Message from George Tambassis - PGA National PresidentThe Seventh Community Pharmacy Agreement provides certainty and stability for Australia’s 5,800 community pharmacies, and ensures the delivery of world class pharmacy services to Australian patients. For students and early career pharmacists, the Agreement provides confidence that the community pharmacy sector is recognised and valued by Government. The Agreement includes a Commonwealth commitment to ensuring pharmacists are able to practise to the full scope of their training and expertise. It also commits the Government to working with the States and Territories to harmonise vaccination regulation across jurisdictions. The Agreement is first and foremost of benefit to patients, but it is also very supportive of community pharmacists and the career aspirations of young pharmacists in particular. In the negotiations, both the Guild and the Government were mindful of the ramifications for young pharmacists starting their careers in community pharmacy. I want to thank NAPSA, pharmacy students and early career pharmacists for your support as we worked our way through an arduous year of negotiating. The Government has also committed to support moves by university pharmacy schools to transition the pharmacy qualification to a Masters degree over time, allowing pharmacy graduates to become Doctors of Pharmacy. This is an important step that will assist Australian pharmacists in terms of parity with pharmacy professionals in comparable countries around the world. Community Pharmacy Agreements between the Commonwealth and the Pharmacy Guild have been in place since 1990, with their key purpose being to provide for the timely and equitable supply of PBS medicines. The Agreements provide certainty for the Government and for pharmacy small businesses that are tasked with the effective supply of PBS medicines on behalf of taxpayers to the maximum benefit of patients. Key features of the Agreement include:
Your Community Pharmacy Career WebinarDid you miss out on the Pharmacy Guild of Australia’s virtual student event? National Senior Vice President, Trent Twomey recently presented an interactive webinar where he discussed; the future of community pharmacy, details of the 7th Community Pharmacy Agreement, career pathways and the ways in which the Guild can support you on your journey. My Pharmacy Career – the destination for community pharmacy jobs in AustraliaMy Pharmacy Career is your premium job seeking platform for all careers and roles within community pharmacy. Set your career profile today and let My Pharmacy Career start searching for your career opportunities, apply on line, or simply start searching today of new career opportunities. My Pharmacy Career is an end-to-end recruitment platform designed to help you find careers and exciting roles in Community Pharmacy. My Pharmacy Career is a national jobs platform specific to community pharmacy. Anyone can register to find a new career or job opportunity within Community Pharmacy. The My Pharmacy Career App is compatible with Apple and Android phones. Focusing on pharmacy management and ownership, the PBCN supports the improvement and growth of your business performance and career progression with insights and advice from a range of industry professionals. The PBCN podcast will be supporting your journey every step of the way. Podcast in Focus Episode 51:Re-imagining Your Retail Environment with Gary McCartneyWhat does the retail store of the future look like? Are we returning to the norm anytime soon or is the new way here to stay? 2020 is certainly helping us to reconsider how we interact with our physical environment and, for community pharmacy, this represents a big challenge going forward. However, it is also a great time to identify innovative opportunities to enhance the physical store area and improve patient experiences and outcomes. Getting on the front foot now will ensure community pharmacies remain accessible and valuable destinations
for patients when we settle into the new norm. Other podcasts of interest;
Guild Intern Training Program: Get the Competitive EdgeComprehensive Exam Support Guild Interns receive comprehensive resources to support you with your exams including written and oral exam training modules, practice materials to use with your preceptor and personalised guidance from tutors. Bonus Training The Guild Intern Training Program is the best value program on the market with complimentary vaccination or refresher training, Medication Management Review (MMR) Stage One Training at no extra cost, as well as complimentary membership with the Australian College of Pharmacy and exclusive access to education events. Conference Access Looking to grow your pharmacy network? Guild interns receive FREE registration to APP Conference* on the Gold Coast (valued at $940), and Pharmacy Connect^ in Sydney (valued at $295). Find out more at internpharmacist.com.au or call 1300 110 161 GuildEdGuildEd assists pharmacists, interns and students meet their professional development and education needs through CPD approved education, the CPD learning plan and online training options. GuildEd recently launched the SNAPshot Learning hub. It provides users with an opportunity to learn a new topic in as little as 5-15 minutes and can be viewed on tablets and phones. A great way to learn just what you need to know, just when you need to know it. The hub will offer an expanded range of courses over time. Pharmacy Assistant of the Year 2020Last Chance to Nominate an Outstanding Pharmacy Assistant for the Pharmacy Assistant of the Year Awards The Pharmacy Assistant of the Year (PATY) Award provides pharmacy assistants with a platform to showcase their outstanding product knowledge, clinical knowledge, leadership capabilities and customer service skills. R U OK? DAY Thursday 10 September 2020R U OK?Day is Thursday 10 September 2020. It’s our national day of action when we remind Australians that every day is the day to ask, “Are you OK?” if someone in your world is struggling with life’s ups and downs. The message for R U OK?Day 2020 is: 'THERE'S MORE TO SAY AFTER R U OK?' 2020 has been a challenging year for everyone and circumstances have made it even more important for us all to stay connected and, for those who are able, be willing to support those around us. In the lead-up to R U OK?Day we’ll help Australians know what to say when someone says they’re not OK and guide them through how they can continue a conversation that could change a life. Rural Pharmacy Video CompetitionHave you ever wondered what it would be like to work in a rural or remote community pharmacy? The Guild recently announced the winner of it's annual Rural Pharmacy Video Competition. The Guild invited rural and remote pharmacists and their staff to submit a 30-45 second video for the ‘why I love rural pharmacy’ competition, with the added theme of ‘Rural Pharmacy First Dates’, and this time with bonus points for inclusion of a signature item - a ring! The judges were looking for entries that showed how the pharmacies and staff engaged with their local community and the richness of relationships they built working and living in rural Australia. The entries received shared funny and meaningful stories of engagement, especially the ‘first dates’ that developed into strong relationships. The winner of the competition was Oatlands Pharmacy in Tasmania. Executive Director of the Pharmacy Guild Suzanne Greenwood said that all of the entries in the competition were inspiring however, “The Oatlands Pharmacy video stood out because of its focus on community and how pharmacist Ilwoo Park, had moved from a highly populated city to a town of just under 700 people with a firm commitment to integrate into that community." “Her enthusiasm and commitment to the community shines through, and her tireless work for her patients is evident. It is a clever video which is also testament to what rural pharmacy is all about – being compassionate, innovative and part of the community.” Ms Park said she was surprised and honoured to be chosen as winner of the competition. “It was fun putting the video together and also gave me an opportunity to highlight some aspects of the local community which make my job here so rewarding,” she said. Watch the winning video from Oatlands Pharmacy Tasmania below. PharMIbridge RCTBridging the Gap between Physical and Mental Illness in Community Pharmacy (PharMIbridge) Randomised Control Trial (RCT) Are you interested in learning how to better support consumers living with severe and persistent mental illness as a mental health friendly pharmacy? Severe and Persistent Mental Illness (SPMI) refers to any mental illness that has a continuous and significant effect on a person’s daily life, such as schizophrenia, severe and recurrent depression, and bipolar disorder. In Australia, there are an estimated 9,000 premature deaths annually amongst consumers living with SPMI. However, this mortality rate is generally due to health conditions experienced by the general population, such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Urgent attention is therefore required to address associated physical health concerns of this vulnerable population. APP2021We are pleased to announce that APP2021 will be held from 20-23 May 2021, and look forward to once again welcoming delegates back to the Gold Coast. The event has been moved from March to May 2021, in order to allow more time for COVID-19 restrictions to be lifted and for the event to be run at its optimum. Guild Mentor Platform - powered by MentorloopThe Immediate Need to Build a Strong Culture of InnovationJoin Steph Bright of Capita and Guy Lambert of Mentorloop as they re-discover the importance that boredom plays in innovation and highlight the best approaches that support our people to learn, collaborate and innovate even in such complex and taxing times. It’s time to sign up for STEPtember!Let’s move together for cerebral palsySign up for STEPtember, Australia’s leading health and wellness fundraising event, and walk, swim, ride, wheel or spin your way to 10,000 steps per day for 28 days in a fun, safe and virtual environment – all while making a real difference to the lives of children and adults with cerebral palsy. Are you ready to step up? TED Talk: An ER doctor on triaging your "crazy busy" lifeHow do doctors in the emergency room stay calm and focused amidst the chaos? Drawing on years of experience, ER doctor Darria Long shares a straightforward framework to help you take back control and feel less overwhelmed when life starts to get "crazy busy." Early Career Pharmacist Resource HubThe Guild aims to equip early career pharmacists with the pathways, skills, tools and professional networks needed to be leaders in the primary health care system and owners of community pharmacies. The ECP Resource Hub is where to find valuable information and resources relevant to you and your stage of career. Follow UsThe Dispensary is a leading source of pharmacy news, information and resources for pharmacy students, interns and early career pharmacists throughout Australia, follow The Dispensary on Facebook and The Guild Dispensary on Instagram. For more information or to find out what is happening in your state, please contact your local Guild branch . |