Home - Australian Pharmacist

The role of pharmacists in travel vaccination

Natasha Dean - 13 January 2025

CPD

Many travellers delay vaccinations due to costs and access issues. Pharmacists play a vital role in providing preventive care.

Chronic kidney disease: when the filters fail

Associate Professor Ronald L. Castelino - 9 October 2025

CPD

Chronic kidney disease is a progressive long-term condition characterised by a gradual and usually irreversible decline in kidney function.

Consumers want to see pharmacy services expand

Chloe Hava - 10 April 2019

Industry

Consumers desire greater specialisation and increased services from the pharmacy profession, which should be front of mind in community pharmacy practice. Consumer input into pharmacy...

Supporting terminally ill patients

Helen Hawkes - 16 December 2020

Industry

Having an easily-accessible palliative care pharmacist in every community would improve medicine management for terminally ill Australians, said Helen Stone MPS, PSA State and Territory Manager South Australia and Northern Territory.

Q&A: Safescript

McMaugh MPS - 24 September 2019

Industry

I want to implement SafeScript in my pharmacy. What do I do, and how long does the process take? SafeScript is an initiative by the...

Urinary incontinence: let’s talk about leaks

Dr Amy Page FPS and Amanda Quek BPharm - 9 November 2025

CPD

Incontinence often leads to reduced quality of life and is under-recognised due to stigma.

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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.

Health comes first

Timing is everything

Approaching chronic disease management

Self-adjusted dosing

Starting the conversation

Knowing what invalidates a fast

1. Intranasal influenza vaccine introduced

2. The end of quadrivalent vaccines

3. Expanded registration of Fluad

4. Timing and urgency after a severe season

5. Vaccination rates remain dangerously low

More information for pharmacists

Pharmacist of the Year – Bente Hart MPS

Lifetime Achievement Award – Kate Gray MPS

Early Career Pharmacist of the Year – Mitchell Budden MPS

Intern of the Year – Karina Angelucci MPS

Knocking on doors

A workforce running on goodwill

The cost of saying no

Let pharmacists do what they are trained to do

Reform that matches need with value

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

Health comes first

Timing is everything

Approaching chronic disease management

Self-adjusted dosing

Starting the conversation

Knowing what invalidates a fast

1. Intranasal influenza vaccine introduced

2. The end of quadrivalent vaccines

3. Expanded registration of Fluad

4. Timing and urgency after a severe season

5. Vaccination rates remain dangerously low

More information for pharmacists

Pharmacist of the Year – Bente Hart MPS

Lifetime Achievement Award – Kate Gray MPS

Early Career Pharmacist of the Year – Mitchell Budden MPS

Intern of the Year – Karina Angelucci MPS

Knocking on doors

A workforce running on goodwill

The cost of saying no

Let pharmacists do what they are trained to do

Reform that matches need with value

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

Health comes first

Timing is everything

Approaching chronic disease management

Self-adjusted dosing

Starting the conversation

Knowing what invalidates a fast

1. Intranasal influenza vaccine introduced

2. The end of quadrivalent vaccines

3. Expanded registration of Fluad

4. Timing and urgency after a severe season

5. Vaccination rates remain dangerously low

More information for pharmacists

Pharmacist of the Year – Bente Hart MPS

Lifetime Achievement Award – Kate Gray MPS

Early Career Pharmacist of the Year – Mitchell Budden MPS

Intern of the Year – Karina Angelucci MPS

Knocking on doors

A workforce running on goodwill

The cost of saying no

Let pharmacists do what they are trained to do

Reform that matches need with value

How did you specialise in assisted reproductive therapy?

What does the role entail?

How do you help patients navigate their medicines regimen?