At PSA26 on Friday, PSA named new leaders to champion two of the profession’s most important health priorities – pharmacist-led vaccination and harm reduction.
Julianna Neill MPS and Jemma Keay MPS were announced as the PSA Vaccination Ambassadors, recognising their leadership and commitment to advancing pharmacist-led immunisation services across Australia.
Based on the Sunshine Coast, Ms Neill has worked in community pharmacy and aged care and was among Australia’s first pharmacist vaccinators.
Ms Keay is a hospital pharmacist at Perth Children’s Hospital and has played a key role in expanding immunisation services within acute and outpatient paediatric care.
The appointment of Ms Neill and Ms Keay follows the outstanding contribution of inaugural PSA Vaccination Ambassador Anna Theophilos MPS, who announced the handover of the ambassador role at PSA26 after a year championing pharmacist-led vaccination and immunisation advocacy nationwide.
Reflecting on her time as PSA’s first Vaccination Ambassador, Ms Theophilos said the role had been driven by a belief in the untapped potential of pharmacists to improve vaccination access across Australia.
‘When I accepted the role as PSA’s inaugural Vaccination Ambassador, I knew pharmacists were one of the most underutilised parts of Australia’s healthcare infrastructure. We have the workforce, we have the trust, we have the reach, and Australians walk through pharmacy doors every day,’ Ms Theophilos said.
‘My mission was to talk to anyone and everyone about how pharmacy is the cornerstone of vaccination access in Australia, but just as importantly, to ignite belief within our own profession and build confidence in the impact pharmacists can have.
‘Over the past year, I’ve had the privilege of seeing our profession through many different lenses, and I am more convinced today than ever of the incredible capability and capacity of pharmacists to improve the health of Australians.’
Ms Theophilos said she was delighted to hand the ambassador role to two passionate leaders in the profession.
‘This year, we are appointing two Vaccination Ambassadors, and I couldn’t be more excited to introduce Jemma and Julianna. They are passionate advocates and powerful representatives of our profession,’ she said.
‘I have every confidence they will continue to elevate the conversations around vaccination, champion the role of pharmacists, and inspire even more progress in the year ahead.’
New Harm Reduction Champion revealed
Recognising an integral area of health, PSA named Krishna Nathwani MPS from Victoria as its first Harm Reduction Champion.
Supported by a grant from Camurus, the PSA Harm Reduction Champion aims to elevate pharmacist leadership in harm reduction and strengthen the profession’s role in improving access to care, reducing stigma, and supporting safer health outcomes for the community.
Ms Nathwani is a passionate advocate for harm reduction and full scope pharmacy practice.
Announcing Ms Nathwani as the PSA Harm Reduction Champion, Victorian State Manager Jarrod McMaugh FPS said, ‘Krishna exemplifies the impact pharmacists can have through innovative, patient-centred care.’
‘Her leadership in establishing a community pharmacy-based long-acting injectable buprenorphine program has improved access to treatment and demonstrated the important contribution pharmacists make to harm reduction.
As PSA’s first Harm Reduction Champion, Krishna is helping drive positive change, advocating for models of care that improve access, reduce stigma, and deliver better outcomes for patients and communities.’
Speaking on stage, Ms Nathwani said, ‘Harm reduction saves lives and strengthens the health and wellbeing of our communities, with pharmacists having long played a role in this space.’
‘There’s such a big deal for wraparound care, collaborative care, and consistent, equitable care that’s destigmatising but also dignifying. We’ve been talking about how much pharmacists still have to do, how much we can expand our scope, and there’s a really big opportunity there.
‘I’m really excited to do that together with all of our pharmacists to hear your wins, your success stories, and your barriers as well, but I’m really excited for what the next 12 months will bring.’
