Major changes affecting pharmacists will take effect from 1 July 2026. AP explores the biggest updates that will apply from the start of the new financial year.
1. Pharmacist award wages increase
Pharmacists covered by the Pharmacy Industry Award 2020 are in line for their largest annual pay rise in years.
At the end of the 2025–26 financial year (30 June), the second stage of the gender-based undervaluation correction will kick in. The 14.1% phased increase to pharmacist minimum rates is being rolled out over 3 years.
The next day (1 July), award wage rates will receive another bump, following the Fair Work Commission’s 2026 Annual Wage Review delivering a 4.75% increase to modern award minimum wages.
The exact updated standard hourly rates for pharmacists for pay cycles starting on or after 1 July 2026 are:
| Pharmacist | $41.74 |
| Experienced pharmacist | $45.72 |
| Pharmacist in charge | $46.80 |
| Pharmacist manager | $52.15 |
Pharmacy owners paying above-award rates should review whether those rates remain above the new minimums.
2. CPI indexation of PBS dispensing fees
Pharmacy proprietors can expect an increase in Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme dispensing fees from Wednesday, which will rise in line with the consumer price index (CPI) under the Eighth Community Pharmacy Agreement (8CPA).
The PBS fee schedule for 1 July 2026 lists the following dispensing fees:
- ready-prepared items: $9.24, up from $8.88
- dangerous drug fee: $5.73, up from $5.50
- extemporaneously-prepared items: $11.28, up from $10.92
- allowable additional patient charge: $2.79, down from $3.45.
Under the 8CPA, the dispense fee, Tier 1 Administration, Handling and Infrastructure Fee and dangerous drug fee will be indexed by CPI each 1 July.
3. ACOP credentialing requirement takes effect
All pharmacists working in an Aged Care On-site Pharmacist (ACOP) role must hold an ACOP credential and have been issued with an ACOP Medication Review Number by 1 July. Without an ACOP credential, pharmacists will not be eligible to claim payments for ACOP services.
Refer to PSA’s credentialed pharmacists microsite for more information on obtaining an ACOP credential.
4. Aged care salary funding indexed
The annual salary funding provided to employers under the ACOP measure will also be indexed from 1 July.
For ACOP activities undertaken from 1 July 2026, the payment amount for a full time equivalent (FTE) ACOP will increase from $141,323.52 to $145,277.04 (GST excl.) per annum.
Funding is structured around resident numbers, with one FTE pharmacist per 250 beds, organised into 50-bed increments equivalent to 1 day per week on-site.
5. Pathology and imaging reports mandatory in My Health Record
Pathology and diagnostic imaging reports authored by, or on behalf of, a pathologist or radiologist must be uploaded to My Health Record (MyHR) under the Share by Default initiative – which kicks off on 1 July – unless an exception applies. Reports must be uploaded within 24 hours of being shared with the requesting provider, another treating provider, or the patient.
Patients should be able to view most pathology results as soon as they are uploaded. But some – including anatomical pathology, cytopathology and genetic testing – will be subject to a 5-day delay. Patients can also request that a specific pathology or diagnostic imaging report not be uploaded to their MyHR.
AP will have more details on what Share by Default means for pharmacists and patients in the coming weeks.
6. New pneumococcal vaccine replaces two on the NIP
From the beginning of next month, the 21-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine Capvaxive (21vPCV), will be introduced on the National Immunisation Program (NIP), replacing both Prevenar 13 and Pneumovax 23 for adults.
The changes lower the age that pneumococcal vaccination is recommended, with Capvaxive funded on the NIP for:
- adults aged 65 years and over
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults aged 25 years and over
- adults aged 18 years and over with specified medical conditions that increase their risk of severe disease.
Eligible adults who have previously received a dose of any other pneumococcal vaccine are recommended to receive Capvaxive at least 12 months after their last dose.
PSA’s vaccine update webinar Tuesday night at 7.00 pm AEST will discuss these NIP changes in more detail – register here: Webinar Registration – Zoom.
