Deadly Pharmacists Modules
Deadly pharmacists: foundation training for pharmacists working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities.
Co-designed and developed by the PSA and the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) in 2022, the Deadly pharmacists modules equip pharmacists with the skills to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander primary health care services, people and communities. In 2025, PSA and NACCHO collaborated to make minor updates and reaccredit the original Deadly pharmacists modules.
In 2026 a new module was added to the Deadly pharmacists suite, with a focus on providing culturally safe and responsive care in community pharmacy.
The eight online modules cover topics such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, communication skills including how to use clinical yarning in your practice and conditions of prevalence in some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The newest module identifies opportunities for community pharmacies to create welcoming and inclusive environments, describes strategies for strengthening culturally safe relationships, and highlights ways to foster cultural safety across programs and services available in community pharmacy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The Deadly Pharmacists modules are available free of charge for PSA members* as a member benefit, while a non-member fee# of $60 per module applies.
* PSA offers complimentary membership to pharmacy students across Australia. To become a member, click here.
#Thanks to the generous support of the NSW Ministry of Health in 2026, PSA is able to offer complimentary access to the module ‘Deadly pharmacists: providing culturally safe and responsive care in community pharmacy’ for non-member pharmacists practising in NSW. To apply for complimentary access, complete this form. Following verification by PSA that you are currently registered to practise in NSW, you will be enrolled in the module and notified via email. Please allow up to 2 weeks for this process.
To enrol in the modules, click on the below links;
- Deadly pharmacists: People – cultures and histories
- Deadly pharmacists: Communication
- Deadly pharmacists: Providing culturally safe and responsive care in community pharmacy
- Deadly pharmacists: Clinical conditions
- Deadly pharmacists: Programs for medicines access and medicines management principles
- Deadly pharmacists: Clinical care
- Deadly pharmacists: Models of care – The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander primary health care service
- Deadly pharmacists: The Medicare Benefits Schedule, clinical information systems and clinical governance
Why did we do it?
Cultural safety is critical to health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and is determined by the patient, not the health practitioner. It requires health practitioners, including pharmacists, to engage in continual critical self‑reflection, be aware of power imbalances, and have an understanding that how care is delivered is just as important as what care is delivered.
The Deadly Pharmacists modules were initially created with a focus on the role of pharmacists integrated within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs). A new module was subsequently developed, acknowledging the vital role community pharmacies play in improving health equity by offering accessible, culturally safe care that recognises the ongoing impacts of colonisation, racism, and systemic barriers on health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The modules are relevant to all pharmacists on their lifelong journey to providing culturally safe care.
Value to PSA members
This training supports pharmacists to provide culturally responsive care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities. It helps to build a career pathway for pharmacists wanting to work in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander primary health services, and also focuses on the opportunity to improve cultural safety and responsiveness in community pharmacy to achieve better health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.
The Deadly pharmacists modules complement the Guideline for pharmacists supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with medicines management and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pharmacy Practice Community of Speciality Interest (CSI).
Project impact
- The original course was launched in 2022 and remained available until August 2025. Over this 3-year period, enrolments exceeded 5,500.
- The modules were updated and re-launched in September 2025 and will remain available until September 2028.
- The new module ‘Deadly pharmacists: Providing culturally safe and responsive care in community pharmacy’, released in May 2026, provides practical steps the staff of community pharmacies can take to foster culturally safe and responsive care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in their community, and ultimately improve health outcomes. Every interaction matters!
Co-designed with the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO).
Artist’s acknowledgement and story of artwork
Lani Balzan is the artist and a proud Aboriginal woman from the Wiradjuri people of the three-river tribe. Her family originates from Mudgee but she grew up all over Australia and lived in many different towns. She now calls the Illawarra home. The artwork centrepiece represents the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person, receiving care from the pharmacists, learning about the need to have connected, joined up care, through this training platform, which is culturally appropriate to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
For more information about this project, please contact Megan Tremlett and Chris Braithwaite.
