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[post_content] => A lifelong commitment to helping others has taken Emeritus Professor Jeff Hughes FPS, PSA's 2025 Symbion Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, from the hospital ward to the lecture theatre – and into digital health.
For more than 4 decades, Emeritus Prof Hughes has been influential in every facet of Australian pharmacy life. From his home in Western Australia, he has helped shape clinical hospital practice, penned books and research papers, co-owned a community pharmacy, held leadership roles within PSA, led Curtin University’s School of Pharmacy and co-founded a digital health company.
His career began in 1979 at Royal Perth Hospital. ‘I loved it,’ he says. ‘Being on the wards, part of the team, seeing patients every day – you could really make a difference.’ The case of a patient with a dog bite particularly stands out. ‘They were talking about cutting the patient’s leg off,’ he recalls. ‘I realised she wasn’t on antibiotics that would cover the organisms that come from dogs. She ended up walking out of the hospital.’
An academic path
In 1996, Emeritus Prof Hughes joined Curtin University as a Senior Lecturer in pharmacology. Although initially planning to complete a PhD, he enjoyed mentoring students and wanted to share his real-world experiences in the classroom. At the same time, he became an accredited pharmacist and began conducting medicine reviews in aged care.
A desire to improve the way pharmacy was taught eventually led to his position as Head of School in 2009. He remained deeply involved in research, working with colleagues on topics ranging from adverse drug reactions to quality use of medicines. ‘You can’t do everything yourself,’ he says. ‘But if you surround yourself with the right people, they’ll help you be successful. They’ll drive you along and inspire you.’
From aged care to AI
It was a spirit of collaboration and curiosity that led Emeritus Prof Hughes into digital health.
Inspired by what he had observed while conducting medicine reviews, he joined forces with colleague and former student Dr Kreshnik Hoti and Dr Mustafa Atee to develop a better alternative to paper-based pain assessment tools.
‘People with dementia were being given crushed up paracetamol tablets, which are incredibly bitter,’ he says. ‘It’s no surprise that the next time the spoon came out they became aggressive. I wanted to change pain management by improving pain assessment.’ The result is PainChek, an app now used in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Canada, with more than 7 million pain assessments completed. ‘It’s not very often that you have a good idea that converts into the type of success we’ve had,’ he admits.
Curiosity makes the difference
Today, Emeritus Prof Hughes remains focused on what drew him to pharmacy in the first place: solving problems and helping people.
His advice to early career pharmacists is to find what interests you, join professional organisations, and be part of shaping the profession.
‘Curiosity is the thing that makes the difference,’ he says. ‘Everyone can remember things, but to be curious is to think, “I just saw something I don’t understand, I’d better look that up”.’
Now 67, he has no plans to slow down. Alongside expanding PainChek’s reach, he is working on another project involving the use of digital stethoscopes to diagnose coronary artery disease, and is the lead investigator on an NHMRC project looking at whether calcium channel blockers cause an increased risk of breast cancer. ‘Every day in pharmacy, you learn something new,’ he says. ‘That’s what keeps me going.’
Q&A
1. What is the one scope of practice change you would most like to see?
Independent, embedded pharmacists in residential aged care homes and general practice.
2. What advice would you give to your younger self?
If you maintain your curiosity then you will make a difference.
3. What pharmacist role do you see yourself performing in 2030?
I see myself conducting research into using AI as a tool to improve disease/symptom (for example heart disease and pain) diagnosis, detection and management.
[post_title] => A pharmacy career built on curiosity
[post_excerpt] => From hospital wards to AI-driven healthcare, PSA's 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient has turned curiosity into a lifelong pursuit.
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[post_content] => Formal negotiations have begun on a new Pharmacy Programs Agreement (PPA), which sits outside the 8th Community Pharmacy Agreement, the federal Minister for Health, Disability and Ageing Mark Butler announced at PSA25 today.
‘The PSA is the natural home for this agreement because you’ve helped drive the development of new and emerging roles for pharmacists,’ Minister Butler said in his plenary address, which opened PSA25 this morning at Sydney’s International Convention Centre.
First announced in January this year, the proposed agreement between the Australian Government and PSA is expected to strengthen 17 pharmacy programs delivered by pharmacists across the health system.
These include medication management programs such as Home Medicines Reviews and Residential Medication Management Reviews, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-specific programs and rural support programs that encompass pharmacists in a range of practice areas.
PSA National President Associate Professor Fei Sim FPS told delegates: ‘We know these programs work, but for too long pharmacy programs have been scattered across a range of mechanisms without comprehensive evaluation of their impact. That’s part of what this agreement will do.’
Minister Butler also acknowledged PSA’s key role as a signatory to the new agreement ‘as the Albanese Government's health reform agenda continues to unfold, a role that we are committed to enhancing further in enabling you to work at your full scope of practise in delivering more services’, he told the more than 1,200 delegates attending PSA25.
PSA’s agreement approach
The Agreements Lead is National Board Member Associate Professor Shane Jackson FPS. He will head a team of senior pharmacists, including Consultation Lead Debbie Rigby FPS, National Board Member Bridget Totterman MPS, PSA’s General Manager for Policy and Program Delivery Chris Campbell FPS and PSA’s Canberra-based Senior Pharmacist – Strategic Agreements Rhyan Stanley MPS. Input is also expected from the Consultant Pharmacists Community of Specialty Interest led by Deborah Hawthorne FPS.
PSA’s approach from now is expected to be guided by findings from the formal consultation process that began several months ago, according to A/Prof Sim.
There will also be ongoing feedback from stakeholder groups and members and outcomes from a sector-wide roundtable. All responses will continue to shape PSA’s position on key elements of the agreement.
A/Prof Sim also announced that PSA, as a federated organisation, had reached a historic 20,000 members for the first time.
‘This growth reflects the value pharmacists see in what PSA offers,’ she said. ‘Pharmacists are looking for more than just representation, they’re looking for support, connection, and leadership.
‘We’re investing in expert-led, flexible education to support every stage of pharmacy careers and across areas of practice. We’re building a connected, passionate community that understands the goals and challenges our members face.’ She said PSA was also collaborating with other organisations and partners in giving pharmacists the confidence to expand their scope of practice.
Working to full scope
In his address, Minister Butler also canvassed government measures including recent enabling legislation for cheaper medicines for consumers earlier this month with the general co-payment for PBS medicines to be reduced from $31.60 to $25 from 1 January 2026.
‘We want to remove the barriers to working at full scope, reconciling varying state and territory approaches, removing red tape, changing cultures so that we can get, frankly, the absolute best out of you,’ he told hundreds of pharmacist delegates.
His colleague, pharmacist and Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention and Assistant Minister for Rural and Regional Health Emma McBride told the conference that the government was now considering the 18 recommendations of Professor Mark Cormack’s Unleashing the Potential of our Health Workforce – Scope of Practice Review, with A/Prof Sim part of the review committee.
Working towards a common goal
As PSA moves through the negotiation phase of this new agreement, A/Prof Sim said it was important to ‘pause and recognise the significance of what we are working toward’.
‘Whilst we need to remain pragmatic in our approach, this agreement will lay the foundation for a new, long-overdue infrastructure that has the potential to reshape the future for generations to come. This new agreement belongs to our profession, and PSA will do everything we can, within our ability, to do this for our profession.’
By negotiating a new agreement to govern these 17 specific programs, PSA is seeking to ensure they maximise the positive impact the pharmacy profession can have on patients across multiple areas of practice, she said.
Meanwhile, consultation on pharmacy programs remains open. PSA members are encouraged to provide any additional information, feedback and case studies.
Learn more about membership benefits at www.psa.org.au
[post_title] => New Pharmacy Programs Agreement negotiations have begun
[post_excerpt] => Formal negotiations have begun on a new Pharmacy Programs Agreement, Health Minister Butler announced at PSA25 today.
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[post_content] => Over the past few years, the words ‘scope of practice’ have been on the lips of pharmacists and government officials, with the hope of addressing some of the major challenges of our health system.
The Unleashing the Potential of our Health Workforce – Scope of Practice Review final review, delivered last year, made sweeping recommendations to how we deliver healthcare in Australia.
However, the 18 recommendations require several hurdles to be overcome before implementation – including changes to how healthcare professionals are trained, and how services are funded and regulated.
But there is movement happening. In July, Queensland pharmacy prescribing pilots became permanent, with 17 individual prescribing services now delivered across the state by pharmacists qualified to prescribe independently and autonomously.
The Queensland Government has also provided additional prescribing initiatives, including partnered pharmacist medication charting as well as therapeutic adaptation and substitution – providing pharmacists with more autonomy and options to help their patients.
Other jurisdictions around the country have also made announcements around prescribing pilots and permanent schemes.
But how far do we have to go to unleash the real potential of the healthcare workforce?
This was the burning question – among others – asked at the Scope of practice panel at PSA25 today.
When will there be harmonisation?
The federal Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has looked at the recommendation about harmonisation of the national legislative framework, said Deputy Secretary for Health Resourcing Penny Shakespeare.
‘We've already had a crack at trying to harmonise drugs and poisons legislation,’ she said. ‘We did a plan about 10 years ago, but we really need to take that forward now – and we're trying to get all of our governments to sign up to that.’
The department also needs to map out what the response will look like in the longer term, including how the health system’s funding and training arrangements are reformed.
‘We need to have a common approach, and if we do not reform in a coordinated way, we will actually hold back implementation of arrangements of practice,’ Ms Shakespeare said. ‘We've really got to try and lock down why we have differences at a state-by-state level, work through if they are evidence-based. And if not, we've got to try and make full changes to implement consistency.’
What’s the value for patients?
ACT-based Shivana Chandra, who works for the Health Care Consumers Association as a research officer, said she can often wait 3–4 weeks to get a GP appointment.
‘And if you've got a UTI, that is not a nice time to wait,’ she said.
Having the UTI prescribing pilots and programs around the country means patients can access the care they need much faster – preventing further deterioration of health.
‘But it's also a cost issue,’ Ms Chandra said. ‘It takes away that cost pressure of having to pay for the GP, then go back to the pharmacist to get treatment.’
But there is not much community awareness of these various pilots and programs, Ms Chandra thinks.
‘You never see any promotions for these programs about what’s happening in pharmacy,’ she said. ‘So you miss a lot of opportunities that way.’
Consumers also rely on healthcare professionals to get their information.
‘There needs to be better promotion from the pharmacists themselves about what they offer, how you can access it and where you can find out more information about it.’
What does it take to embed independent prescribing?
The United Kingdom has had it easy in terms of implementing pharmacist prescribing nationwide, according to Honorary Professor of Pharmacy Policy and Practice
University of Nottingham Bruce Warner.
But there are definitely some lessons Australia can take from the UK, which introduced independent prescribing in 2006.
‘While it’s not a quick process, it’s really important to get the foundations in place, and you have to bring people along with you,’ he said.
‘We spent a lot of time putting infrastructure in place, [including] things such as making sure our community pharmacies had a secure email address, which was one of the objections towards [pharmacist prescribing].'
Pharmacists should also expect a fair amount of scrutiny, but there is a way forward.
‘I was working with our National Patient Safety Agency when independent prescribing came in, and we were getting daily requests from the medical press asking, “How many errors are pharmacists making? How many patients are being harmed?”’ Prof Warner said.
‘Of course the reality was far fewer than they thought, but the scrutiny was intense. And you have to be able to live with that, anticipate that, and be able to work with that and work through it.’
But in 2026, the UK’s first pharmacy graduates will automatically become pharmacist prescribers.
‘That will change things dramatically,’ he said.
Could pharmacists prescribe on the PBS in the future?
Access to subsidised medicines for pharmacists is essential, Ms Shakespeare said.
‘We need [subsidised] supply of medicines to actually deliver change for consumers, and that's not what we've got,’ she said.
But there are some issues that need to be addressed first.
‘We've got a single professional body deciding whether a patient needs a medicine and financially benefiting from the supply of that medicine,’ Ms Shakespeare said. ‘[But] we have the technology [to develop] protocol-based, electronic clinical decision support systems.’
Supporting effective multi-disciplinary team-based care, allowing for information about changes in a patient's medicine regimen to be shared with all members of the care team, is also a top priority.
‘That's the building block we're really focused on at the moment, and have been developing work on that in the department.’
What about substitutions?
While Queensland-based pharmacists are now able to make adaptations and substitutions to prescriptions, the altered scripts will not be PBS subsidised, which multi-pharmacy owner and PSA Board Director Bridget Totterman MPS finds ‘extremely frustrating’.
‘It makes no sense that a patient can't access the PBS for a script that is either adapted, substituted or prescribed,’ she said. ‘Let the pharmacist help the first time.’
However, it is a step forward. After all, there would be no NIPVIP without QPIP.
‘We're absolutely going to fight and advocate for common-sense reform, but we will celebrate the wins along the way,’ she added.
[post_title] => Pharmacists poised for sweeping scope of practice reforms
[post_excerpt] => The government is actively working to harmonise drugs and poisons legislation and open PBS access for pharmacists.
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[post_content] => As PSA’s 2025 Symbion Early Career Pharmacist of the Year, Dr Kate Wang MPS is shaping pharmacy education and aged care policy through a unique blend of academic rigour and real-world compassion.
As an intern, Dr Wang was struck by how many medicines went into dose administration aids. An interest in quality use of medicines ensued. An interest in quality use of medicines ensued.
Dr Wang entered the pharmacy profession almost by chance. Initially uncertain about her career path, Dr Wang applied to study pharmacy in Queensland, commerce in New South Wales and law in Victoria – ultimately choosing pharmacy. It kept her closest to her family in Toowoomba.
She graduated from the University of Queensland in 2014 and completed her internship at a community pharmacy in Bulleen, Victoria, after her family relocated to Melbourne.
While at university, she developed a passion for research, which she was eager to pursue after her intern year. Unsure where to start in a new city, she turned to a facilitator from the PSA Intern Training Program, who connected her with colleagues at Monash University. There, she started a PhD and her research journey officially began.
Today, she is a Senior Lecturer in Pharmacy Practice at RMIT University, Adjunct Senior Lecturer at the University of Western Australia and a pharmacist at Alfred Health.
‘I find it incredibly rewarding when something I’ve discovered becomes a relevant and engaging example in the classroom,’ Dr Wang says. ‘When analysing data, you never quite know what the results will reveal. Sometimes the findings are completely unexpected, prompting you to think critically about why they occurred. It’s that sense of curiosity and excitement that I enjoy most.’
Aged care advocacy
Dr Wang’s research is particularly focused on medicine safety in aged care – an area she views as vital given the world’s rapidly ageing population. She is currently working alongside experts including Dr Amy Page and Dr Kenneth Lee from the University of WA to advocate for pharmacists to be embedded within aged care settings.
’Over 50% of aged care residents are exposed to at least one potentially inappropriate medicine,’ she says.
‘We are committed to addressing this pressing issue and improving medication safety and the quality of care for older Australians.
‘Pharmacists can initiate necessary therapies, deprescribe harmful or unnecessary medications, and tailor ongoing medication management through timely reviews and follow-up based on individual needs. They play a critical role in ensuring residents receive safe, appropriate, and effective treatment.’
Support and success
A recurring theme throughout Dr Wang’s career is a desire to collaborate and connect with her peers. She encourages other early career pharmacists to explore opportunities beyond their regular roles.
‘Pharmacy is such a diverse and dynamic field, offering countless pathways. Attend events run by professional organisations such as PSA, whether it’s a conference, webinar, or a social gathering. These experiences allow you to connect with professionals from diverse areas of pharmacy, broaden your perspective, and make your career journey more enjoyable and rewarding.’
She attributes her successes so far not just to her work, but to the support and encouragement of those around her.
Outside work, Dr Wang loves to travel. She and her husband recently returned from a Hawaii trip where they witnessed an active volcanic eruption. She also loves watching Chinese dramas and painting when time permits, and makes it a priority to have dinner with her parents and in-laws every week. Family counts.
‘My achievements are not mine alone. I feel incredibly fortunate to have been supported by many amazing people across different stages of my career.’
Q&A
1. What is the one scope of practice change you would most like to see?
I’d like to see pharmacists embedded in every aged care facility across Australia. Hopefully, we will have increased and sustained funding to support the integration of pharmacists as a standard part of aged care teams in all facilities nationwide.
2. What advice would you give to your younger self?
Be curious, stay open-minded, and don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. Say yes to new opportunities as you never know where they might lead. And most importantly, don’t fear failure. Every experience, even the difficult ones, can help you grow and shape the person you become.
3. What pharmacist role do you see yourself performing in 2030?
By 2030, I hope to be actively contributing to the education and training of the next generation of pharmacists. Hopefully, I will be delivering curricula that reflect an even further expanded scope of practice. I also aspire to become a professor and continue advocating for progressive, evidence-based changes in pharmacy practice.
[post_title] => Transforming medicine safety in aged care
[post_excerpt] => PSA’s 2025 Early Career Pharmacist of the Year, Dr Kate Wang is shaping pharmacy education and aged care policy.
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[post_content] => Returning home to the Northern Territory helped PSA’s 2025 Symbion Pharmacist of the Year Jaimee Anderson MPS find a new purpose.
After studying at Monash University and working as a community pharmacist in regional Victoria, Ms Anderson felt the pull of home. Eager to be closer to family, she moved back to Katherine, in the heart of the Top End, where she soon found herself running not one but both of the town’s community pharmacies.
‘My workload was pretty intense,’ she says of her 9 years managing the pharmacies. ‘The work was good, but it was often long hours and continuous days in a row, because it’s really hard to get pharmacists here.’
Ready for a change, she jumped at the chance to join the Integrating Pharmacists into Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services trial. She was embedded in the Wurli-Wurlinjang Health Service, where she helped to bridge the gap between that ACCHO and community pharmacy. ‘I was a liaison between the two. We improved services by getting the pharmacy to understand what was going on at Wurli and Wurli to understand the pharmacy side of things.’
Finding a new focus
When the trial ended, Wurli-Wurlinjang kept Ms Anderson on, and supported her to become a credentialed diabetes educator (CDE). She now works as a CDE, as an on-site pharmacist in aged care, and was recently accredited to conduct Medication Management Reviews.
Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients, and as a CDE, gave Ms Anderson renewed purpose.
‘I wasn’t super passionate about pharmacy – it was a means to an end. Diabetes was similar ... but now I could talk about it for hours.’ This is especially so with diabetes among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
‘It wasn’t until I came home to Katherine that I started to see the potential of how pharmacists can help when it comes to Indigenous health.’
Ms Anderson now focuses primarily on pregnancy-related and youth-onset type 2 diabetes, which she says is on the rise. ‘People still think of diabetes as an older person’s disease, but that’s not the case. There are lots of social determinants and intergenerational issues that are causing it. I’m on a massive crusade to make people aware.’
An unexpected journey
Reflecting on her career so far, Ms Anderson says the variety of her roles
is a highlight.
‘I never thought I’d be a CDE, but I really love it. And I hadn’t planned on becoming an aged care pharmacist, but I really enjoy that, too.’ Being a key part of the clinical team is also incredibly rewarding. ‘As pharmacists, we’re often used to being the end of the line – the person who supplies the medicines. So being involved closer to the start is fascinating. I have doctors ask me about different diabetes medicines because they recognise my expertise.’
Although recognition was never the goal, Ms Anderson hopes her story resonates with
other ‘everyday pharmacists’.
‘I wouldn’t have thought I was the kind of person to win this award. But I hope it helps other people see the value in the work they do.’
Q&A
1. What is the one scope of practice change you’d most like to see?
Upskilling pharmacists to provide certain medicines and clinical care in a clinical setting, similar to a nurse practitioner model. Which is coming, just very slowly.
2. What advice would you give to your younger self?
Never stop learning. Take up space. Never think you know everything. Always advocate for yourself, and for others who need it. If an opportunity comes along – grab it with both hands and jump in. It’s ok to be scared but do stuff anyway.
3. What pharmacist role do you see yourself performing in 2030?
I think I’d like to be involved in pharmacist education in some capacity – upskilling the future generations of pharmacists … while still doing clinical credentialed diabetes educator, aged care and medication management work, of course!
[post_title] => PSA's Pharmacist of the Year is redefining remote pharmacy
[post_excerpt] => Returning home to the Northern Territory helped PSA’s Pharmacist of the Year Jaimee Anderson MPS find a new purpose.
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[post_content] => A lifelong commitment to helping others has taken Emeritus Professor Jeff Hughes FPS, PSA's 2025 Symbion Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, from the hospital ward to the lecture theatre – and into digital health.
For more than 4 decades, Emeritus Prof Hughes has been influential in every facet of Australian pharmacy life. From his home in Western Australia, he has helped shape clinical hospital practice, penned books and research papers, co-owned a community pharmacy, held leadership roles within PSA, led Curtin University’s School of Pharmacy and co-founded a digital health company.
His career began in 1979 at Royal Perth Hospital. ‘I loved it,’ he says. ‘Being on the wards, part of the team, seeing patients every day – you could really make a difference.’ The case of a patient with a dog bite particularly stands out. ‘They were talking about cutting the patient’s leg off,’ he recalls. ‘I realised she wasn’t on antibiotics that would cover the organisms that come from dogs. She ended up walking out of the hospital.’
An academic path
In 1996, Emeritus Prof Hughes joined Curtin University as a Senior Lecturer in pharmacology. Although initially planning to complete a PhD, he enjoyed mentoring students and wanted to share his real-world experiences in the classroom. At the same time, he became an accredited pharmacist and began conducting medicine reviews in aged care.
A desire to improve the way pharmacy was taught eventually led to his position as Head of School in 2009. He remained deeply involved in research, working with colleagues on topics ranging from adverse drug reactions to quality use of medicines. ‘You can’t do everything yourself,’ he says. ‘But if you surround yourself with the right people, they’ll help you be successful. They’ll drive you along and inspire you.’
From aged care to AI
It was a spirit of collaboration and curiosity that led Emeritus Prof Hughes into digital health.
Inspired by what he had observed while conducting medicine reviews, he joined forces with colleague and former student Dr Kreshnik Hoti and Dr Mustafa Atee to develop a better alternative to paper-based pain assessment tools.
‘People with dementia were being given crushed up paracetamol tablets, which are incredibly bitter,’ he says. ‘It’s no surprise that the next time the spoon came out they became aggressive. I wanted to change pain management by improving pain assessment.’ The result is PainChek, an app now used in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Canada, with more than 7 million pain assessments completed. ‘It’s not very often that you have a good idea that converts into the type of success we’ve had,’ he admits.
Curiosity makes the difference
Today, Emeritus Prof Hughes remains focused on what drew him to pharmacy in the first place: solving problems and helping people.
His advice to early career pharmacists is to find what interests you, join professional organisations, and be part of shaping the profession.
‘Curiosity is the thing that makes the difference,’ he says. ‘Everyone can remember things, but to be curious is to think, “I just saw something I don’t understand, I’d better look that up”.’
Now 67, he has no plans to slow down. Alongside expanding PainChek’s reach, he is working on another project involving the use of digital stethoscopes to diagnose coronary artery disease, and is the lead investigator on an NHMRC project looking at whether calcium channel blockers cause an increased risk of breast cancer. ‘Every day in pharmacy, you learn something new,’ he says. ‘That’s what keeps me going.’
Q&A
1. What is the one scope of practice change you would most like to see?
Independent, embedded pharmacists in residential aged care homes and general practice.
2. What advice would you give to your younger self?
If you maintain your curiosity then you will make a difference.
3. What pharmacist role do you see yourself performing in 2030?
I see myself conducting research into using AI as a tool to improve disease/symptom (for example heart disease and pain) diagnosis, detection and management.
[post_title] => A pharmacy career built on curiosity
[post_excerpt] => From hospital wards to AI-driven healthcare, PSA's 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient has turned curiosity into a lifelong pursuit.
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[post_content] => Formal negotiations have begun on a new Pharmacy Programs Agreement (PPA), which sits outside the 8th Community Pharmacy Agreement, the federal Minister for Health, Disability and Ageing Mark Butler announced at PSA25 today.
‘The PSA is the natural home for this agreement because you’ve helped drive the development of new and emerging roles for pharmacists,’ Minister Butler said in his plenary address, which opened PSA25 this morning at Sydney’s International Convention Centre.
First announced in January this year, the proposed agreement between the Australian Government and PSA is expected to strengthen 17 pharmacy programs delivered by pharmacists across the health system.
These include medication management programs such as Home Medicines Reviews and Residential Medication Management Reviews, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-specific programs and rural support programs that encompass pharmacists in a range of practice areas.
PSA National President Associate Professor Fei Sim FPS told delegates: ‘We know these programs work, but for too long pharmacy programs have been scattered across a range of mechanisms without comprehensive evaluation of their impact. That’s part of what this agreement will do.’
Minister Butler also acknowledged PSA’s key role as a signatory to the new agreement ‘as the Albanese Government's health reform agenda continues to unfold, a role that we are committed to enhancing further in enabling you to work at your full scope of practise in delivering more services’, he told the more than 1,200 delegates attending PSA25.
PSA’s agreement approach
The Agreements Lead is National Board Member Associate Professor Shane Jackson FPS. He will head a team of senior pharmacists, including Consultation Lead Debbie Rigby FPS, National Board Member Bridget Totterman MPS, PSA’s General Manager for Policy and Program Delivery Chris Campbell FPS and PSA’s Canberra-based Senior Pharmacist – Strategic Agreements Rhyan Stanley MPS. Input is also expected from the Consultant Pharmacists Community of Specialty Interest led by Deborah Hawthorne FPS.
PSA’s approach from now is expected to be guided by findings from the formal consultation process that began several months ago, according to A/Prof Sim.
There will also be ongoing feedback from stakeholder groups and members and outcomes from a sector-wide roundtable. All responses will continue to shape PSA’s position on key elements of the agreement.
A/Prof Sim also announced that PSA, as a federated organisation, had reached a historic 20,000 members for the first time.
‘This growth reflects the value pharmacists see in what PSA offers,’ she said. ‘Pharmacists are looking for more than just representation, they’re looking for support, connection, and leadership.
‘We’re investing in expert-led, flexible education to support every stage of pharmacy careers and across areas of practice. We’re building a connected, passionate community that understands the goals and challenges our members face.’ She said PSA was also collaborating with other organisations and partners in giving pharmacists the confidence to expand their scope of practice.
Working to full scope
In his address, Minister Butler also canvassed government measures including recent enabling legislation for cheaper medicines for consumers earlier this month with the general co-payment for PBS medicines to be reduced from $31.60 to $25 from 1 January 2026.
‘We want to remove the barriers to working at full scope, reconciling varying state and territory approaches, removing red tape, changing cultures so that we can get, frankly, the absolute best out of you,’ he told hundreds of pharmacist delegates.
His colleague, pharmacist and Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention and Assistant Minister for Rural and Regional Health Emma McBride told the conference that the government was now considering the 18 recommendations of Professor Mark Cormack’s Unleashing the Potential of our Health Workforce – Scope of Practice Review, with A/Prof Sim part of the review committee.
Working towards a common goal
As PSA moves through the negotiation phase of this new agreement, A/Prof Sim said it was important to ‘pause and recognise the significance of what we are working toward’.
‘Whilst we need to remain pragmatic in our approach, this agreement will lay the foundation for a new, long-overdue infrastructure that has the potential to reshape the future for generations to come. This new agreement belongs to our profession, and PSA will do everything we can, within our ability, to do this for our profession.’
By negotiating a new agreement to govern these 17 specific programs, PSA is seeking to ensure they maximise the positive impact the pharmacy profession can have on patients across multiple areas of practice, she said.
Meanwhile, consultation on pharmacy programs remains open. PSA members are encouraged to provide any additional information, feedback and case studies.
Learn more about membership benefits at www.psa.org.au
[post_title] => New Pharmacy Programs Agreement negotiations have begun
[post_excerpt] => Formal negotiations have begun on a new Pharmacy Programs Agreement, Health Minister Butler announced at PSA25 today.
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[post_content] => Over the past few years, the words ‘scope of practice’ have been on the lips of pharmacists and government officials, with the hope of addressing some of the major challenges of our health system.
The Unleashing the Potential of our Health Workforce – Scope of Practice Review final review, delivered last year, made sweeping recommendations to how we deliver healthcare in Australia.
However, the 18 recommendations require several hurdles to be overcome before implementation – including changes to how healthcare professionals are trained, and how services are funded and regulated.
But there is movement happening. In July, Queensland pharmacy prescribing pilots became permanent, with 17 individual prescribing services now delivered across the state by pharmacists qualified to prescribe independently and autonomously.
The Queensland Government has also provided additional prescribing initiatives, including partnered pharmacist medication charting as well as therapeutic adaptation and substitution – providing pharmacists with more autonomy and options to help their patients.
Other jurisdictions around the country have also made announcements around prescribing pilots and permanent schemes.
But how far do we have to go to unleash the real potential of the healthcare workforce?
This was the burning question – among others – asked at the Scope of practice panel at PSA25 today.
When will there be harmonisation?
The federal Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has looked at the recommendation about harmonisation of the national legislative framework, said Deputy Secretary for Health Resourcing Penny Shakespeare.
‘We've already had a crack at trying to harmonise drugs and poisons legislation,’ she said. ‘We did a plan about 10 years ago, but we really need to take that forward now – and we're trying to get all of our governments to sign up to that.’
The department also needs to map out what the response will look like in the longer term, including how the health system’s funding and training arrangements are reformed.
‘We need to have a common approach, and if we do not reform in a coordinated way, we will actually hold back implementation of arrangements of practice,’ Ms Shakespeare said. ‘We've really got to try and lock down why we have differences at a state-by-state level, work through if they are evidence-based. And if not, we've got to try and make full changes to implement consistency.’
What’s the value for patients?
ACT-based Shivana Chandra, who works for the Health Care Consumers Association as a research officer, said she can often wait 3–4 weeks to get a GP appointment.
‘And if you've got a UTI, that is not a nice time to wait,’ she said.
Having the UTI prescribing pilots and programs around the country means patients can access the care they need much faster – preventing further deterioration of health.
‘But it's also a cost issue,’ Ms Chandra said. ‘It takes away that cost pressure of having to pay for the GP, then go back to the pharmacist to get treatment.’
But there is not much community awareness of these various pilots and programs, Ms Chandra thinks.
‘You never see any promotions for these programs about what’s happening in pharmacy,’ she said. ‘So you miss a lot of opportunities that way.’
Consumers also rely on healthcare professionals to get their information.
‘There needs to be better promotion from the pharmacists themselves about what they offer, how you can access it and where you can find out more information about it.’
What does it take to embed independent prescribing?
The United Kingdom has had it easy in terms of implementing pharmacist prescribing nationwide, according to Honorary Professor of Pharmacy Policy and Practice
University of Nottingham Bruce Warner.
But there are definitely some lessons Australia can take from the UK, which introduced independent prescribing in 2006.
‘While it’s not a quick process, it’s really important to get the foundations in place, and you have to bring people along with you,’ he said.
‘We spent a lot of time putting infrastructure in place, [including] things such as making sure our community pharmacies had a secure email address, which was one of the objections towards [pharmacist prescribing].'
Pharmacists should also expect a fair amount of scrutiny, but there is a way forward.
‘I was working with our National Patient Safety Agency when independent prescribing came in, and we were getting daily requests from the medical press asking, “How many errors are pharmacists making? How many patients are being harmed?”’ Prof Warner said.
‘Of course the reality was far fewer than they thought, but the scrutiny was intense. And you have to be able to live with that, anticipate that, and be able to work with that and work through it.’
But in 2026, the UK’s first pharmacy graduates will automatically become pharmacist prescribers.
‘That will change things dramatically,’ he said.
Could pharmacists prescribe on the PBS in the future?
Access to subsidised medicines for pharmacists is essential, Ms Shakespeare said.
‘We need [subsidised] supply of medicines to actually deliver change for consumers, and that's not what we've got,’ she said.
But there are some issues that need to be addressed first.
‘We've got a single professional body deciding whether a patient needs a medicine and financially benefiting from the supply of that medicine,’ Ms Shakespeare said. ‘[But] we have the technology [to develop] protocol-based, electronic clinical decision support systems.’
Supporting effective multi-disciplinary team-based care, allowing for information about changes in a patient's medicine regimen to be shared with all members of the care team, is also a top priority.
‘That's the building block we're really focused on at the moment, and have been developing work on that in the department.’
What about substitutions?
While Queensland-based pharmacists are now able to make adaptations and substitutions to prescriptions, the altered scripts will not be PBS subsidised, which multi-pharmacy owner and PSA Board Director Bridget Totterman MPS finds ‘extremely frustrating’.
‘It makes no sense that a patient can't access the PBS for a script that is either adapted, substituted or prescribed,’ she said. ‘Let the pharmacist help the first time.’
However, it is a step forward. After all, there would be no NIPVIP without QPIP.
‘We're absolutely going to fight and advocate for common-sense reform, but we will celebrate the wins along the way,’ she added.
[post_title] => Pharmacists poised for sweeping scope of practice reforms
[post_excerpt] => The government is actively working to harmonise drugs and poisons legislation and open PBS access for pharmacists.
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[post_content] => As PSA’s 2025 Symbion Early Career Pharmacist of the Year, Dr Kate Wang MPS is shaping pharmacy education and aged care policy through a unique blend of academic rigour and real-world compassion.
As an intern, Dr Wang was struck by how many medicines went into dose administration aids. An interest in quality use of medicines ensued. An interest in quality use of medicines ensued.
Dr Wang entered the pharmacy profession almost by chance. Initially uncertain about her career path, Dr Wang applied to study pharmacy in Queensland, commerce in New South Wales and law in Victoria – ultimately choosing pharmacy. It kept her closest to her family in Toowoomba.
She graduated from the University of Queensland in 2014 and completed her internship at a community pharmacy in Bulleen, Victoria, after her family relocated to Melbourne.
While at university, she developed a passion for research, which she was eager to pursue after her intern year. Unsure where to start in a new city, she turned to a facilitator from the PSA Intern Training Program, who connected her with colleagues at Monash University. There, she started a PhD and her research journey officially began.
Today, she is a Senior Lecturer in Pharmacy Practice at RMIT University, Adjunct Senior Lecturer at the University of Western Australia and a pharmacist at Alfred Health.
‘I find it incredibly rewarding when something I’ve discovered becomes a relevant and engaging example in the classroom,’ Dr Wang says. ‘When analysing data, you never quite know what the results will reveal. Sometimes the findings are completely unexpected, prompting you to think critically about why they occurred. It’s that sense of curiosity and excitement that I enjoy most.’
Aged care advocacy
Dr Wang’s research is particularly focused on medicine safety in aged care – an area she views as vital given the world’s rapidly ageing population. She is currently working alongside experts including Dr Amy Page and Dr Kenneth Lee from the University of WA to advocate for pharmacists to be embedded within aged care settings.
’Over 50% of aged care residents are exposed to at least one potentially inappropriate medicine,’ she says.
‘We are committed to addressing this pressing issue and improving medication safety and the quality of care for older Australians.
‘Pharmacists can initiate necessary therapies, deprescribe harmful or unnecessary medications, and tailor ongoing medication management through timely reviews and follow-up based on individual needs. They play a critical role in ensuring residents receive safe, appropriate, and effective treatment.’
Support and success
A recurring theme throughout Dr Wang’s career is a desire to collaborate and connect with her peers. She encourages other early career pharmacists to explore opportunities beyond their regular roles.
‘Pharmacy is such a diverse and dynamic field, offering countless pathways. Attend events run by professional organisations such as PSA, whether it’s a conference, webinar, or a social gathering. These experiences allow you to connect with professionals from diverse areas of pharmacy, broaden your perspective, and make your career journey more enjoyable and rewarding.’
She attributes her successes so far not just to her work, but to the support and encouragement of those around her.
Outside work, Dr Wang loves to travel. She and her husband recently returned from a Hawaii trip where they witnessed an active volcanic eruption. She also loves watching Chinese dramas and painting when time permits, and makes it a priority to have dinner with her parents and in-laws every week. Family counts.
‘My achievements are not mine alone. I feel incredibly fortunate to have been supported by many amazing people across different stages of my career.’
Q&A
1. What is the one scope of practice change you would most like to see?
I’d like to see pharmacists embedded in every aged care facility across Australia. Hopefully, we will have increased and sustained funding to support the integration of pharmacists as a standard part of aged care teams in all facilities nationwide.
2. What advice would you give to your younger self?
Be curious, stay open-minded, and don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. Say yes to new opportunities as you never know where they might lead. And most importantly, don’t fear failure. Every experience, even the difficult ones, can help you grow and shape the person you become.
3. What pharmacist role do you see yourself performing in 2030?
By 2030, I hope to be actively contributing to the education and training of the next generation of pharmacists. Hopefully, I will be delivering curricula that reflect an even further expanded scope of practice. I also aspire to become a professor and continue advocating for progressive, evidence-based changes in pharmacy practice.
[post_title] => Transforming medicine safety in aged care
[post_excerpt] => PSA’s 2025 Early Career Pharmacist of the Year, Dr Kate Wang is shaping pharmacy education and aged care policy.
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[post_content] => Returning home to the Northern Territory helped PSA’s 2025 Symbion Pharmacist of the Year Jaimee Anderson MPS find a new purpose.
After studying at Monash University and working as a community pharmacist in regional Victoria, Ms Anderson felt the pull of home. Eager to be closer to family, she moved back to Katherine, in the heart of the Top End, where she soon found herself running not one but both of the town’s community pharmacies.
‘My workload was pretty intense,’ she says of her 9 years managing the pharmacies. ‘The work was good, but it was often long hours and continuous days in a row, because it’s really hard to get pharmacists here.’
Ready for a change, she jumped at the chance to join the Integrating Pharmacists into Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services trial. She was embedded in the Wurli-Wurlinjang Health Service, where she helped to bridge the gap between that ACCHO and community pharmacy. ‘I was a liaison between the two. We improved services by getting the pharmacy to understand what was going on at Wurli and Wurli to understand the pharmacy side of things.’
Finding a new focus
When the trial ended, Wurli-Wurlinjang kept Ms Anderson on, and supported her to become a credentialed diabetes educator (CDE). She now works as a CDE, as an on-site pharmacist in aged care, and was recently accredited to conduct Medication Management Reviews.
Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients, and as a CDE, gave Ms Anderson renewed purpose.
‘I wasn’t super passionate about pharmacy – it was a means to an end. Diabetes was similar ... but now I could talk about it for hours.’ This is especially so with diabetes among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
‘It wasn’t until I came home to Katherine that I started to see the potential of how pharmacists can help when it comes to Indigenous health.’
Ms Anderson now focuses primarily on pregnancy-related and youth-onset type 2 diabetes, which she says is on the rise. ‘People still think of diabetes as an older person’s disease, but that’s not the case. There are lots of social determinants and intergenerational issues that are causing it. I’m on a massive crusade to make people aware.’
An unexpected journey
Reflecting on her career so far, Ms Anderson says the variety of her roles
is a highlight.
‘I never thought I’d be a CDE, but I really love it. And I hadn’t planned on becoming an aged care pharmacist, but I really enjoy that, too.’ Being a key part of the clinical team is also incredibly rewarding. ‘As pharmacists, we’re often used to being the end of the line – the person who supplies the medicines. So being involved closer to the start is fascinating. I have doctors ask me about different diabetes medicines because they recognise my expertise.’
Although recognition was never the goal, Ms Anderson hopes her story resonates with
other ‘everyday pharmacists’.
‘I wouldn’t have thought I was the kind of person to win this award. But I hope it helps other people see the value in the work they do.’
Q&A
1. What is the one scope of practice change you’d most like to see?
Upskilling pharmacists to provide certain medicines and clinical care in a clinical setting, similar to a nurse practitioner model. Which is coming, just very slowly.
2. What advice would you give to your younger self?
Never stop learning. Take up space. Never think you know everything. Always advocate for yourself, and for others who need it. If an opportunity comes along – grab it with both hands and jump in. It’s ok to be scared but do stuff anyway.
3. What pharmacist role do you see yourself performing in 2030?
I think I’d like to be involved in pharmacist education in some capacity – upskilling the future generations of pharmacists … while still doing clinical credentialed diabetes educator, aged care and medication management work, of course!
[post_title] => PSA's Pharmacist of the Year is redefining remote pharmacy
[post_excerpt] => Returning home to the Northern Territory helped PSA’s Pharmacist of the Year Jaimee Anderson MPS find a new purpose.
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[post_content] => A lifelong commitment to helping others has taken Emeritus Professor Jeff Hughes FPS, PSA's 2025 Symbion Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, from the hospital ward to the lecture theatre – and into digital health.
For more than 4 decades, Emeritus Prof Hughes has been influential in every facet of Australian pharmacy life. From his home in Western Australia, he has helped shape clinical hospital practice, penned books and research papers, co-owned a community pharmacy, held leadership roles within PSA, led Curtin University’s School of Pharmacy and co-founded a digital health company.
His career began in 1979 at Royal Perth Hospital. ‘I loved it,’ he says. ‘Being on the wards, part of the team, seeing patients every day – you could really make a difference.’ The case of a patient with a dog bite particularly stands out. ‘They were talking about cutting the patient’s leg off,’ he recalls. ‘I realised she wasn’t on antibiotics that would cover the organisms that come from dogs. She ended up walking out of the hospital.’
An academic path
In 1996, Emeritus Prof Hughes joined Curtin University as a Senior Lecturer in pharmacology. Although initially planning to complete a PhD, he enjoyed mentoring students and wanted to share his real-world experiences in the classroom. At the same time, he became an accredited pharmacist and began conducting medicine reviews in aged care.
A desire to improve the way pharmacy was taught eventually led to his position as Head of School in 2009. He remained deeply involved in research, working with colleagues on topics ranging from adverse drug reactions to quality use of medicines. ‘You can’t do everything yourself,’ he says. ‘But if you surround yourself with the right people, they’ll help you be successful. They’ll drive you along and inspire you.’
From aged care to AI
It was a spirit of collaboration and curiosity that led Emeritus Prof Hughes into digital health.
Inspired by what he had observed while conducting medicine reviews, he joined forces with colleague and former student Dr Kreshnik Hoti and Dr Mustafa Atee to develop a better alternative to paper-based pain assessment tools.
‘People with dementia were being given crushed up paracetamol tablets, which are incredibly bitter,’ he says. ‘It’s no surprise that the next time the spoon came out they became aggressive. I wanted to change pain management by improving pain assessment.’ The result is PainChek, an app now used in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Canada, with more than 7 million pain assessments completed. ‘It’s not very often that you have a good idea that converts into the type of success we’ve had,’ he admits.
Curiosity makes the difference
Today, Emeritus Prof Hughes remains focused on what drew him to pharmacy in the first place: solving problems and helping people.
His advice to early career pharmacists is to find what interests you, join professional organisations, and be part of shaping the profession.
‘Curiosity is the thing that makes the difference,’ he says. ‘Everyone can remember things, but to be curious is to think, “I just saw something I don’t understand, I’d better look that up”.’
Now 67, he has no plans to slow down. Alongside expanding PainChek’s reach, he is working on another project involving the use of digital stethoscopes to diagnose coronary artery disease, and is the lead investigator on an NHMRC project looking at whether calcium channel blockers cause an increased risk of breast cancer. ‘Every day in pharmacy, you learn something new,’ he says. ‘That’s what keeps me going.’
Q&A
1. What is the one scope of practice change you would most like to see?
Independent, embedded pharmacists in residential aged care homes and general practice.
2. What advice would you give to your younger self?
If you maintain your curiosity then you will make a difference.
3. What pharmacist role do you see yourself performing in 2030?
I see myself conducting research into using AI as a tool to improve disease/symptom (for example heart disease and pain) diagnosis, detection and management.
[post_title] => A pharmacy career built on curiosity
[post_excerpt] => From hospital wards to AI-driven healthcare, PSA's 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient has turned curiosity into a lifelong pursuit.
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[post_content] => Formal negotiations have begun on a new Pharmacy Programs Agreement (PPA), which sits outside the 8th Community Pharmacy Agreement, the federal Minister for Health, Disability and Ageing Mark Butler announced at PSA25 today.
‘The PSA is the natural home for this agreement because you’ve helped drive the development of new and emerging roles for pharmacists,’ Minister Butler said in his plenary address, which opened PSA25 this morning at Sydney’s International Convention Centre.
First announced in January this year, the proposed agreement between the Australian Government and PSA is expected to strengthen 17 pharmacy programs delivered by pharmacists across the health system.
These include medication management programs such as Home Medicines Reviews and Residential Medication Management Reviews, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-specific programs and rural support programs that encompass pharmacists in a range of practice areas.
PSA National President Associate Professor Fei Sim FPS told delegates: ‘We know these programs work, but for too long pharmacy programs have been scattered across a range of mechanisms without comprehensive evaluation of their impact. That’s part of what this agreement will do.’
Minister Butler also acknowledged PSA’s key role as a signatory to the new agreement ‘as the Albanese Government's health reform agenda continues to unfold, a role that we are committed to enhancing further in enabling you to work at your full scope of practise in delivering more services’, he told the more than 1,200 delegates attending PSA25.
PSA’s agreement approach
The Agreements Lead is National Board Member Associate Professor Shane Jackson FPS. He will head a team of senior pharmacists, including Consultation Lead Debbie Rigby FPS, National Board Member Bridget Totterman MPS, PSA’s General Manager for Policy and Program Delivery Chris Campbell FPS and PSA’s Canberra-based Senior Pharmacist – Strategic Agreements Rhyan Stanley MPS. Input is also expected from the Consultant Pharmacists Community of Specialty Interest led by Deborah Hawthorne FPS.
PSA’s approach from now is expected to be guided by findings from the formal consultation process that began several months ago, according to A/Prof Sim.
There will also be ongoing feedback from stakeholder groups and members and outcomes from a sector-wide roundtable. All responses will continue to shape PSA’s position on key elements of the agreement.
A/Prof Sim also announced that PSA, as a federated organisation, had reached a historic 20,000 members for the first time.
‘This growth reflects the value pharmacists see in what PSA offers,’ she said. ‘Pharmacists are looking for more than just representation, they’re looking for support, connection, and leadership.
‘We’re investing in expert-led, flexible education to support every stage of pharmacy careers and across areas of practice. We’re building a connected, passionate community that understands the goals and challenges our members face.’ She said PSA was also collaborating with other organisations and partners in giving pharmacists the confidence to expand their scope of practice.
Working to full scope
In his address, Minister Butler also canvassed government measures including recent enabling legislation for cheaper medicines for consumers earlier this month with the general co-payment for PBS medicines to be reduced from $31.60 to $25 from 1 January 2026.
‘We want to remove the barriers to working at full scope, reconciling varying state and territory approaches, removing red tape, changing cultures so that we can get, frankly, the absolute best out of you,’ he told hundreds of pharmacist delegates.
His colleague, pharmacist and Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention and Assistant Minister for Rural and Regional Health Emma McBride told the conference that the government was now considering the 18 recommendations of Professor Mark Cormack’s Unleashing the Potential of our Health Workforce – Scope of Practice Review, with A/Prof Sim part of the review committee.
Working towards a common goal
As PSA moves through the negotiation phase of this new agreement, A/Prof Sim said it was important to ‘pause and recognise the significance of what we are working toward’.
‘Whilst we need to remain pragmatic in our approach, this agreement will lay the foundation for a new, long-overdue infrastructure that has the potential to reshape the future for generations to come. This new agreement belongs to our profession, and PSA will do everything we can, within our ability, to do this for our profession.’
By negotiating a new agreement to govern these 17 specific programs, PSA is seeking to ensure they maximise the positive impact the pharmacy profession can have on patients across multiple areas of practice, she said.
Meanwhile, consultation on pharmacy programs remains open. PSA members are encouraged to provide any additional information, feedback and case studies.
Learn more about membership benefits at www.psa.org.au
[post_title] => New Pharmacy Programs Agreement negotiations have begun
[post_excerpt] => Formal negotiations have begun on a new Pharmacy Programs Agreement, Health Minister Butler announced at PSA25 today.
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[post_content] => Over the past few years, the words ‘scope of practice’ have been on the lips of pharmacists and government officials, with the hope of addressing some of the major challenges of our health system.
The Unleashing the Potential of our Health Workforce – Scope of Practice Review final review, delivered last year, made sweeping recommendations to how we deliver healthcare in Australia.
However, the 18 recommendations require several hurdles to be overcome before implementation – including changes to how healthcare professionals are trained, and how services are funded and regulated.
But there is movement happening. In July, Queensland pharmacy prescribing pilots became permanent, with 17 individual prescribing services now delivered across the state by pharmacists qualified to prescribe independently and autonomously.
The Queensland Government has also provided additional prescribing initiatives, including partnered pharmacist medication charting as well as therapeutic adaptation and substitution – providing pharmacists with more autonomy and options to help their patients.
Other jurisdictions around the country have also made announcements around prescribing pilots and permanent schemes.
But how far do we have to go to unleash the real potential of the healthcare workforce?
This was the burning question – among others – asked at the Scope of practice panel at PSA25 today.
When will there be harmonisation?
The federal Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has looked at the recommendation about harmonisation of the national legislative framework, said Deputy Secretary for Health Resourcing Penny Shakespeare.
‘We've already had a crack at trying to harmonise drugs and poisons legislation,’ she said. ‘We did a plan about 10 years ago, but we really need to take that forward now – and we're trying to get all of our governments to sign up to that.’
The department also needs to map out what the response will look like in the longer term, including how the health system’s funding and training arrangements are reformed.
‘We need to have a common approach, and if we do not reform in a coordinated way, we will actually hold back implementation of arrangements of practice,’ Ms Shakespeare said. ‘We've really got to try and lock down why we have differences at a state-by-state level, work through if they are evidence-based. And if not, we've got to try and make full changes to implement consistency.’
What’s the value for patients?
ACT-based Shivana Chandra, who works for the Health Care Consumers Association as a research officer, said she can often wait 3–4 weeks to get a GP appointment.
‘And if you've got a UTI, that is not a nice time to wait,’ she said.
Having the UTI prescribing pilots and programs around the country means patients can access the care they need much faster – preventing further deterioration of health.
‘But it's also a cost issue,’ Ms Chandra said. ‘It takes away that cost pressure of having to pay for the GP, then go back to the pharmacist to get treatment.’
But there is not much community awareness of these various pilots and programs, Ms Chandra thinks.
‘You never see any promotions for these programs about what’s happening in pharmacy,’ she said. ‘So you miss a lot of opportunities that way.’
Consumers also rely on healthcare professionals to get their information.
‘There needs to be better promotion from the pharmacists themselves about what they offer, how you can access it and where you can find out more information about it.’
What does it take to embed independent prescribing?
The United Kingdom has had it easy in terms of implementing pharmacist prescribing nationwide, according to Honorary Professor of Pharmacy Policy and Practice
University of Nottingham Bruce Warner.
But there are definitely some lessons Australia can take from the UK, which introduced independent prescribing in 2006.
‘While it’s not a quick process, it’s really important to get the foundations in place, and you have to bring people along with you,’ he said.
‘We spent a lot of time putting infrastructure in place, [including] things such as making sure our community pharmacies had a secure email address, which was one of the objections towards [pharmacist prescribing].'
Pharmacists should also expect a fair amount of scrutiny, but there is a way forward.
‘I was working with our National Patient Safety Agency when independent prescribing came in, and we were getting daily requests from the medical press asking, “How many errors are pharmacists making? How many patients are being harmed?”’ Prof Warner said.
‘Of course the reality was far fewer than they thought, but the scrutiny was intense. And you have to be able to live with that, anticipate that, and be able to work with that and work through it.’
But in 2026, the UK’s first pharmacy graduates will automatically become pharmacist prescribers.
‘That will change things dramatically,’ he said.
Could pharmacists prescribe on the PBS in the future?
Access to subsidised medicines for pharmacists is essential, Ms Shakespeare said.
‘We need [subsidised] supply of medicines to actually deliver change for consumers, and that's not what we've got,’ she said.
But there are some issues that need to be addressed first.
‘We've got a single professional body deciding whether a patient needs a medicine and financially benefiting from the supply of that medicine,’ Ms Shakespeare said. ‘[But] we have the technology [to develop] protocol-based, electronic clinical decision support systems.’
Supporting effective multi-disciplinary team-based care, allowing for information about changes in a patient's medicine regimen to be shared with all members of the care team, is also a top priority.
‘That's the building block we're really focused on at the moment, and have been developing work on that in the department.’
What about substitutions?
While Queensland-based pharmacists are now able to make adaptations and substitutions to prescriptions, the altered scripts will not be PBS subsidised, which multi-pharmacy owner and PSA Board Director Bridget Totterman MPS finds ‘extremely frustrating’.
‘It makes no sense that a patient can't access the PBS for a script that is either adapted, substituted or prescribed,’ she said. ‘Let the pharmacist help the first time.’
However, it is a step forward. After all, there would be no NIPVIP without QPIP.
‘We're absolutely going to fight and advocate for common-sense reform, but we will celebrate the wins along the way,’ she added.
[post_title] => Pharmacists poised for sweeping scope of practice reforms
[post_excerpt] => The government is actively working to harmonise drugs and poisons legislation and open PBS access for pharmacists.
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[post_content] => As PSA’s 2025 Symbion Early Career Pharmacist of the Year, Dr Kate Wang MPS is shaping pharmacy education and aged care policy through a unique blend of academic rigour and real-world compassion.
As an intern, Dr Wang was struck by how many medicines went into dose administration aids. An interest in quality use of medicines ensued. An interest in quality use of medicines ensued.
Dr Wang entered the pharmacy profession almost by chance. Initially uncertain about her career path, Dr Wang applied to study pharmacy in Queensland, commerce in New South Wales and law in Victoria – ultimately choosing pharmacy. It kept her closest to her family in Toowoomba.
She graduated from the University of Queensland in 2014 and completed her internship at a community pharmacy in Bulleen, Victoria, after her family relocated to Melbourne.
While at university, she developed a passion for research, which she was eager to pursue after her intern year. Unsure where to start in a new city, she turned to a facilitator from the PSA Intern Training Program, who connected her with colleagues at Monash University. There, she started a PhD and her research journey officially began.
Today, she is a Senior Lecturer in Pharmacy Practice at RMIT University, Adjunct Senior Lecturer at the University of Western Australia and a pharmacist at Alfred Health.
‘I find it incredibly rewarding when something I’ve discovered becomes a relevant and engaging example in the classroom,’ Dr Wang says. ‘When analysing data, you never quite know what the results will reveal. Sometimes the findings are completely unexpected, prompting you to think critically about why they occurred. It’s that sense of curiosity and excitement that I enjoy most.’
Aged care advocacy
Dr Wang’s research is particularly focused on medicine safety in aged care – an area she views as vital given the world’s rapidly ageing population. She is currently working alongside experts including Dr Amy Page and Dr Kenneth Lee from the University of WA to advocate for pharmacists to be embedded within aged care settings.
’Over 50% of aged care residents are exposed to at least one potentially inappropriate medicine,’ she says.
‘We are committed to addressing this pressing issue and improving medication safety and the quality of care for older Australians.
‘Pharmacists can initiate necessary therapies, deprescribe harmful or unnecessary medications, and tailor ongoing medication management through timely reviews and follow-up based on individual needs. They play a critical role in ensuring residents receive safe, appropriate, and effective treatment.’
Support and success
A recurring theme throughout Dr Wang’s career is a desire to collaborate and connect with her peers. She encourages other early career pharmacists to explore opportunities beyond their regular roles.
‘Pharmacy is such a diverse and dynamic field, offering countless pathways. Attend events run by professional organisations such as PSA, whether it’s a conference, webinar, or a social gathering. These experiences allow you to connect with professionals from diverse areas of pharmacy, broaden your perspective, and make your career journey more enjoyable and rewarding.’
She attributes her successes so far not just to her work, but to the support and encouragement of those around her.
Outside work, Dr Wang loves to travel. She and her husband recently returned from a Hawaii trip where they witnessed an active volcanic eruption. She also loves watching Chinese dramas and painting when time permits, and makes it a priority to have dinner with her parents and in-laws every week. Family counts.
‘My achievements are not mine alone. I feel incredibly fortunate to have been supported by many amazing people across different stages of my career.’
Q&A
1. What is the one scope of practice change you would most like to see?
I’d like to see pharmacists embedded in every aged care facility across Australia. Hopefully, we will have increased and sustained funding to support the integration of pharmacists as a standard part of aged care teams in all facilities nationwide.
2. What advice would you give to your younger self?
Be curious, stay open-minded, and don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. Say yes to new opportunities as you never know where they might lead. And most importantly, don’t fear failure. Every experience, even the difficult ones, can help you grow and shape the person you become.
3. What pharmacist role do you see yourself performing in 2030?
By 2030, I hope to be actively contributing to the education and training of the next generation of pharmacists. Hopefully, I will be delivering curricula that reflect an even further expanded scope of practice. I also aspire to become a professor and continue advocating for progressive, evidence-based changes in pharmacy practice.
[post_title] => Transforming medicine safety in aged care
[post_excerpt] => PSA’s 2025 Early Career Pharmacist of the Year, Dr Kate Wang is shaping pharmacy education and aged care policy.
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[post_content] => Returning home to the Northern Territory helped PSA’s 2025 Symbion Pharmacist of the Year Jaimee Anderson MPS find a new purpose.
After studying at Monash University and working as a community pharmacist in regional Victoria, Ms Anderson felt the pull of home. Eager to be closer to family, she moved back to Katherine, in the heart of the Top End, where she soon found herself running not one but both of the town’s community pharmacies.
‘My workload was pretty intense,’ she says of her 9 years managing the pharmacies. ‘The work was good, but it was often long hours and continuous days in a row, because it’s really hard to get pharmacists here.’
Ready for a change, she jumped at the chance to join the Integrating Pharmacists into Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services trial. She was embedded in the Wurli-Wurlinjang Health Service, where she helped to bridge the gap between that ACCHO and community pharmacy. ‘I was a liaison between the two. We improved services by getting the pharmacy to understand what was going on at Wurli and Wurli to understand the pharmacy side of things.’
Finding a new focus
When the trial ended, Wurli-Wurlinjang kept Ms Anderson on, and supported her to become a credentialed diabetes educator (CDE). She now works as a CDE, as an on-site pharmacist in aged care, and was recently accredited to conduct Medication Management Reviews.
Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients, and as a CDE, gave Ms Anderson renewed purpose.
‘I wasn’t super passionate about pharmacy – it was a means to an end. Diabetes was similar ... but now I could talk about it for hours.’ This is especially so with diabetes among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
‘It wasn’t until I came home to Katherine that I started to see the potential of how pharmacists can help when it comes to Indigenous health.’
Ms Anderson now focuses primarily on pregnancy-related and youth-onset type 2 diabetes, which she says is on the rise. ‘People still think of diabetes as an older person’s disease, but that’s not the case. There are lots of social determinants and intergenerational issues that are causing it. I’m on a massive crusade to make people aware.’
An unexpected journey
Reflecting on her career so far, Ms Anderson says the variety of her roles
is a highlight.
‘I never thought I’d be a CDE, but I really love it. And I hadn’t planned on becoming an aged care pharmacist, but I really enjoy that, too.’ Being a key part of the clinical team is also incredibly rewarding. ‘As pharmacists, we’re often used to being the end of the line – the person who supplies the medicines. So being involved closer to the start is fascinating. I have doctors ask me about different diabetes medicines because they recognise my expertise.’
Although recognition was never the goal, Ms Anderson hopes her story resonates with
other ‘everyday pharmacists’.
‘I wouldn’t have thought I was the kind of person to win this award. But I hope it helps other people see the value in the work they do.’
Q&A
1. What is the one scope of practice change you’d most like to see?
Upskilling pharmacists to provide certain medicines and clinical care in a clinical setting, similar to a nurse practitioner model. Which is coming, just very slowly.
2. What advice would you give to your younger self?
Never stop learning. Take up space. Never think you know everything. Always advocate for yourself, and for others who need it. If an opportunity comes along – grab it with both hands and jump in. It’s ok to be scared but do stuff anyway.
3. What pharmacist role do you see yourself performing in 2030?
I think I’d like to be involved in pharmacist education in some capacity – upskilling the future generations of pharmacists … while still doing clinical credentialed diabetes educator, aged care and medication management work, of course!
[post_title] => PSA's Pharmacist of the Year is redefining remote pharmacy
[post_excerpt] => Returning home to the Northern Territory helped PSA’s Pharmacist of the Year Jaimee Anderson MPS find a new purpose.
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[post_content] => A lifelong commitment to helping others has taken Emeritus Professor Jeff Hughes FPS, PSA's 2025 Symbion Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, from the hospital ward to the lecture theatre – and into digital health.
For more than 4 decades, Emeritus Prof Hughes has been influential in every facet of Australian pharmacy life. From his home in Western Australia, he has helped shape clinical hospital practice, penned books and research papers, co-owned a community pharmacy, held leadership roles within PSA, led Curtin University’s School of Pharmacy and co-founded a digital health company.
His career began in 1979 at Royal Perth Hospital. ‘I loved it,’ he says. ‘Being on the wards, part of the team, seeing patients every day – you could really make a difference.’ The case of a patient with a dog bite particularly stands out. ‘They were talking about cutting the patient’s leg off,’ he recalls. ‘I realised she wasn’t on antibiotics that would cover the organisms that come from dogs. She ended up walking out of the hospital.’
An academic path
In 1996, Emeritus Prof Hughes joined Curtin University as a Senior Lecturer in pharmacology. Although initially planning to complete a PhD, he enjoyed mentoring students and wanted to share his real-world experiences in the classroom. At the same time, he became an accredited pharmacist and began conducting medicine reviews in aged care.
A desire to improve the way pharmacy was taught eventually led to his position as Head of School in 2009. He remained deeply involved in research, working with colleagues on topics ranging from adverse drug reactions to quality use of medicines. ‘You can’t do everything yourself,’ he says. ‘But if you surround yourself with the right people, they’ll help you be successful. They’ll drive you along and inspire you.’
From aged care to AI
It was a spirit of collaboration and curiosity that led Emeritus Prof Hughes into digital health.
Inspired by what he had observed while conducting medicine reviews, he joined forces with colleague and former student Dr Kreshnik Hoti and Dr Mustafa Atee to develop a better alternative to paper-based pain assessment tools.
‘People with dementia were being given crushed up paracetamol tablets, which are incredibly bitter,’ he says. ‘It’s no surprise that the next time the spoon came out they became aggressive. I wanted to change pain management by improving pain assessment.’ The result is PainChek, an app now used in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Canada, with more than 7 million pain assessments completed. ‘It’s not very often that you have a good idea that converts into the type of success we’ve had,’ he admits.
Curiosity makes the difference
Today, Emeritus Prof Hughes remains focused on what drew him to pharmacy in the first place: solving problems and helping people.
His advice to early career pharmacists is to find what interests you, join professional organisations, and be part of shaping the profession.
‘Curiosity is the thing that makes the difference,’ he says. ‘Everyone can remember things, but to be curious is to think, “I just saw something I don’t understand, I’d better look that up”.’
Now 67, he has no plans to slow down. Alongside expanding PainChek’s reach, he is working on another project involving the use of digital stethoscopes to diagnose coronary artery disease, and is the lead investigator on an NHMRC project looking at whether calcium channel blockers cause an increased risk of breast cancer. ‘Every day in pharmacy, you learn something new,’ he says. ‘That’s what keeps me going.’
Q&A
1. What is the one scope of practice change you would most like to see?
Independent, embedded pharmacists in residential aged care homes and general practice.
2. What advice would you give to your younger self?
If you maintain your curiosity then you will make a difference.
3. What pharmacist role do you see yourself performing in 2030?
I see myself conducting research into using AI as a tool to improve disease/symptom (for example heart disease and pain) diagnosis, detection and management.
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[post_excerpt] => From hospital wards to AI-driven healthcare, PSA's 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient has turned curiosity into a lifelong pursuit.
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[post_content] => Formal negotiations have begun on a new Pharmacy Programs Agreement (PPA), which sits outside the 8th Community Pharmacy Agreement, the federal Minister for Health, Disability and Ageing Mark Butler announced at PSA25 today.
‘The PSA is the natural home for this agreement because you’ve helped drive the development of new and emerging roles for pharmacists,’ Minister Butler said in his plenary address, which opened PSA25 this morning at Sydney’s International Convention Centre.
First announced in January this year, the proposed agreement between the Australian Government and PSA is expected to strengthen 17 pharmacy programs delivered by pharmacists across the health system.
These include medication management programs such as Home Medicines Reviews and Residential Medication Management Reviews, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-specific programs and rural support programs that encompass pharmacists in a range of practice areas.
PSA National President Associate Professor Fei Sim FPS told delegates: ‘We know these programs work, but for too long pharmacy programs have been scattered across a range of mechanisms without comprehensive evaluation of their impact. That’s part of what this agreement will do.’
Minister Butler also acknowledged PSA’s key role as a signatory to the new agreement ‘as the Albanese Government's health reform agenda continues to unfold, a role that we are committed to enhancing further in enabling you to work at your full scope of practise in delivering more services’, he told the more than 1,200 delegates attending PSA25.
PSA’s agreement approach
The Agreements Lead is National Board Member Associate Professor Shane Jackson FPS. He will head a team of senior pharmacists, including Consultation Lead Debbie Rigby FPS, National Board Member Bridget Totterman MPS, PSA’s General Manager for Policy and Program Delivery Chris Campbell FPS and PSA’s Canberra-based Senior Pharmacist – Strategic Agreements Rhyan Stanley MPS. Input is also expected from the Consultant Pharmacists Community of Specialty Interest led by Deborah Hawthorne FPS.
PSA’s approach from now is expected to be guided by findings from the formal consultation process that began several months ago, according to A/Prof Sim.
There will also be ongoing feedback from stakeholder groups and members and outcomes from a sector-wide roundtable. All responses will continue to shape PSA’s position on key elements of the agreement.
A/Prof Sim also announced that PSA, as a federated organisation, had reached a historic 20,000 members for the first time.
‘This growth reflects the value pharmacists see in what PSA offers,’ she said. ‘Pharmacists are looking for more than just representation, they’re looking for support, connection, and leadership.
‘We’re investing in expert-led, flexible education to support every stage of pharmacy careers and across areas of practice. We’re building a connected, passionate community that understands the goals and challenges our members face.’ She said PSA was also collaborating with other organisations and partners in giving pharmacists the confidence to expand their scope of practice.
Working to full scope
In his address, Minister Butler also canvassed government measures including recent enabling legislation for cheaper medicines for consumers earlier this month with the general co-payment for PBS medicines to be reduced from $31.60 to $25 from 1 January 2026.
‘We want to remove the barriers to working at full scope, reconciling varying state and territory approaches, removing red tape, changing cultures so that we can get, frankly, the absolute best out of you,’ he told hundreds of pharmacist delegates.
His colleague, pharmacist and Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention and Assistant Minister for Rural and Regional Health Emma McBride told the conference that the government was now considering the 18 recommendations of Professor Mark Cormack’s Unleashing the Potential of our Health Workforce – Scope of Practice Review, with A/Prof Sim part of the review committee.
Working towards a common goal
As PSA moves through the negotiation phase of this new agreement, A/Prof Sim said it was important to ‘pause and recognise the significance of what we are working toward’.
‘Whilst we need to remain pragmatic in our approach, this agreement will lay the foundation for a new, long-overdue infrastructure that has the potential to reshape the future for generations to come. This new agreement belongs to our profession, and PSA will do everything we can, within our ability, to do this for our profession.’
By negotiating a new agreement to govern these 17 specific programs, PSA is seeking to ensure they maximise the positive impact the pharmacy profession can have on patients across multiple areas of practice, she said.
Meanwhile, consultation on pharmacy programs remains open. PSA members are encouraged to provide any additional information, feedback and case studies.
Learn more about membership benefits at www.psa.org.au
[post_title] => New Pharmacy Programs Agreement negotiations have begun
[post_excerpt] => Formal negotiations have begun on a new Pharmacy Programs Agreement, Health Minister Butler announced at PSA25 today.
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[post_content] => Over the past few years, the words ‘scope of practice’ have been on the lips of pharmacists and government officials, with the hope of addressing some of the major challenges of our health system.
The Unleashing the Potential of our Health Workforce – Scope of Practice Review final review, delivered last year, made sweeping recommendations to how we deliver healthcare in Australia.
However, the 18 recommendations require several hurdles to be overcome before implementation – including changes to how healthcare professionals are trained, and how services are funded and regulated.
But there is movement happening. In July, Queensland pharmacy prescribing pilots became permanent, with 17 individual prescribing services now delivered across the state by pharmacists qualified to prescribe independently and autonomously.
The Queensland Government has also provided additional prescribing initiatives, including partnered pharmacist medication charting as well as therapeutic adaptation and substitution – providing pharmacists with more autonomy and options to help their patients.
Other jurisdictions around the country have also made announcements around prescribing pilots and permanent schemes.
But how far do we have to go to unleash the real potential of the healthcare workforce?
This was the burning question – among others – asked at the Scope of practice panel at PSA25 today.
When will there be harmonisation?
The federal Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has looked at the recommendation about harmonisation of the national legislative framework, said Deputy Secretary for Health Resourcing Penny Shakespeare.
‘We've already had a crack at trying to harmonise drugs and poisons legislation,’ she said. ‘We did a plan about 10 years ago, but we really need to take that forward now – and we're trying to get all of our governments to sign up to that.’
The department also needs to map out what the response will look like in the longer term, including how the health system’s funding and training arrangements are reformed.
‘We need to have a common approach, and if we do not reform in a coordinated way, we will actually hold back implementation of arrangements of practice,’ Ms Shakespeare said. ‘We've really got to try and lock down why we have differences at a state-by-state level, work through if they are evidence-based. And if not, we've got to try and make full changes to implement consistency.’
What’s the value for patients?
ACT-based Shivana Chandra, who works for the Health Care Consumers Association as a research officer, said she can often wait 3–4 weeks to get a GP appointment.
‘And if you've got a UTI, that is not a nice time to wait,’ she said.
Having the UTI prescribing pilots and programs around the country means patients can access the care they need much faster – preventing further deterioration of health.
‘But it's also a cost issue,’ Ms Chandra said. ‘It takes away that cost pressure of having to pay for the GP, then go back to the pharmacist to get treatment.’
But there is not much community awareness of these various pilots and programs, Ms Chandra thinks.
‘You never see any promotions for these programs about what’s happening in pharmacy,’ she said. ‘So you miss a lot of opportunities that way.’
Consumers also rely on healthcare professionals to get their information.
‘There needs to be better promotion from the pharmacists themselves about what they offer, how you can access it and where you can find out more information about it.’
What does it take to embed independent prescribing?
The United Kingdom has had it easy in terms of implementing pharmacist prescribing nationwide, according to Honorary Professor of Pharmacy Policy and Practice
University of Nottingham Bruce Warner.
But there are definitely some lessons Australia can take from the UK, which introduced independent prescribing in 2006.
‘While it’s not a quick process, it’s really important to get the foundations in place, and you have to bring people along with you,’ he said.
‘We spent a lot of time putting infrastructure in place, [including] things such as making sure our community pharmacies had a secure email address, which was one of the objections towards [pharmacist prescribing].'
Pharmacists should also expect a fair amount of scrutiny, but there is a way forward.
‘I was working with our National Patient Safety Agency when independent prescribing came in, and we were getting daily requests from the medical press asking, “How many errors are pharmacists making? How many patients are being harmed?”’ Prof Warner said.
‘Of course the reality was far fewer than they thought, but the scrutiny was intense. And you have to be able to live with that, anticipate that, and be able to work with that and work through it.’
But in 2026, the UK’s first pharmacy graduates will automatically become pharmacist prescribers.
‘That will change things dramatically,’ he said.
Could pharmacists prescribe on the PBS in the future?
Access to subsidised medicines for pharmacists is essential, Ms Shakespeare said.
‘We need [subsidised] supply of medicines to actually deliver change for consumers, and that's not what we've got,’ she said.
But there are some issues that need to be addressed first.
‘We've got a single professional body deciding whether a patient needs a medicine and financially benefiting from the supply of that medicine,’ Ms Shakespeare said. ‘[But] we have the technology [to develop] protocol-based, electronic clinical decision support systems.’
Supporting effective multi-disciplinary team-based care, allowing for information about changes in a patient's medicine regimen to be shared with all members of the care team, is also a top priority.
‘That's the building block we're really focused on at the moment, and have been developing work on that in the department.’
What about substitutions?
While Queensland-based pharmacists are now able to make adaptations and substitutions to prescriptions, the altered scripts will not be PBS subsidised, which multi-pharmacy owner and PSA Board Director Bridget Totterman MPS finds ‘extremely frustrating’.
‘It makes no sense that a patient can't access the PBS for a script that is either adapted, substituted or prescribed,’ she said. ‘Let the pharmacist help the first time.’
However, it is a step forward. After all, there would be no NIPVIP without QPIP.
‘We're absolutely going to fight and advocate for common-sense reform, but we will celebrate the wins along the way,’ she added.
[post_title] => Pharmacists poised for sweeping scope of practice reforms
[post_excerpt] => The government is actively working to harmonise drugs and poisons legislation and open PBS access for pharmacists.
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[post_content] => As PSA’s 2025 Symbion Early Career Pharmacist of the Year, Dr Kate Wang MPS is shaping pharmacy education and aged care policy through a unique blend of academic rigour and real-world compassion.
As an intern, Dr Wang was struck by how many medicines went into dose administration aids. An interest in quality use of medicines ensued. An interest in quality use of medicines ensued.
Dr Wang entered the pharmacy profession almost by chance. Initially uncertain about her career path, Dr Wang applied to study pharmacy in Queensland, commerce in New South Wales and law in Victoria – ultimately choosing pharmacy. It kept her closest to her family in Toowoomba.
She graduated from the University of Queensland in 2014 and completed her internship at a community pharmacy in Bulleen, Victoria, after her family relocated to Melbourne.
While at university, she developed a passion for research, which she was eager to pursue after her intern year. Unsure where to start in a new city, she turned to a facilitator from the PSA Intern Training Program, who connected her with colleagues at Monash University. There, she started a PhD and her research journey officially began.
Today, she is a Senior Lecturer in Pharmacy Practice at RMIT University, Adjunct Senior Lecturer at the University of Western Australia and a pharmacist at Alfred Health.
‘I find it incredibly rewarding when something I’ve discovered becomes a relevant and engaging example in the classroom,’ Dr Wang says. ‘When analysing data, you never quite know what the results will reveal. Sometimes the findings are completely unexpected, prompting you to think critically about why they occurred. It’s that sense of curiosity and excitement that I enjoy most.’
Aged care advocacy
Dr Wang’s research is particularly focused on medicine safety in aged care – an area she views as vital given the world’s rapidly ageing population. She is currently working alongside experts including Dr Amy Page and Dr Kenneth Lee from the University of WA to advocate for pharmacists to be embedded within aged care settings.
’Over 50% of aged care residents are exposed to at least one potentially inappropriate medicine,’ she says.
‘We are committed to addressing this pressing issue and improving medication safety and the quality of care for older Australians.
‘Pharmacists can initiate necessary therapies, deprescribe harmful or unnecessary medications, and tailor ongoing medication management through timely reviews and follow-up based on individual needs. They play a critical role in ensuring residents receive safe, appropriate, and effective treatment.’
Support and success
A recurring theme throughout Dr Wang’s career is a desire to collaborate and connect with her peers. She encourages other early career pharmacists to explore opportunities beyond their regular roles.
‘Pharmacy is such a diverse and dynamic field, offering countless pathways. Attend events run by professional organisations such as PSA, whether it’s a conference, webinar, or a social gathering. These experiences allow you to connect with professionals from diverse areas of pharmacy, broaden your perspective, and make your career journey more enjoyable and rewarding.’
She attributes her successes so far not just to her work, but to the support and encouragement of those around her.
Outside work, Dr Wang loves to travel. She and her husband recently returned from a Hawaii trip where they witnessed an active volcanic eruption. She also loves watching Chinese dramas and painting when time permits, and makes it a priority to have dinner with her parents and in-laws every week. Family counts.
‘My achievements are not mine alone. I feel incredibly fortunate to have been supported by many amazing people across different stages of my career.’
Q&A
1. What is the one scope of practice change you would most like to see?
I’d like to see pharmacists embedded in every aged care facility across Australia. Hopefully, we will have increased and sustained funding to support the integration of pharmacists as a standard part of aged care teams in all facilities nationwide.
2. What advice would you give to your younger self?
Be curious, stay open-minded, and don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. Say yes to new opportunities as you never know where they might lead. And most importantly, don’t fear failure. Every experience, even the difficult ones, can help you grow and shape the person you become.
3. What pharmacist role do you see yourself performing in 2030?
By 2030, I hope to be actively contributing to the education and training of the next generation of pharmacists. Hopefully, I will be delivering curricula that reflect an even further expanded scope of practice. I also aspire to become a professor and continue advocating for progressive, evidence-based changes in pharmacy practice.
[post_title] => Transforming medicine safety in aged care
[post_excerpt] => PSA’s 2025 Early Career Pharmacist of the Year, Dr Kate Wang is shaping pharmacy education and aged care policy.
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[post_content] => Returning home to the Northern Territory helped PSA’s 2025 Symbion Pharmacist of the Year Jaimee Anderson MPS find a new purpose.
After studying at Monash University and working as a community pharmacist in regional Victoria, Ms Anderson felt the pull of home. Eager to be closer to family, she moved back to Katherine, in the heart of the Top End, where she soon found herself running not one but both of the town’s community pharmacies.
‘My workload was pretty intense,’ she says of her 9 years managing the pharmacies. ‘The work was good, but it was often long hours and continuous days in a row, because it’s really hard to get pharmacists here.’
Ready for a change, she jumped at the chance to join the Integrating Pharmacists into Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services trial. She was embedded in the Wurli-Wurlinjang Health Service, where she helped to bridge the gap between that ACCHO and community pharmacy. ‘I was a liaison between the two. We improved services by getting the pharmacy to understand what was going on at Wurli and Wurli to understand the pharmacy side of things.’
Finding a new focus
When the trial ended, Wurli-Wurlinjang kept Ms Anderson on, and supported her to become a credentialed diabetes educator (CDE). She now works as a CDE, as an on-site pharmacist in aged care, and was recently accredited to conduct Medication Management Reviews.
Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients, and as a CDE, gave Ms Anderson renewed purpose.
‘I wasn’t super passionate about pharmacy – it was a means to an end. Diabetes was similar ... but now I could talk about it for hours.’ This is especially so with diabetes among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
‘It wasn’t until I came home to Katherine that I started to see the potential of how pharmacists can help when it comes to Indigenous health.’
Ms Anderson now focuses primarily on pregnancy-related and youth-onset type 2 diabetes, which she says is on the rise. ‘People still think of diabetes as an older person’s disease, but that’s not the case. There are lots of social determinants and intergenerational issues that are causing it. I’m on a massive crusade to make people aware.’
An unexpected journey
Reflecting on her career so far, Ms Anderson says the variety of her roles
is a highlight.
‘I never thought I’d be a CDE, but I really love it. And I hadn’t planned on becoming an aged care pharmacist, but I really enjoy that, too.’ Being a key part of the clinical team is also incredibly rewarding. ‘As pharmacists, we’re often used to being the end of the line – the person who supplies the medicines. So being involved closer to the start is fascinating. I have doctors ask me about different diabetes medicines because they recognise my expertise.’
Although recognition was never the goal, Ms Anderson hopes her story resonates with
other ‘everyday pharmacists’.
‘I wouldn’t have thought I was the kind of person to win this award. But I hope it helps other people see the value in the work they do.’
Q&A
1. What is the one scope of practice change you’d most like to see?
Upskilling pharmacists to provide certain medicines and clinical care in a clinical setting, similar to a nurse practitioner model. Which is coming, just very slowly.
2. What advice would you give to your younger self?
Never stop learning. Take up space. Never think you know everything. Always advocate for yourself, and for others who need it. If an opportunity comes along – grab it with both hands and jump in. It’s ok to be scared but do stuff anyway.
3. What pharmacist role do you see yourself performing in 2030?
I think I’d like to be involved in pharmacist education in some capacity – upskilling the future generations of pharmacists … while still doing clinical credentialed diabetes educator, aged care and medication management work, of course!
[post_title] => PSA's Pharmacist of the Year is redefining remote pharmacy
[post_excerpt] => Returning home to the Northern Territory helped PSA’s Pharmacist of the Year Jaimee Anderson MPS find a new purpose.
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CPD credits
Accreditation Code : CAP2402SYPEH
Group 1 : 0.5 CPD credits
Group 2 : 1 CPD credits
This activity has been accredited for 0.5 hours of Group 1 CPD (or 0.5 CPD credits) suitable for inclusion in an individual pharmacist's CPD plan, which can be converted to 0.5 hours of Group 2 CPD (or 1 CPD credits) upon successful completion of relevant assessment activities.
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Australian Pharmacist is the official journal for Pharmaceutical Society of Australia Ltd.
