People Archives - Australian Pharmacist

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Injectable medication administration an essential skill

People Chloe Hava - April 22, 2025

Aside from administering medicines by injection, Queensland-based community pharmacist Fiona Watson MPS loves tearing up a Latin dance floor.

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Mental health missionary

People Chloe Hava - April 11, 2025

Maria Cooper MPS, PSA’s South Australian Early Career Pharmacist of the Year, is on a mission to improve young pharmacists' mental health.

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SA/NT top pharmacists recognised at PSA awards

People Chloe Hava - March 31, 2025

The PSA SA/NT2025 Pharmacist Awards over the weekend highlighted the outstanding achievements of pharmacists across a range of categories.

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The science of safety

People Chloe Hava - March 17, 2025

All about PSA Lifetime Fellow Dr John McEwen’s evolution from pharmacy apprentice to international authority on pharmacovigilance.

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PSA NSW Excellence Award winners announced

People Chloe Hava - March 3, 2025

Four exemplary pharmacists were celebrated for their leadership, community impact, and commitment to health innovation.

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Rural healthcare advocate honoured

People Peter Guthrey MPS - January 28, 2025

NSW pharmacist Anna Barwick MPS was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the 2025 Australia Day Honours.

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The glucose guardian

People Chloe Hava - December 16, 2024

2024 National Credentialed Diabetes Educator of the Year Julie Kha MPS loves collaborating to deliver better outcomes for her patients.

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Two pharmacists win state Australian of the Year 2025 award

People PSA staff - November 11, 2024

Sobia Hashmi MPS and Irfan Hashmi MPS will attend the Australian of the Year awards as finalists for the national local heroes title.

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Vale William (Bill) Arnold (1940–2024)

People PSA staff - October 30, 2024

The PSA is saddened to learn of the passing of life member William (Bill) Arnold MPS, who died peacefully in his sleep on 26 October 2024.

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PSA awards leading Queensland pharmacists

People Chloe Hava - October 21, 2024

At the 2024 Queensland Excellence Awards, these five pharmacists were honoured for their commitment to excellence in pharmacy practice.

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5.00am	Hit the gym I get up and do a HIIT or Muay Thai class most mornings for positive effects on my mental health. Passionate about preventative health care, I see the long-term effects of patients’ lifestyle choices every day.
8.00am	Open the pharmacy Every day is different. At least two pharmacists are rostered on, ensuring we give each patient the time they need while providing a wide range of different services.
9.00am	Vaccination service Embarking on a cruise in 2 months, a couple in their 60s asks about COVID-19 vaccines. More than 12 months since their last vaccine they are happy to be vaccinated on the spot. Not wanting more than one vaccine at a time, we book them in for a follow-up appointment in a month for the shingles vaccination.
10.00am	Collaborative care A local GP phones about a recently discharged mutual patient who’s not coping well on his new medicines. We spend some time with the patient doing a medicine review and setting up his profile for a dose administration aid.
1.00pm	Lunchtime It’s important that all staff, especially pharmacists, prioritise their breaks. We all need a little downtime to reset and refresh.
1.30pm	Medicines injection A regular patient comes in for her second dose of inclisiran (Leqvio) after I administered her first 3 months ago. She is happy with the more convenient option than visiting her GP.
3.00pm	Infection control In a call from our pharmacy car park, we learn a patient has tested positive for COVID-19 and has an e-script. We dispense and counsel over the phone and then deliver out to their car (with appropriate precautions).
6.30pm	OCP continuance A stressed young woman, with a 2-week wait for a GP appointment, has run out of her pill. She is relieved when seen by a colleague who prescribes Estelle under the Queensland Hormonal Contraceptive Pilot. I dispense it.

5.00am	Hit the gym I get up and do a HIIT or Muay Thai class most mornings for positive effects on my mental health. Passionate about preventative health care, I see the long-term effects of patients’ lifestyle choices every day.
8.00am	Open the pharmacy Every day is different. At least two pharmacists are rostered on, ensuring we give each patient the time they need while providing a wide range of different services.
9.00am	Vaccination service Embarking on a cruise in 2 months, a couple in their 60s asks about COVID-19 vaccines. More than 12 months since their last vaccine they are happy to be vaccinated on the spot. Not wanting more than one vaccine at a time, we book them in for a follow-up appointment in a month for the shingles vaccination.
10.00am	Collaborative care A local GP phones about a recently discharged mutual patient who’s not coping well on his new medicines. We spend some time with the patient doing a medicine review and setting up his profile for a dose administration aid.
1.00pm	Lunchtime It’s important that all staff, especially pharmacists, prioritise their breaks. We all need a little downtime to reset and refresh.
1.30pm	Medicines injection A regular patient comes in for her second dose of inclisiran (Leqvio) after I administered her first 3 months ago. She is happy with the more convenient option than visiting her GP.
3.00pm	Infection control In a call from our pharmacy car park, we learn a patient has tested positive for COVID-19 and has an e-script. We dispense and counsel over the phone and then deliver out to their car (with appropriate precautions).
6.30pm	OCP continuance A stressed young woman, with a 2-week wait for a GP appointment, has run out of her pill. She is relieved when seen by a colleague who prescribes Estelle under the Queensland Hormonal Contraceptive Pilot. I dispense it.

5.00am	Hit the gym I get up and do a HIIT or Muay Thai class most mornings for positive effects on my mental health. Passionate about preventative health care, I see the long-term effects of patients’ lifestyle choices every day.
8.00am	Open the pharmacy Every day is different. At least two pharmacists are rostered on, ensuring we give each patient the time they need while providing a wide range of different services.
9.00am	Vaccination service Embarking on a cruise in 2 months, a couple in their 60s asks about COVID-19 vaccines. More than 12 months since their last vaccine they are happy to be vaccinated on the spot. Not wanting more than one vaccine at a time, we book them in for a follow-up appointment in a month for the shingles vaccination.
10.00am	Collaborative care A local GP phones about a recently discharged mutual patient who’s not coping well on his new medicines. We spend some time with the patient doing a medicine review and setting up his profile for a dose administration aid.
1.00pm	Lunchtime It’s important that all staff, especially pharmacists, prioritise their breaks. We all need a little downtime to reset and refresh.
1.30pm	Medicines injection A regular patient comes in for her second dose of inclisiran (Leqvio) after I administered her first 3 months ago. She is happy with the more convenient option than visiting her GP.
3.00pm	Infection control In a call from our pharmacy car park, we learn a patient has tested positive for COVID-19 and has an e-script. We dispense and counsel over the phone and then deliver out to their car (with appropriate precautions).
6.30pm	OCP continuance A stressed young woman, with a 2-week wait for a GP appointment, has run out of her pill. She is relieved when seen by a colleague who prescribes Estelle under the Queensland Hormonal Contraceptive Pilot. I dispense it.

5.00am	Hit the gym I get up and do a HIIT or Muay Thai class most mornings for positive effects on my mental health. Passionate about preventative health care, I see the long-term effects of patients’ lifestyle choices every day.
8.00am	Open the pharmacy Every day is different. At least two pharmacists are rostered on, ensuring we give each patient the time they need while providing a wide range of different services.
9.00am	Vaccination service Embarking on a cruise in 2 months, a couple in their 60s asks about COVID-19 vaccines. More than 12 months since their last vaccine they are happy to be vaccinated on the spot. Not wanting more than one vaccine at a time, we book them in for a follow-up appointment in a month for the shingles vaccination.
10.00am	Collaborative care A local GP phones about a recently discharged mutual patient who’s not coping well on his new medicines. We spend some time with the patient doing a medicine review and setting up his profile for a dose administration aid.
1.00pm	Lunchtime It’s important that all staff, especially pharmacists, prioritise their breaks. We all need a little downtime to reset and refresh.
1.30pm	Medicines injection A regular patient comes in for her second dose of inclisiran (Leqvio) after I administered her first 3 months ago. She is happy with the more convenient option than visiting her GP.
3.00pm	Infection control In a call from our pharmacy car park, we learn a patient has tested positive for COVID-19 and has an e-script. We dispense and counsel over the phone and then deliver out to their car (with appropriate precautions).
6.30pm	OCP continuance A stressed young woman, with a 2-week wait for a GP appointment, has run out of her pill. She is relieved when seen by a colleague who prescribes Estelle under the Queensland Hormonal Contraceptive Pilot. I dispense it.

How effective is esketamine in managing treatment resistant depression?

Who is eligible to be prescribed esketamine nasal spray?

Who is not a good candidate for this treatment?

What’s the duration of therapy?

Is re-treatment recommended?

How is esketamine supplied?

Is talk therapy involved in the session?

What are the estimated costs of esketamine sessions?

Are patients supposed to disassociate when they take esketamine?

Where should pharmacists refer interested patients?

What is preferable: esketamine or psychedelics?

Tell us about your pharmacy career.

What medicines do you administer by injection?

Tell us about your administering injections beyond vaccines.

What role do you see pharmacists playing in cardiovascular care in future?

What did the Expert Panel find?

What is ‘gender-based undervaluation’?

How does the Expert Panel intend to address the undervaluation?

What does this mean for the minimum hourly pay rate for pharmacists?

What about intern pharmacists?

Will penalty rates increase too?

Will all pharmacists get a pay increase as a result of this decision?

Where can I find out more?

Case scenario

Introduction

Heart failure

Categorisation of heart failure

Pharmacological management of heart failure

A focus on SGLT2is

Knowledge to practice

Conclusion

Case scenario continued

Key points

References

Our author

Our reviewer

How effective is esketamine in managing treatment resistant depression?

Who is eligible to be prescribed esketamine nasal spray?

Who is not a good candidate for this treatment?

What’s the duration of therapy?

Is re-treatment recommended?

How is esketamine supplied?

Is talk therapy involved in the session?

What are the estimated costs of esketamine sessions?

Are patients supposed to disassociate when they take esketamine?

Where should pharmacists refer interested patients?

What is preferable: esketamine or psychedelics?

Tell us about your pharmacy career.

What medicines do you administer by injection?

Tell us about your administering injections beyond vaccines.

What role do you see pharmacists playing in cardiovascular care in future?

What did the Expert Panel find?

What is ‘gender-based undervaluation’?

How does the Expert Panel intend to address the undervaluation?

What does this mean for the minimum hourly pay rate for pharmacists?

What about intern pharmacists?

Will penalty rates increase too?

Will all pharmacists get a pay increase as a result of this decision?

Where can I find out more?

Case scenario

Introduction

Heart failure

Categorisation of heart failure

Pharmacological management of heart failure

A focus on SGLT2is

Knowledge to practice

Conclusion

Case scenario continued

Key points

References

Our author

Our reviewer

How effective is esketamine in managing treatment resistant depression?

Who is eligible to be prescribed esketamine nasal spray?

Who is not a good candidate for this treatment?

What’s the duration of therapy?

Is re-treatment recommended?

How is esketamine supplied?

Is talk therapy involved in the session?

What are the estimated costs of esketamine sessions?