, and pathways all speak to the strength, diversity, and resilience of our people.
“I love the work PSA does to embed cultural responsiveness into every fibre of the organisation, and to create something that reflects that for them is truly humbling.”
To learn more about PSA’s Innovate RAP, please visit: https://www.psa.org.au/about/innovate-rap/.
Innovate RAP Artwork by Summah Holden
PSA’s Chris Braithwaite alongside Summah Holden
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.
National Competency Standards Framework review
The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA), commissioned by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), through the Pharmacy Board of Australia (PharmBA), has been provided funds to lead a review of the National Competency Standards Framework for Pharmacists in Australia (2016) hereafter referred to as The Framework.
The Framework sets the foundation for safe, ethical, and effective pharmacist practice. It defines a consolidation of the core competencies (i.e. the integrated knowledge, skills and attributes) required throughout a pharmacist’s career.
Pharmacist roles are evolving rapidly due to:
- expanded scopes of practice
- advances in digital health and technology
- sustainability in health care.
The review will:
- define core competencies for all registered pharmacists
- support scope-specific maintenance and advanced practice progression
- improve clarity and usability
- reflect contemporary practice across all settings
- provide pathways for evolving and advancing practice
- align with legislative changes and sustainability principles.
Project overview
The PSA Project Team is leading the review to ensure that every stage of the process is transparent, collaborative, and aligned with regulatory and professional expectations.
The Project Advisory Group (PAG) will provide strategic oversight and expert input throughout the project lifecycle and plays a critical role in shaping the Framework so that it reflects contemporary pharmacy practice and the diverse needs of pharmacists and healthcare consumers.
The PAG is designed to be inclusive and representative of the profession and the communities it serves. It brings together:
- Practising pharmacists from a range of settings, including community, hospital, aged care, and general practice, ensuring real-world perspectives.
- Academic and regulatory experts, contributing deep knowledge of education standards and compliance requirements.
- Consumer advocates and student representatives, ensuring the Framework supports patient-centred care and future workforce needs.
- Professional associations and unions, providing insight into workforce development and advocacy priorities.
- First Nations and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) community representatives, embedding cultural safety and equity at the heart of the Framework.
- Experts in digital health, telehealth, expanded scope of practice, and sustainability, ensuring the Framework is future-focused and responsive to emerging trends.
This collaborative and inclusive structure will ensure that the revised Framework is equitable, culturally safe, and adaptable to the evolving roles of pharmacists.
By engaging voices from across the profession and the communities we serve, we are building a Framework that supports every pharmacist — from early career to advanced practice — and strengthens the profession’s ability to deliver high-quality, patient-centred care.
How you can contribute
Broad consultation is essential to help shape a Framework that reflects the
profession’s diversity and evolving roles.
Share feedback or seek additional information on the review of the National
Competency Standards Framework. Call PSA on 1300 369 772, leave a message
and the PSA project team will contact you.
Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) acquires Australasian College of Pharmacy
Building a stronger profession together
As Australia’s national peak professional body for pharmacists, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) has completed its acquisition of the Australasian College of Pharmacy (the College), strengthening its position as the leading provider of education and professional development for pharmacists, pharmacy assistants, and technicians.
The College brings recognised expertise in practical, contemporary training and CPD, supporting workforce capability and career progression. Together, PSA and the College will continue to deliver trusted, high-quality education that advances professional practice and supports a sustainable future for the pharmacy profession.
For partners and external stakeholders, the combined organisation offers a more streamlined and sustainable platform for collaboration. Integrating products and services will reduce duplication and enable greater reinvestment in education, practice support and advocacy for the pharmacy profession.
Both organisations have now entered the initial stages of a structured transition phase that will take place throughout 2026. During the transition period, all services delivered to members, learners, and stakeholders, including our commercial arrangements, education programs, and joint initiatives, will continue with minimal interruption. We remain committed to ensuring stability, clarity, and continuity as integration progresses.
As PSA and the College move forward together, members, partners and stakeholders can expect continued engagement and collaboration as our combined capabilities evolve. We look forward to building on existing relationships and working together to support professional practice, workforce development and a sustainable future for the pharmacy profession.
Shane Jackson
Shane is a pharmacist with over 20 years’ experience working in the health care sector as a practising pharmacist in clinical, consultant and academic roles. Shane’s career has been diverse, primarily focussed on improving pharmacy practice through teaching, research, policy implementation and advocacy.
Shane is a proprietor of three community pharmacies in Tasmania, and a director of Consultant Pharmacy Services, a group consisting of accredited pharmacists providing services to aged care in Tasmania. One of Shane’s community pharmacies was the first pharmacy in Australia to develop a model of integrated on-site pharmacy services comprising medication supply, quality use of medicines advice and medication review services employing innovative pharmacists.
Pharmacists welcome needle-free flu vaccine rollout for WA children
The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) has welcomed the Cook Government’s $4.78 million investment to secure 130,000 doses of the FluMist intranasal influenza vaccine for children aged two to under 12 years ahead of the 2026 flu season.
The initiative, announced by Health Minister Meredith Hammat and Preventative Health Minister Sabine Winton, aims to boost childhood vaccination rates and reduce flu-related illness and hospitalisations across Western Australia.
PSA WA President Kristian Ray MPS said pharmacists were ready to support the rollout.
“We welcome and congratulate the Cook Government for this initiative. This is a game-changer for children who experience needle anxiety,” Mr Ray said.
“Pharmacists are integral to improving immunisation rates and reducing pressure on our health system and we look forward to working with the WA Government to deliver this important public health initiative.”
PSA National President Associate Professor Fei Sim FPS said the announcement reflected growing recognition of pharmacists’ role in contributing towards reaching our immunisation target in Australia.
“WA Government’s decision today shows leadership and commitment to prioritise children’s health,” A/Prof Sim said.
“No children should be disadvantaged – we call on all state and territory governments to modernise legislation so every child, no matter their postcode, can access free, convenient, and needle-free protection.
“While these programs are essential now, long-term equity requires national leadership and harmonisation across jurisdictions.
A/Prof Sim added that while state programs were essential now, long-term equity requires national leadership and harmonisation across jurisdictions.
“We note that FluMist is currently being considered by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee for the National Immunisation Program. Federal funding will be critical for national consistency — but until then, states and territories must step up to protect children against this vaccine-preventable disease,” A/Prof Sim concluded.
Supporting pharmacists
To further support the profession in implementing intranasal influenza vaccination, PSA will deliver a dedicated webinar, a quick reference guide, and learning module launching October 2025. These resources will equip pharmacists with practical guidance and clinical confidence to integrate needle-free vaccination into practice.
Media contact: David Westman M: 0480 099 798 E: david.westman@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.
Tasmanians to benefit from expanded pharmacist care
25 September 2025
The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) welcomes the Tasmanian Government’s announcement on World Pharmacists Day to expand the role of community pharmacists, enabling them to provide more care to Tasmanians closer to home.
Pharmacists who undertake post-graduate training will be able to provide treatment for a broader range of common health conditions, including ear infections, reflux, rhinitis, shingles, eczema, and wound care.
From December, appropriately credentialed pharmacists will also be able to initiate and continue hormonal contraception for women.
PSA Tasmanian President Joanne Gross MPS welcomed the announcement as a significant step toward improving access to timely, safe and accessible healthcare across the state.
“This is a win for Tasmanians. Expanding the scope of pharmacists means more people will be able to access the care they need, when and where they need it,” Ms Gross said.
“Pharmacists are highly trained, trusted health professionals who are ready to do more. With the right training and support, we can help ease the burden on GPs and emergency departments by managing common conditions safely and effectively in the community.
“We commend the Tasmanian Government for recognising the value pharmacists bring to the healthcare system and for investing in the workforce through training and scholarships.
“This announcement builds on the success of pharmacist-led care for urinary tract infections and oral contraceptive resupply, which have already provided timely and quality care to thousands of patients, improving health outcomes for Tasmanians,” Ms Gross concluded.
The PSA looks forward to working closely with the Tasmanian Government to implement the training model and ensure pharmacists are supported to safely deliver these expanded services.
Media contact: David Westman M: 0480 099 798 E: david.westman@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.
Changes to membership renewals FAQs
When will automatic renewal start?
Automatic renewal will begin after your next membership cycle. Your upcoming renewal will be processed as normal.
Will I be notified before my membership renews automatically?
Yes. You’ll receive reminder emails 30 days and 14 days before your renewal date, giving you time to review your membership and payment options.
Can I opt out of automatic renewal?
If you prefer to renew manually each year, you can opt out anytime via your PSA Member Portal.
How do I update my payment details?
You can securely update your payment details by logging into your PSA Member Portal. This gives you more control over how you pay.
What happens if my payment fails during automatic renewal?
If a payment fails, our Member Services Team will contact you to help resolve the issue and ensure your membership continues without interruption.
Will my membership benefits change with automatic renewal?
No, your membership will renew with the same benefits, products, and payment instalment plan you currently have. If you are on our Essential (concession) membership tier, you may be asked to complete a short declaration to confirm that you still meet the eligibility criteria.
What does this mean if I pay my membership monthly?
Your payments will continue to be deducted from your preferred payment method monthly. You can update your payment details at any time through your member portal.
Who can I contact if I have questions or need help?
Our friendly Member Services Team is here to help. You can reach us at membership@psa.org.au or call 1300 369 772.
