Home - Australian Pharmacist

9 recommendations to fix the mental health medicines crisis

Chloe Hava - 22 November 2023

Industry

Pharmacists' QUM expertise is vital to optimising therapy and preventing harm, says PSA’s newest medicine safety report.

Alan Polack, a Pioneer in Pharmacy Education

Greg Peterson and Stuart McLean - 21 July 2025

People

Alan Polack helped to shape modern pharmacy education, championing clinical practice and experiential learning before they became the norm.

Sun safety: don’t feel the burn

Victor Senescall - 13 October 2025

CPD

Australia has the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, with at least 2 in 3 Australians diagnosed by the age of 70.

Can pharmacists help prevent doping in sport?

Mikaela Dery - 12 November 2018

Industry

The recent release of the updated 2019 List of Prohibited Substances and Methods from the World-Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) raises the question about the relationship...

Barriers to use of smoking cessation therapies in pregnancy

Chloe Hava - 8 July 2024

Industry

Women are required to stop some smoking cessation pharmacotherapies when they find out they are pregnant. Here's what needs to change.

Discouraging medicine sharing

Helen Hawkes - 9 September 2020

Industry

Promoting the safe use of medicines within multicultural communities is the main focus of New South Wales Multicultural Health Week, from 7 to 11 September.

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8.00 am	Set up and check in IVF work fluctuates – some days it’s minimal, other days it’s constant. I check what’s booked/expected, confirm any urgent needs, and make sure there’s space for IVF stock.
9.00 am	Ordering and supply planning Weekly ordering is done on Monday mornings and reviewed again on Wednesday because we can’t reliably order later in the week. This helps to protect continuity.
10:30 am	Dispensary coordination My dispensary manager leads ordering of IVF medicines, support materials and consumables. She also prepares syringe/needle packs for medicines that require separate consumable supply, so patients receive everything together.
12.00 pm	Clinic liaison Phone or email contact with IVF nurses occurs most days to clarify prescriptions, confirm timing and align supply with treatment cycles.
2.00 pm	Prescription collection Our courier collects prescriptions from fertility clinics weekly, as not all clinics use e-scripts. These are processed promptly to avoid delays that could affect treatment timing.
3.30 pm	Patient support IVF supply often includes practical support: ensuring patients have what they need for transport and storage, and that any supporting materials and consumables are ready alongside the medicines.
6.00 pm	Engagement and training Some evenings may include a Fertility Nurses of Australia meeting, or delivering training sessions for fertility clinics for IVF clinicians and nurses.
8.00 pm	Urgent supply Occasionally I’ll get an out-of-hours call from an IVF clinician to arrange emergency medicines supply, requiring rapid coordination to keep treatment on track.

8.00 am	Set up and check in IVF work fluctuates – some days it’s minimal, other days it’s constant. I check what’s booked/expected, confirm any urgent needs, and make sure there’s space for IVF stock.
9.00 am	Ordering and supply planning Weekly ordering is done on Monday mornings and reviewed again on Wednesday because we can’t reliably order later in the week. This helps to protect continuity.
10:30 am	Dispensary coordination My dispensary manager leads ordering of IVF medicines, support materials and consumables. She also prepares syringe/needle packs for medicines that require separate consumable supply, so patients receive everything together.
12.00 pm	Clinic liaison Phone or email contact with IVF nurses occurs most days to clarify prescriptions, confirm timing and align supply with treatment cycles.
2.00 pm	Prescription collection Our courier collects prescriptions from fertility clinics weekly, as not all clinics use e-scripts. These are processed promptly to avoid delays that could affect treatment timing.
3.30 pm	Patient support IVF supply often includes practical support: ensuring patients have what they need for transport and storage, and that any supporting materials and consumables are ready alongside the medicines.
6.00 pm	Engagement and training Some evenings may include a Fertility Nurses of Australia meeting, or delivering training sessions for fertility clinics for IVF clinicians and nurses.
8.00 pm	Urgent supply Occasionally I’ll get an out-of-hours call from an IVF clinician to arrange emergency medicines supply, requiring rapid coordination to keep treatment on track.

8.00 am	Set up and check in IVF work fluctuates – some days it’s minimal, other days it’s constant. I check what’s booked/expected, confirm any urgent needs, and make sure there’s space for IVF stock.
9.00 am	Ordering and supply planning Weekly ordering is done on Monday mornings and reviewed again on Wednesday because we can’t reliably order later in the week. This helps to protect continuity.
10:30 am	Dispensary coordination My dispensary manager leads ordering of IVF medicines, support materials and consumables. She also prepares syringe/needle packs for medicines that require separate consumable supply, so patients receive everything together.
12.00 pm	Clinic liaison Phone or email contact with IVF nurses occurs most days to clarify prescriptions, confirm timing and align supply with treatment cycles.
2.00 pm	Prescription collection Our courier collects prescriptions from fertility clinics weekly, as not all clinics use e-scripts. These are processed promptly to avoid delays that could affect treatment timing.
3.30 pm	Patient support IVF supply often includes practical support: ensuring patients have what they need for transport and storage, and that any supporting materials and consumables are ready alongside the medicines.
6.00 pm	Engagement and training Some evenings may include a Fertility Nurses of Australia meeting, or delivering training sessions for fertility clinics for IVF clinicians and nurses.
8.00 pm	Urgent supply Occasionally I’ll get an out-of-hours call from an IVF clinician to arrange emergency medicines supply, requiring rapid coordination to keep treatment on track.

8.00 am	Set up and check in IVF work fluctuates – some days it’s minimal, other days it’s constant. I check what’s booked/expected, confirm any urgent needs, and make sure there’s space for IVF stock.
9.00 am	Ordering and supply planning Weekly ordering is done on Monday mornings and reviewed again on Wednesday because we can’t reliably order later in the week. This helps to protect continuity.
10:30 am	Dispensary coordination My dispensary manager leads ordering of IVF medicines, support materials and consumables. She also prepares syringe/needle packs for medicines that require separate consumable supply, so patients receive everything together.
12.00 pm	Clinic liaison Phone or email contact with IVF nurses occurs most days to clarify prescriptions, confirm timing and align supply with treatment cycles.
2.00 pm	Prescription collection Our courier collects prescriptions from fertility clinics weekly, as not all clinics use e-scripts. These are processed promptly to avoid delays that could affect treatment timing.
3.30 pm	Patient support IVF supply often includes practical support: ensuring patients have what they need for transport and storage, and that any supporting materials and consumables are ready alongside the medicines.
6.00 pm	Engagement and training Some evenings may include a Fertility Nurses of Australia meeting, or delivering training sessions for fertility clinics for IVF clinicians and nurses.
8.00 pm	Urgent supply Occasionally I’ll get an out-of-hours call from an IVF clinician to arrange emergency medicines supply, requiring rapid coordination to keep treatment on track.

How did you specialise in assisted reproductive therapy?

What does the role entail?

How do you help patients navigate their medicines regimen?

How do you manage medicines storage, cold-chain and supply?

How do you collaborate with fertility clinics, prescribers and nurses?

What advice do you have for ECPs keen on specialising in this area?

A Day in the life of Morag Horton, community pharmacy owner, Adelaide, South Australia

Compliance is key

Dispensing psychedelics safely

Managing patient enquiries

How does the nasal spray differ from EpiPen?

Can it be placed in a resuscitation kit?

Who is the nasal spray best suited to?

What should pharmacists know about its use?

Who is most likely to experience adverse effects?

Who might find it hard to use the nasal spray?

Could adrenaline nasal spray (neffy) be downscheduled?

How much does it cost?

Will the nasal spray be PBS listed?

Where can I find more information?

Bridging the gap when CBT is delayed

Checking duration against intention

Monitoring efficacy and tolerability

Chronic vs acute pelvic pain

Case 1

Case 2

How did you specialise in assisted reproductive therapy?

What does the role entail?

How do you help patients navigate their medicines regimen?

How do you manage medicines storage, cold-chain and supply?

How do you collaborate with fertility clinics, prescribers and nurses?

What advice do you have for ECPs keen on specialising in this area?

A Day in the life of Morag Horton, community pharmacy owner, Adelaide, South Australia

Compliance is key

Dispensing psychedelics safely

Managing patient enquiries

How does the nasal spray differ from EpiPen?

Can it be placed in a resuscitation kit?

Who is the nasal spray best suited to?

What should pharmacists know about its use?

Who is most likely to experience adverse effects?

Who might find it hard to use the nasal spray?

Could adrenaline nasal spray (neffy) be downscheduled?

How much does it cost?

Will the nasal spray be PBS listed?

Where can I find more information?

Bridging the gap when CBT is delayed

Checking duration against intention

Monitoring efficacy and tolerability

Chronic vs acute pelvic pain

Case 1

Case 2

How did you specialise in assisted reproductive therapy?

What does the role entail?

How do you help patients navigate their medicines regimen?

How do you manage medicines storage, cold-chain and supply?

How do you collaborate with fertility clinics, prescribers and nurses?

What advice do you have for ECPs keen on specialising in this area?

A Day in the life of Morag Horton, community pharmacy owner, Adelaide, South Australia

Compliance is key

Dispensing psychedelics safely

Managing patient enquiries

How does the nasal spray differ from EpiPen?

Can it be placed in a resuscitation kit?

Who is the nasal spray best suited to?

What should pharmacists know about its use?

Who is most likely to experience adverse effects?

Who might find it hard to use the nasal spray?

Could adrenaline nasal spray (neffy) be downscheduled?

How much does it cost?

Will the nasal spray be PBS listed?

Where can I find more information?

Bridging the gap when CBT is delayed

Checking duration against intention

Monitoring efficacy and tolerability

Chronic vs acute pelvic pain

Case 1

Case 2

How did you specialise in assisted reproductive therapy?

What does the role entail?