As the Australian pharmacy industry navigates the most significant change to the pharmacist’s role, community pharmacy stands primed for the new era of health service delivery.
The Pharmacy 777 Group continues to demonstrate readiness for this evolution, offering a clear and practical response to one of the sector’s most pressing questions: is a service-led model viable within independent community pharmacy?
The group’s experience suggests the answer is yes – provided the right foundations are in place.
By combining clinical governance, operational systems and a patient-centred mindset, Pharmacy 777 has established a model that integrates expanded health services into everyday pharmacy practice without compromising commercial viability.
A structured model for sustainable healthcare delivery
Kim Brotherson, 777 Group Founder and Director, comments that the network’s ability to adapt is not new, ‘We’ve been here before. From the start of pharmacist vaccinations and later throughout COVID-19, our network demonstrated agility in mobilising quickly to deliver high-quality clinical care at scale,’ he said.
‘More recently, services such as UTI prescribing and oral contraceptive resupply have reinforced what’s possible when readiness, governance and support structures are in place.’
Central to Pharmacy 777’s approach is a belief that healthcare innovation and sustainable business outcomes are not mutually exclusive. Instead, they are intrinsically linked. The group’s vision and values underpin a model where patient care drives both clinical and commercial success.
‘Our focus on patients, rather than customers, forms the foundation of our Pharmacist-forward approach to how we see pharmacy and business.
‘Our aim is to ensure pharmacists and pharmacy owners are empowered to have the capacity to provide services for their communities, improving health outcomes as well as facilitating healthy business results,’ said Kim.
This philosophy led via 777’s Operating Model delivers a comprehensive support framework designed to retain the autonomy of independent pharmacy owners while giving them confidence that they are not navigating change alone.
Key elements include dedicated pharmacist-led support from a national team of 15 Business Development Pharmacists, supporting innovation, development and rollout of best-practice health services, plus access to broader 777 Group business options and resources across the network.
See the Group’s views on the future:
True support for the future:
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Embedding an enhanced-scope mindset
With pharmacist prescribing and broader clinical services gaining momentum, Pharmacy 777’s network is already operating with what it describes as an ‘enhanced-scope mindset’. For pharmacists within the group, expanded services represent a natural progression rather than a radical shift.
Pharmacy Practice Lead Anneika Tonkin explains, ‘Our pharmacists have been delivering advanced, patient-centred services for years. We’re building on this existing capability rather than introducing a new concept’.
‘For us, expanded scope isn’t a big leap, it’s a natural evolution of how pharmacists across the Pharmacy 777 network already practice.
Within our model, pharmacists can step away from the dispensary to conduct in-depth consultations with patients, backed by our workflows and support teams, ensuring continuity of patient care is maintained throughout the pharmacy.’
The readiness of the Group reduces the ‘step-change’ typically associated with change in scope. By embedding advanced clinical practice and patient engagement into everyday operations, pharmacists can integrate new services seamlessly into their workflow.
‘There’s an important mindset shift where we are moving from protocol-driven services, to true clinical decision-making, where prescribing is just one possible outcome,’ Anneika said.
‘Ultimately, this is about expanding access to care safely, responsibly, and with the right structures and support around our pharmacists which is critical.
‘For example, we’ve established a Community of Practice for pharmacists in training, backed by practical resources, workshops, clear workflows, and strong on-the-ground support from our Business Development Pharmacists and prescribing project team.’
Looking ahead
‘I’m excited about the role pharmacists will play in the future,’ Kim said.
‘With the right support, systems and mindset, community pharmacy is uniquely positioned to deliver accessible, high-quality care to more Australians than ever before.’
As the profession continues to evolve, one thing is evident—the future of pharmacy practice is not only evolving, but already within reach.
True support for Pharmacists
Contact our team: heretoserve@pharmacy777.com.au
