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Below are some social media tile for you to download and use. There is some sample text below you may wish to use on social media. You can include the website link https://www.psa.org.au/remuneration and don’t forget to tag PSA National and your local politician.

How can I get involved?

You can get involved by sharing these tiles on your social media (below) and either using your own text or the sample text supplied below.

Below is some sample text you may wish to use on social media. You can include the website link https://www.psa.org.au/remuneration and don’t forget to tag PSA National and your local politician.

 

 

Working Conditions and Remuneration
  1. Pharmacists must be recognised as frontline health professionals, and deserve to be remunerated accordingly.
  2. Pharmacists, like many healthcare workers, have had no reprieve throughout the pandemic. We’ve stayed open when many primary healthcare providers closed their doors. Yet, unfair and inequitable pay discrepancies continue to exist. This needs to be corrected.
  3. It’s simple, pharmacists must be paid at the same rate as any other professional for providing the same service!
Case Conferencing
  1. Pharmacists are the only allied health provider who is not remunerated for case conferencing – this is ludicrous when you consider the essential role we play as medicine safety experts.
  2. The government must address medicine safety concerns and the unfair and inequitable pay disparity faced by pharmacists, by introducing an MBS rebate for pharmacists who participate in case conferencing.
  3. Pharmacists are medicine experts and custodians of medicine safety, yet we are expected to participate in case conferencing without being paid for doing so.
COVID Vaccines
  1. The pandemic has pushed many in the profession to the brink – RAT shortages, long hours, staff shortages, abuse from patients, the risk of bring the disease home to family. At the very least, we deserve equal remuneration for administering COVID-19 vaccines.
  2. Many friends and colleagues have gone above and beyond, extending hours to open up more COVID-19 vaccination appointments. It’s not fair that we’re being paid less than half that of other vaccinators.
  3. Pharmacists have now delivered over 6 million COVID-19 vaccines – going above and beyond to help protect our communities. By paying other providers more, the government has short-changed us by more than $156 million. How is that fair?
  4. The Federal Government’s refusal to fairly remunerate pharmacists for administering COVID-19 booster vaccines is putting the entire booster program in jeopardy. The service is barely sustainable for us on the frontline!
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PSA Face-to-face events policy

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) is committed to taking a proactive approach in managing and providing a safe and healthy environment for all members and visitors, so far as reasonably practicable.

 

While we have moved beyond the toughest measures during the Covid-19 pandemic, PSA will ensure that face-to-face events support safe environments and COVIDSafe best practice.

 

Attendees are encouraged to refer to the latest advice from the Australian federal, state and/or territory governments on public health orders.

 

All on-site event attendees need to be aware of their own responsibilities and use common sense. If you are unwell, please do not attend face-to-face events. A medical certificate will be required if you need to cancel an event registration if you are not well enough to attend.

 

Should you have any questions, please contact events@psa.org.au

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Amendment to APF25 Good compounding practice chapter

The APF Editorial Board has approved an amendment to APF25 expiry date guidance (APF25, page 53). The amendment is shown underlined below.

 

“The following guidance applies to expiry dates for non-sterile compounded medicines:

  • The expiry date is 28 days or less from the date the medicine is compounded, unless otherwise specified in the APF or in a reliable stability study. An expiry date of less than 28 days may be more appropriate in some clinical circumstances.
  • The expiry date of compounded capsules or powders is 6 months or less from the date the medicine is compounded, provided the ingredients are stable in air and not hygroscopic or deliquescent.
  • If the expiry date from a reliable stability study that uses the same formulation, packaging and storage conditions as the compounded medicine differs from the expiry date guidance in the APF (longer or shorter), the expiry date from the stability study should be used.
  • The expiry date of a compounded medicine must never be longer than 6 months.
  • The expiry date of a compounded medicine must not be later than the expiry date of any ingredient.”

 

The expiry date guidance in APF digital was updated on 10 August 2021.

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PSA thanks Steve Morris for his contribution

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) extends thanks to outgoing NPS MedicineWise CEO, Steve Morris, for his contribution to the pharmacy sector during his time in the organisation.

 

PSA National President, A/Prof Chris Freeman says that Mr Morris’ efforts during his tenure has made the sector a more collaborative environment.

 

“The PSA congratulates Steve for his new role as CEO of Arthritis SA, and we wish him and his family all the very best for the future.”

 

“Steve has contributed a significant amount to the profession, his leadership at NPS came at a time when there was a need for NPS to re-engage and partner with the sector which he achieved with compassion and resolve”.

 

“His endeavours have noticeably helped drive the Quality Use of Medicines agenda in Australia and he has strengthened the working relationships between health organisations.”

 

“PSA acknowledges all of Steve’s contributions through his proud pharmacy and senior executive career and looks forward to working with him in his new role and into the future.”

 

Media contact: PSA media 0424 777 463

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Extraordinary Queensland pharmacists recognised

23 March 2021

 

Queensland pharmacists and their contribution to the health and wellbeing of Queenslanders has been recognised at the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia’s (PSA’s) Queensland Annual Therapeutic Update (ATU) conference on the weekend.

 

Queensland PSA Branch President, Shane MacDonald, presented awards in Surfer’s Paradise on Saturday night to the awardees, including:

• Bridget Totterman MPS, Queensland Pharmacist of the Year (Bowl of Hygiea)
• Hannah Knowles MPS, Early Career Pharmacist of the Year
• Joshua Clements, James Dare Graduate of the Year
• Gilbert Yeates MPS, Gold Medal – Lifetime Achievement Award

 

Mr MacDonald said the awards recognised the outstanding contribution of the winners alongside the vital role pharmacists provided to communities throughout Queensland.

 

“These awards highlight the incredible talent that we have across the depth and breadth the of pharmacy profession in Queensland. The winners have truly embodied PSA’s vision for the profession Pharmacists in 2023 and have all clearly demonstrated their contribution to the profession in Queensland.”

 

“For example, Bridget has demonstrated leadership and drive for improvement in medicine safety and medicine management systems. Her role has fostered rapid translation and adoption of new protocols and digital initiatives across pharmacy and general practice, clearly demonstrated during the COVID pandemic.”

PSA has also recognised the contribution of pharmacists who have been elevated to the honour of PSA Fellowship. This year both Joyce McSwan FPS and Beverly Glass FPS were conferred as PSA Fellows.

 

Awardee profiles

 

Bridget Totterman, Queensland Pharmacist of the Year

 

Bridget was awarded Queensland Pharmacist of the Year for outstanding leadership and change management.

 

Bridget is the Chief Operating Officer of the White Retail – White Medical Group, Clinical Fellow of the Queensland University of Technology, pharmacy owner and member of PSA’s Queensland Branch Committee.

 

She leads and manages seven pharmacies and eight medical practices, alongside being the business owner of an additional four pharmacies

 

Quotes attributable to Mr Shane MacDonald:

 

“Bridget demonstrates exceptional leadership, business acumen and change management within her career.”

 

“PSA commends Bridget for building front-line health care teams in primary care, across both  pharmacy and general practice and for her contribution to the profession across in immunisation, palliative care initiatives, the urinary tract infection pilot and now supporting COVID vaccination.”

 

 

Hannah Knowles, Early Career Pharmacist of the Year

 

The Early Career Pharmacist Award has gone to Hannah Knowles for her contribution towards the transitions of care and action for change. Hannah’s work and advocacy saw the PSA secure an election promise from the Palaszczuk government to look at best practice transitions of care across all 16 Hospital and Health Services.

 

Since coming on board as a PSA branch committee member, Hannah has provided incredible insight from her hospital residency, community pharmacy and through to her contribution in FIP committees.

 

Quotes attributable to Mr Shane MacDonald:

 

“Her willingness to contribute and lead and support fellow early career pharmacists is exceptional, a worthy winner of the Queensland PSA Early Career Pharmacist Award”

 

 

Joshua Clements, James Dare PSA Graduate of the Year

 

James was recognised for his academic excellence and contribution to his pharmacy community. Mr Clements was awarded the Bachelor of Pharmacy with Distinction from Griffith University in December 2020. Joshua earned the Griffith University Awards for Academic Excellence for every year of his enrolment, from 2017 to 2020

 

Quotes attributable to Mr Shane MacDonald:

 

“Joshua is a gregarious and highly motivated student, with a passion for the pharmacy profession and demonstrated leadership among his peers. He is an eager contributor to his pharmacy community and exhibits the best values of our profession’s code of ethics.”

 

 

Gilbert Yeates, Lifetime Achievement Award

 

Gilbert has been an active member of the PSA for over 45 years, and State Councillor from 2007-2014. He is recognised for his significant and ongoing contribution to the profession over many years and across all walks of practice, from community, hospital, academia, professional development, policy, advocacy and professional indemnity.

 

Quotes attributable to Mr Shane MacDonald:

 

“Gilbert is well respected by his patients and peers for his confidential and expert advice on professional responsibilities. He engages with those at all levels of the profession, and generously provides counsel to many pharmacists in official and informal capacities,”

 

“His ongoing contribution to community and hospital pharmacy, academia, professional development, policy, advocacy, and professional indemnity is outstanding.”

 

“There has not been an issue relating to the practice of pharmacy in recent history that Gilbert has not been involved with and significantly contributed to, from pharmacist immunisation though to medication management, prescribing and practitioner development. The profession has a lot to be thankful for”.

 

 

*   *   *   *   *   *   *

 

Media contact: PSA media 0487 922 176

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Victoria Pre Budget Submission 2021-22

Medicines are the most common intervention in health care. Concerningly, problems with the use of medicines are also alarmingly common. In Australia, 250,000 hospital admissions a year are a result of medicine-related problems.

 

The annual cost of these admissions is $1.4 billion; 50% of this harm is preventable. This burden of harm is felt in Victoria just like it is throughout Australia.

 

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia recommends provision is made in the 2021/2022 Financial Year Victorian Government Budget in four areas of actions.

 

Read the submission here: Victorian Budget Submission 21-22

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Academic Advisory Committee

Role

 

The role of the Academic Advisory Committee is to provide high level expert advice to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and management team on contemporary and relevant education and training related issues and opportunities.

 

Specifically, to advise on:

 

  1. local and international trends on education and training design and delivery
  2. local and international trends in pharmacy practice, including digital delivery, contemporary learning methods and innovative assessment methods
  3. factors that influence the pharmacists’ role in health care provision
  4. areas for capacity building and improving professional practice and service delivery across the pharmacy profession in Australia
  5. national priority areas for PSA’s education and training programs across the various practice settings
  6. the participant learning experience
  7. target audiences and associated needs
  8. potential opportunities for collaboration with other organisations

 

Operating Parameters

 

Committee representatives will be appointed for a 2 year term.

 

Committee members may nominate a proxy to Committee meetings, provided they are fully briefed and competent to act as a proxy, as determined by the Committee Chair. The Committee member needs to consult with the Chair before nominating a proxy.

 

The line of reporting for the Committee is directly to the CEO.

 

The General Manager – Knowledge Development and General Manager – Education and Training Delivery, and relevant staff of the respective business units will attend all Committee meetings. Other staff may attend meetings as required and agreed by the Committee Chair and CEO.

 

PSA Academic Advisory Committee_.TOR 2020

 

Please fill out the below form and return to education@psa.org.au by Sunday 6 December 2020

 

Academic Advisory Committee EOI Form

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Three new PSA Fellows recognised for contribution to pharmacy

Tuesday 21 September 2020

 

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) has announced three new Fellows in recognition of their outstanding contribution to PSA and the pharmacy profession.

 

The three recipients Luke Kelly (NSW), Patricia Payne (NSW) and Dr Tin Fei Sim (WA) were recognised as part of World Pharmacists Week having achieved a significant advancement in the practice of pharmacy over an extended period of time.

 

PSA National President Associate Professor Chris Freeman congratulated the new Fellows and acknowledged the significant impact they have made to pharmacy throughout their careers.

 

“All three of these pharmacists have displayed a significant contribution to the profession and are worthy of being elevated to the status of Fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia,” he said.

 

“Fellowships of PSA are a prominent acknowledgement of those who have provided an outstanding contribution to the Society or the profession for an extended period of time.

 

“On behalf of PSA, I thank them for their ongoing service and dedication to improving pharmacy practice and patient care.”

 

The 2020 PSA Fellows are:

 

Luke Kelly, NSW

 

Mr Kelly has been instrumental in engaging pharmacists in the Newcastle and Hunter Valley region. When Mr Kelly became President of the Newcastle Hunter Valley Association he was proactive in reaching out to the peak body (PSA) to coordinate and run educational workshops to support the needs of pharmacists within his region. He has supported and coordinated educational opportunities for pharmacists and pharmacy students in the area and is an absolute champion of pharmacy initiatives in the Newcastle Hunter region. This has facilitated a successful partnership between, PSA, pharmacists and the Hunter New England Central Coast PHN – broadening the opportunities pharmacists have to work within multidisciplinary teams as well as building the capacity of the pharmacists workforce to better service the needs of the community.  Over his time as a business owner and lecturer in clinical leadership at the University of Newcastle, Mr Kelly has been an outstanding role model to students and has mentored many early career pharmacists with valuable coaching on the importance of running a professional business in a challenging and competitive environment.  Mr Kelly has also been integral in supporting the roll out of My Health Record in community pharmacies – working with the PHN to provide instore support to its uptake and use.

 

Patricia Payne, NSW

 

Mrs Payne has been a long-standing member of the pharmacy profession and PSA and her contribution to the profession has been outstanding not only at a local level but also on an international standing. Mrs Payne was instrumental in establishing an active women in pharmacy group in NSW in the late 1990’s and is still active to this day. In addition to the promotion of female pharmacists’ in NSW, Mrs Payne also established women in pharmacy events at several International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) conferences. Mrs Payne has held executive positions on the Community Pharmacy Section of FIP and has been an active member of the Board of Pharmaceutical Practice (BPP). Not only has Mrs Payne spent her life providing services to patients in a community pharmacy, she has also helped to raise money and awareness of children’s genetic disorders. Through charity events over many years, Mrs Payne has raised millions of dollars for important research and has been able to utilise her pharmacist skills to take on this extended role.

 

Dr Tin Fei Sim, WA

 

Dr Sim has been in practice for 10 years, yet her achievements and contribution to the advancements of the pharmacy profession in Western Australia and nationally would be impressive spread across a lifetime. Dr Sim is a partner-proprietor of two pharmacies in WA and has created the new “Caring Pharmacy” banner group to promote pharmacy practice with the emphasis on provision of professional services. Dr Sim has served the profession through her involvement in a number of PSA committees. In her role as President of the PSA WA Branch she has had a major impact on the delivery of professional services in WA pharmacies. Dr Sim is a highly successful teacher of pharmacy practice and pharmacotherapy to pharmacy students for 10 years also negotiating the inclusion of Mental Health First Aid and immunisation into the pharmacy programmes, ensuring Curtin University’s pharmacy graduates enter the profession with enhanced skills. Dr Sim is an outstanding role model who has been recognised with the awards of WA Young Pharmacist of the Year in 2018 and national Early Career Pharmacist of the year in 2019.

 

Media contact: PSA Media 0487 922 176

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In the spirit of reconciliation, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today. We recognise that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples were our first pharmacists.

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