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Contents President’s Report - Sebastian Harper Media Release IPSF World Congress - Shylee-Jade Hadar-Pagliari Branch Update - TAPS Navigating Pitfalls of Social Media - PDL Unlocking your Future in Pharmacy - LocumCo Pharmaceutical Society of Australia Gold Cross Advanced Pharmacy Australia (SHPA) Branch Update - SUPA Managing Exam Stress - Pharmacy Support Service Australian Medicines Handbook Pharmaceutical Defence Limited Advanced Pharmacy Australia PSA Upcoming Events

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President’s Report Dear NAPSA members,

PRESIDENT

Sebastian Harper

My first report to you as National President comes two months after the election of the new NAPSA Board of Executive Directors I'm proud to be working alongside a diverse team of Directors, committed to advancing the interests of pharmacy students.

Without every pair of hands on deck, none of the incredible work we do would be possible.

Since July, we've hit the ground running. In my first two weeks in office, I travelled to Melbourne and Sydney to meet with federal members of parliament, where I and our local branch Presidents made the case for pharmacy and allied health's inclusion in the Commonwealth Prac Payment. Not long after, NAPSA submitted a letter on behalf of the Australian Pharmacy Leaders Forum to the Minister for Education, calling for this common-sense approach to tackling placement poverty. Our latest step in this campaign is a submission to the Senate Committee inquiry into the Prac Payment, because we will pull out every stop to deliver for our members and patients.

Last month, the Board returned from the PSA's annual conference PSA24, in Sydney. Attending the conference gave our new team the chance to engage with stakeholders on behalf of thousands of pharmacy students, advocate directly to Ministers, Assistant Ministers and Shadow Ministers, and embrace all the innovations in pharmacy displayed at PSA24. I want to use this opportunity to congratulate all the finalists of the Pharmacy Student of the Year competition held in Sydney, and of course our winner and fellow NAPSA Director Shylee-Jade Hadar-Pagliari.

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Not long ago NAPSA elected its Chairs for the 2024/2025 term. This team comes from almost every state and territory, showcasing the incredible fact that NAPSA is one of only a few truly national health student bodies. For the first time ever, that team includes an Indigenous Chair who will soon form a fully identifying Indigenous Committee. The Board is proud to have laid the foundations for a body within NAPSA that can make true representations, as to the needs and wants of our First Nations members and patients.

As preparations for NAPSA Congress 2025 in Brisbane are underway, tickets are selling out fast! Being a previous attendee myself, I wouldn't want any student to miss out on the opportunity to attend this fantastic week of education, social events, networking and more. Whether you're Brisbane based or across the country, make sure you get a ticket here before they're all gone!

Yours faithfully,

Sebastian Harper National President 2024/2025 president@napsa.org.au

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IPSF World Congress Opening our Eyes to the World of Pharmacy Annyeonghaseyo!

Shylee-Jade Hadar-Pagliari

My name is Shylee-Jade and I am currently the Executive Director of Internal and External Affairs for NAPSA. In August this year, myself and four other Australian pharmacy students attended the International Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation (IPSF) World Congress in Seoul, South Korea.

We had an unforgettable time networking with international students, exploring global pharmacy practice and experiencing Korean culture.

IPSF World Congress connects students and early career pharmacists from across the world, with the 2024 event having over 500 delegates from 54 countries. The eight day event features a combination of education sessions, workshops, team building, social events and traditional Korean activities. It is also the location of the IPSF General Assembly which is their annual meeting wherein executive committee elections take place alongside a variety of other discussions and votes.

Throughout the week, I made friends with pharmacy students from New Zealand, France, Poland, Korea, Malaysia, England, America and Canada to name a few places. I engaged in interesting discussions regarding differences in pharmacists’ scope of practice globally and the future growth of the profession. We learned about global health concerns, humanistic healthcare, digital therapeutics and discovered ways to improve our practice both as pharmacists and as part of the healthcare team. Part of the learning opportunities also included an excursion to a pharmaceutical company, where we learnt about the crucial role of pharmacists in the development and manufacturing of medicines.

In addition to the incredible education opportunities, there were a range of social events held throughout the week. Some highlights were International Night, where each country dressed and presented traditional food and drink from their country, Sports Night, in which we competed in fun games to win the title of first place and K-Culture Night, where we walked through Seoul city and immersed ourselves in Korean culture.

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The final evening was the Gala Night where we enjoyed incredible live music performed by music bands of registered Korean pharmacists and delicious food. This was an opportunity for us all to reflect on the connections and friendships we had formed and appreciate the experiences we had shared together. This congress reinforced the fact that pharmacy is a career that connects people.

Coming back home, I have a newfound appreciation for pharmacy practice in Australia, and a network of friends across the globe. This is an experience that I would highly recommend to all pharmacy students and am looking forward to seeing more Australian representation at international events. Keep an eye out for where the IPSF World Congress is in 2025 so you don’t miss out!

We are thankful to the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia for supporting our official delegates to attend World Congress If you want to ask any questions about the experience or how to get involved, please do not hesitate to contact me at; iea@napsa.org.au.

Gamsahabnida!

Shylee-Jade Hadar-Pagliari NAPSA Executive Director for Internal and External Affairs 2024/2025

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Branch Update - TAPS Half-way through our second trimester at the University of Tasmania, our student placements are coming to a close and exams are just around the corner. But this hasn’t stopped us from making the most of the time we’ve had to spare this year.

Most recently, we have just finished the annual TAPS Gala Ball - and what a blast! It was a night to remember, from the masquerade theme and outfits, delicious food and drink, engaging networking opportunities with all our sponsors, and a packed dance floor spurred on by our own pharmacy DJ. It was our first time having the Burnie and Launceston campuses involved with the Ball and we look forward to integrating our rural pharmacy students into more of our events.

In May, the Burnie campus hosted a trivia night, which was our first satellite campus event, and it was an exciting evening of nibbles, networking, and a chance to score some bragging rights. This was the first of many events to include our smaller sites, and Launceston will follow with its own trivia night towards the end of this semester. We endeavour to hold our first semi-virtual event soon: a Pharmacy Speed Networking night featuring pharmacists from interesting and diverse backgrounds, all offering unique perspectives into career paths we do not normally see. We plan to have our satellite campuses join us via video call to experience these amazing pharmacists one-on-one.

TAPS still holds the trophy for the NAPSA Charity Cup for the third year running. With contributions from our local pharmacies and the awesome work of the TAPS committee promoting the charity raffle, we managed to raise over $11,000 for QENDO and the fight against endometriosis, adenomyosis, infertility and other women’s health conditions. Our fundraising night involved an enjoyable drink and bite to eat at a classic Salamaca pub, while trivia prizes were announced over a live feed so everyone who couldn’t make it could join the fun.

TAPS has been focusing on educational tours over the last two trimesters, in which we hosted a pharmaceutical warehouse tour offering students an exclusive behind the scenes look of one of our major wholesalers in Hobart, which was a great opportunity to see the other side of the supply chain. Back in May, TAPS took a group of students to tour Tassie’s own medicinal cannabis producers, which you may have been lucky enough to see if you joined us down here in Hobart for Congress!

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Our amazing secretary has been hard at work to create our 2024 hoodies that have kept us toasty warm over the Tassie winter months and will sure to be a staple garment popping up in the uni library as we close in on exam season.

With only a few weeks left of this trimester, our members will be focused on smashing out this chaotic term before looking forward to a few lovely months off over the summer for some, whilst some of our TAPS members will be diving straight into another trimester to round out the year!

From all the pharmacy students of Tasmania, keep up the hard work and don’t forget to have fun in all the chaos of uni!

Daniel Burgess President of TAPS 2024/2025

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Unlocking Your Future in Pharmacy: A Guide for Aspiring Pharmacists 1. The Importance of Staying Informed The pharmacy profession is continuously evolving with new technologies, treatments, and regulations. As a student, keeping up-to-date with these changes is crucial. Here’s how you can stay informed: Subscribe to Industry Newsletters: Many professional organisations and industry bodies offer newsletters that cover the latest trends, research, and regulatory updates.

Attend Webinars and Conferences: Virtual and in-person events are excellent for learning about the latest developments and networking with professionals.

Follow Industry Leaders on Social Media: Platforms like LinkedIn are great for connecting with thought leaders and staying on top of emerging trends.

2. The Role of a Pharmacist in Modern Healthcare Pharmacists are increasingly recognised as critical players in healthcare, particularly in the areas of patient care and medication management. Understanding the expanding role of pharmacists will help you appreciate the impact of your future career.

Patient Care: Pharmacists are now more involved in direct patient care, providing medication counseling, chronic disease management, and preventive care services.

Technological Advancements: The use of AI and data analytics in pharmacy is on the rise, helping pharmacists manage large amounts of data and improve patient outcomes.

Regulatory Changes: Being aware of evolving regulations, especially in areas like telepharmacy and pharmacy compounding, will prepare you for future practice.

3. Benefits of Being a Student Member of Professional Organizations Joining a professional organisation while still a student can provide numerous advantages that will enhance your education and career prospects.

Networking Opportunities: Connect with professionals and peers, attend exclusive events, and gain insights from experienced pharmacists.

Access to Resources: Many organisations offer resources like journals, study materials, and career advice that can support your academic journey.

Scholarships and Grants: As a member, you may be eligible for scholarships, grants, and awards that can help ease the financial burden of your studies.

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4. Locum Work: Gaining Experience and Flexibility One of the most significant opportunities for pharmacy students and graduates is locum work. This flexible work option allows you to gain practical experience in various settings, from community pharmacies to hospitals.

Diverse Experience: Locum work exposes you to different environments, helping you discover your interests and strengths in pharmacy practice.

Flexibility: Working as a locum allows you to manage your time effectively, balancing work with studies or other commitments.

Networking: Each placement is an opportunity to build connections within the industry, which can be valuable when looking for full-time employment post-graduation.

5. Preparing for Your Future Career As you progress through your pharmacy program, it's essential to start preparing for your career. Here are some steps to consider: Build a Strong Resume: Include your academic achievements, internships, and any locum work experience.

Tailor your resume to highlight your skills relevant to the role you are applying for.

Practice Interview Skills: Participate in mock interviews and seek feedback to improve your confidence and responses.

Stay Informed About Job Opportunities: Regularly check job boards, especially those focused on pharmacy roles, and consider signing up for alerts to stay ahead of the competition.

6. The Future of Pharmacy: Trends to Watch The pharmacy industry is poised for significant growth and transformation in the coming years. Here are some trends to keep an eye on: Personalised Medicine: The move towards tailored treatments based on genetic profiles is expected to revolutionise patient care.

Telepharmacy: With the rise of telehealth, telepharmacy is becoming more prevalent, offering patients easier access to pharmacist consultations.

Sustainability: There is a growing focus on sustainability within the pharmaceutical industry, from reducing waste to developing eco-friendly medications.

Conclusion Your journey as a pharmacy student is an exciting and challenging time. By staying informed, getting involved in professional organisations, and exploring opportunities like locum work, you can build a solid foundation for a successful career. Remember, the pharmacy industry is full of possibilities—stay curious, stay engaged, and you'll unlock a rewarding future in this dynamic field.

Written by Sue Muller

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SupportForPharmacists

The Pharmacists’ Support Service (PSS) is a charity which focuses on the mental health and wellbeing of the Australian pharmacy profession. PSS is just a phone call away and can help if you are stressed, concerned about your mental health or need a listening ear. The PSS telephone is answered by volunteers, who are all experienced pharmacists or retired pharmacists, who have undertaken training in crisis support counselling. PSS is available to all pharmacists, interns, students, overseas pharmacy graduates seeking registration in Australia. PSS provide anonymous and confidential support over the phone every day of the year between 8.00am and 11.00pm AEST/AEDT by phoning 1300244910.

For more information about PSS and to access information and resources visit our website at www.supportforpharmacists.org.au.

Kay Dunkley B Pharm, Grad Dip Hosp Pharm, Grad Dip Health Admin, Cert IV TAE, FPS, MSHPA, FANZCAP (Lead&Mgmt) Executive Officer, Pharmacists’ Support Service

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Branch Update - SUPA What a year it has been so far!!

As we approach the halfway mark of Semester 2 2024, it is safe to say that this year has been, and is shaping up to continue to be, a very successful year for SUPA! In our 105th year as a society, we are very proud to say that we are NAPSA’s largest student branch - an achievement that we are very proud of here at USYD! This comes as a result of the hard work of NAPSA in securing free student memberships with the PGA - something that has removed any possible barrier to becoming a student member.

Our education department has been shining bright over the past year. Dating back to our first, and largest education event each and every year - Sydney University Pharmacy Association Convention (SUPAC). This event is our most successful, and proud, opportunity that we provide for our members! Taking place within the stunning Great Hall at USYD, SUPAC is an opportunity for our student members to attend a trade show, network with sponsors, collect copious amounts of freebies, and find out about whats to come in our exciting future! With over 30 stalls, and ~700 students in attendance, it is safe to say that SUPAC24 was a great success! SUPAC is an event that only seems to continue to grow in numbers, and that is something we are super excited to take into next year in hopes of growing it even more! Additionally, on August 27, we hosted ~ 110 students in our Pharmacy Lecture Theatre to find out more about the amazing work of none other than Dermal Therapy! Hearing from their Head of Technical and Innovation Amit, was an opportunity that our members did not shy away from! The event was a major success, with everyone leaving with goodie bags in their hands thanks to Dermal Therapy. I can confidently say that what’s to come in our education department for the rest of this year is very exciting, and I can only imagine what is going to come next year!

Despite our love for academic success, it is no surprise that everyone here at SUPA loves a good party! And so, what better opportunity to party than with our bi-annual Pub Crawls and Harbour Cruises! August 22nd saw our Semester 2 Pub Crawl hit the streets.

Following on from a successful Semester 1 Pub Crawl, this event definitely did not let us down! We took on 3 of Sydney’s finest venues, and our members made sure to party the night away. Our cruises always come toward the end of the semester, serving as a final night to forget all of your pharmacy worries before exams begin. In Semester 1, we set a new record for our largest cruise attendance, with ~165 attendees, and this semester, we are hoping to only get bigger!

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In what was another very successful collaboration event, the PGA hosted a USYD Pharmacy Student Networking Lunch. This event was a fantastic opportunity for our student members to network with the current leaders of our profession, and get to know them in an informal manner. This event was the second time it had run, and it was great to see that the numbers had drastically grown since last year.

To culminate our 2024 year, we are having our 2024 Gala Ball on November 29th, at the elegant Le Montage venue! This is our biggest social event of the year, and something that we all look forward to! We can’t wait to celebrate our Pharmacy night of nights Casino Royale themed!

To bring the SUPA update to a close, I am glad to say that we will be receiving our 2024 merch in the coming weeks - something that we have all been looking forward to since our merch was released two months ago.

We are very much so looking forward to Brisbane Congress 2025, and we can’t wait to meet everyone there!

Michael Bejjani President of SUPA 2024/2025

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Managing assessment and exam stress and anxiety As the end of the University year approaches and assessments are looming, it is common to start feeling stressed and anxious, especially if you will be sitting exams.

Here are some tips to help you through this challenging time of the year.

Remember that stress can be used to motivate you to prepare for your assessment.

A small amount of positive stress will enhance your performance by helping you to stay focused, motivated and efficient. Too much stress can lead to feeling overwhelmed, anxious and confused, “going blank” and unable to concentrate.

Negative and self-critical thoughts, catastrophising and perfectionism can interfere with your ability to concentrate and focus and will increase your level of stress.

Remind yourself that you have successfully reached this stage of your student life.

Have positive self-talk like “I can do this. I’ve passed exams before” and “I might be anxious but I can cope.” and “I know the material, I’ve done the work.”

Have a study location set up with everything you need. Make sure you are comfortable, the location is free from distractions and the environment is not too hot or too cold. If you are drifting off to sleep take some time out to either rest or go for a walk. Avoid too much caffeine late in the day as it will disrupt your sleep and also increase your heart rate and sense of anxiety. It is important to get enough sleep as this will improve your ability to focus and being well rested reduces anxiety.

Have some regular exercise, preferably outdoors, throughout the exam period as this will improve your concentration. Healthy meals also improve your ability to concentrate and focus as you will not have sugar highs or lows. Some treats, in moderation, can be a useful motivator if used a reward for completing a task.

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Start your preparations early and have a study plan. Break large tasks down into smaller parts. Prepare summaries and use acronyms and mnemonics (rhymes and jingles) to help memorise facts. Practice exams or exams from previous years are a great way to establish timing for different sections of an exam and to become familiar with what to expect so that the real exam is not a surprise.

Study blocks should be about 50 minutes followed by a short break, but work to a timing that best suits your ability to focus and take a break if your mind is wandering. During a study block do not access your social media or allow other distractions. Some students find that music can be helpful to focus but others find it distracting – do what suits you best. If you study well with a friend do so and share memory tips, useful resources and test each other.

If you are feeling acutely stressed before or during an exam take some slow deep breaths, drop your shoulders and let go of tension in your body, rotate shoulders forward and back, turn your head slowly from side to side, and then ear to shoulder, feel your feet on the floor. Raise and lower heels one at a time, consciously relax jaw, neck and shoulder muscles, look around the room and name six objects you can see. Then return to your study or exam, tell yourself “I can do this” and focus on the task.

It is important to keep exams and assessments in perspective. Many excellent pharmacists have failed exams and a lower than expected mark or a fail will not define your career. Exams and assessments are an opportunity to communicate your knowledge. After an exam reassure yourself that you did you best.

Written By Kay Dunkley

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PSA Upcoming Events For more information on any of the PSA’s Upcoming Events, check out their website - https://www.psa.org.au/networking-events/all-events/ September 2024 Tuesday 10th Sept - Gout Masterclass with A/Prof Debbie Rigby and A/Prof Fei Sim - Live Webinar Wednesday 18th Sept - Promoting Pharmacy Vaccination - Live Webinar Wednesday 25th Sept - Mental Health First Aid - Unley SA (SA only) Thursday 26th Sept - Navigating the new vaping regulation - Live Webinar Thursday 26th Sept - PSA & AdPha World Pharmacists Day Event - Unley SA October 2024 Saturday 12th Oct - WA Annual Therapeutic Update 2024 - DoubleTree by Hilton Waterfront, Perth Monday 14th & 15th Oct - Mental Health First Aid Workshop - Digital (SA only) Saturday 19th Oct - QLD Annual Therapeutic Update 2024 - Rydges South Bank, Brisbane Tuesday 22nd & 23rd Oct - Mental Health First Aid Workshop - Digital (SA only)

Edited by Felicity Radcliff NAPSA Publications Chair 2024/2025 Email: publications@napsa.org.au

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