Principal Sponsors
Research
Pharmaceutical
Pharmacists’
LocumCo
Pharmaceutical
Advanced
Australian
President’s Report
DearNAPSAmembers,
HappyNewYear!Iknowformany2024 wasadifficultyear,asthecost-of-living crisiscontinuestobefeltdeeplyby universitystudents.Amongstitall,Ihope allofyouhadachanceoverthe end-of-yearperiodtorelax,refresh andspendtimewiththoseclosesttoyou.
Intheclosingmonthsof2024,theNAPSA teamhadperhapsthebusiesttimeyet. Aspromised,acontingentofpharmacy studentsincludingmyself,ourTreasurer
Sebastian Harper PRESIDENT
BenScottandIndigenousChairShi-AnneWallace madethetrektoCanberratoadvocateonyourbehalftothedecision makersofthiscountry.
Overtwoweeks,MembersofParliament,SenatorsandMinistersmetwith NAPSAtohearyourstoriesofplacementpoverty,andtounderstandwhy wearecampaigningforexpansionoftheCommonwealthPracPayments Politicsisatoughbusiness,asistheadvocacytogetresultsforour members,andIamproudofourcontinuedworkplacinghealthstudentsat thecentreofthenationalconversation.Alreadythegovernmenthas committedtoreviewingthePracPaymentsinthefuture,eyeingexpansion intothealliedhealthdisciplines.Ourcampaignmakesthehumblerequest toseethishappenmuchsooner
Itwasoverthisperiodthatoneofthemostsignificantchangesto pharmacyinrecentmemorywasannounced GraduatesofaMasters (Extended)arenowabletousethequalification“DoctorofPharmacy”.This changebringsPharmacyintolinewithnumeroushealthprofessions,andis anaturalevolutionwiththeimplementationoffullscopeacrosstheStates andTerritories.Havingspokentomembersateveryuniversity,weknow therearestillmanyquestionsyouhaveaboutthischange Wewantevery pharmacystudentinAustraliatoknowthatNAPSAcontinuestobeapartof thediscussion,andthattheindustrymovingforwardwillalwayswantthe perspectivesofstudentsincraftingthesenewdegrees.
TheelephantintheroomofcourseisthatCongress2025isuponus.On the12thofJanuary246studentsandinternsfromacrossAustraliaandNew ZealandwilldescendonBrisbaneforaweekoflearning,socialising, networkingandopportunities TheOrganisingCommitteehavebeenhard atworktodeliverthebiggesteventsince2019,andIcan’twaitforyouto seewhattheyhaveinstore.
NowmorethaneverbeforethebenefitofbeingamemberofyourNAPSA branchisclear.Withoutyoursupport,noneofwhatwedowouldbe possible Soincelebrationofthenewyear,Iwanttosaythankyoutothe thousandsofpharmacystudentswhomaketherightdecisioninjoiningour Association.Asyoureturntostudiesinthecomingmonths,helpusgrowby tellingyourfriendsandclassmateswhatitmeanstobeapartofthis nationalmovement-andlet’sstart2025withabang!
Yoursfaithfully,
SebastianHarper NationalPresident2024/2025 president@napsaorgau
Locum Co x NAPSA Scholarship
DuringmyruralplacementinLaunceston, Tasmania,Ihadtheprivilegeofgaining invaluablehands-onexperiencethat significantlyenrichedmyunderstandingof pharmacypracticeinareal-worldsetting Workingcloselywithdedicatedpharmacists allowedmetoobserveandappreciatethevital roletheyplayinhealthcare,frompatient counsellingtomedicationmanagement This experienceallowedmetoapplymytheoretical knowledgeinapracticalsetting,enhancingmy confidenceandclinicalskills
REFLECTION BY
Mohamed Jamal
IamdeeplygratefultoLocumCoandNAPSAforprovidingmewiththisincredible opportunity Theirsupporthasbeeninstrumentalinrefiningmyabilitiesandsolidifying mypassionfordeliveringpatientcentredcare Thisplacementhasleftalastingimpact onmyprofessionalgrowthandreaffirmedmycommitmenttomakingmeaningful contributionstothefieldofpharmacy.
ReflectingonmyplacementinLaunceston Iamfilledwithgratitudeforanexperience thatsignificantlyenrichedmyunderstandingofpharmacypractice.Myplacementwas attheTerryWhitePharmacy,whichoperatestwolocationsinLaunceston.Rotating betweenbothpharmaciesallowedmetoseeadiversearrayofpatientsandbenefit frommentorshipbyseveralexperiencedpharmacists,allofwhomhadunique approachestopatientcareandpharmacymanagement.Workingacrossboth TerryWhitelocationsequippedmewithvaluableexperienceindealingwithawiderange ofpatientneeds,conditions,andbackgrounds Inaruralarea,wherehealthcare servicesmaybelimitedorhardertoaccess,Isawtheimportanceofthepharmacyasa vitalhealthcaretouchpoint.Patientsoftenturnedtothepharmacyfirst,andIwitnessed thededicationofpharmacistswhoprovidedessentialcare,education,andsupport.
Locum Co x NAPSA Scholarship
ThementorsIworkedwithwereincrediblysupportiveandgenerouswiththeir knowledge,guidingmeineverythingfromclinicaldecisionmakingtoeffective communicationwithpatients Theirmentorshiphelpedbuildmyconfidenceandadapt myskillstomeettheuniqueneedsofruralpatients.Oneofthehighlightsofmy placementwastheopportunitytositwithadermatologyspecialistandageneral doctor Observingthedermatologyconsultationsgavemepracticalinsightinto managingskinconditions,anareathatisespeciallyrelevantinruralhealthcare,where patientsmayhavelimitedaccesstospecialists.
Additionally,observingthegeneraldoctor’sapproachtocomplexandmultifaceted caseswasinvaluable IlearnedhowruralGPshandleabroadscopeofconditions,often withlimitedresources,reinforcingtheimportanceofcollaborationbetweenpharmacists andotherhealthcareproviderstoensurecomprehensivecareforpatients.Beingin LauncestonalsoexposedmetoTasmania’suniquepharmacyregulations,whichdiffer fromthoseinmyhomestate Navigatingtheseregulatorydifferencestaughtmetobe thoroughandadaptable,asIensuredcompliancewithstate-specificlawsand practices
Thisexperiencebroadenedmyunderstandingofpharmacypracticeacrossdifferent jurisdictionsinAustralia.Inconclusion,thisprovidedmewithanunforgettable experiencethatdeepenedmypassionforruralhealthcareandstrengthenedmy commitmenttopharmacy Iamgratefulforthementorship,handsonexperience,and insightsgained,whichhaveequippedmetobetterservepatientsindiversesettingsand reinforcedmydedicationtosupportingruralcommunities.
Research Opportunities for Students
NAPSAhasavarietyofresearch initiativesavailabletostudentsto becomeinvolvedinandshowcase theircompletedresearch.Butdon’t worryifyou’renotaresearchstudent astherearestillwaysforyoutobe involved!
Megan Potter RESEARCH DIRECTOR
TheAustralianPharmacyStudents’Journal (APSJ)isajournalcreatedbystudents,for students.TheJournalallowsstudentstopublishoriginalresearch completedaspartoftheirdegree,featurearticles,opinionpieces andlettersjusttonameafewexamples.Itisauniqueopportunity forpharmacystudentsandinternstobecomepublishedauthors asundergraduatesinourpeer-reviewedjournal.TheAPSJis publishedbiannuallyinSummerandWinterandwearecurrently intheprocessofpublishingourAPSJSummerIssuefor2025,with thethemeof“SustainabilityinPharmacy” Submissionsareopen forthisissuenowalongsideourbiannualopinionpiece competitionthatproposesthreequestionsforyoutochooseto answerfrom,youcanfindtheseontheAPSJinstagram (@the_apsj).Welookforwardtoreadingyoursubmissionsand staytunedforourSummer2025Issuecomingtoyousoon!
Research Opportunities for Students
AsidefromtheAPSJ,anotherNAPSAinitiativetogetinvolvedisthe annualResearchPosterCompetitionwhichyoumayhaveread aboutinthepreviouseditionoftheePlacebo Thisisnowwrapped upfor2024withjudgingunderwayofourfantasticsubmissions forthewinnertobeannouncedsoonandtopresenttheirposter atNAPSACongress2025inBrisbane.Thisisagreatopportunityto partakeintheresearchfield,particularlyifyoucompleteaposter aspartofyourdegreein2025!
Onthehorizonfor2025,theteamisworkinghardtobringtoyou twoonlineresearchsymposiumsforstudentstotuneintoand hearfromavarietyofacademicsandspeakersintheresearch fieldandtheopportunitytoaskyourburningresearchquestions. WatchourNAPSAsocialsandyouremailstofindoutmore informationaboutthissoon.
IfyouwishtosubmitanarticletotheAPSJorliketoknowmore information,ortodiscussmoreaboutourresearchopportunities, pleasecontactMeganatresearch@napsa.org.au
MeganPotter
NAPSAExecutiveDirectorofResearch2024/2025 research@napsa.org.au
MindfulnesswhenWorkinginPharmacy
Thedayofapharmacistisusuallybusy,wemovefromonepatienttothenext, dispensingmedicineandadviceandassistingpeoplewithminorailments. Following-upprescribers,checkingtheworkofpharmacytechnicians, demonstratingdevices,providingeducation,writingreports,reconciling medicationsandansweringourphonesandpagerskeepuson thegoallday Inadditionweoftenworkinnoisyandbusyenvironments However weareexpectedtoworkquicklyandnotkeeppeoplewaitingatthesametime ascommunicatingwellandnevermakinganerror.Ofteninpatient’shealthcare journeywearethelasthealthcareprofessionaltheyseebeforetheygohome andourinteractionwiththemiscriticaltotheirunderstandingoftheirtreatment. Allofthiscancreateastressfulenvironmentforpharmacistswhichcanimpact onourwell-being
Mindfulnessmeanslivinginthepresentmoment Essentially,itmeansbeing (intentionally)moreawareandawaketoeachmomentandbeingfullyengaged inwhatishappeninginone’ssurroundings–withacceptanceandwithout judgment Mindfulnessisnotonlyusefultoimproveourownmoodandasense ofwell-being,italsomakesusbetterhealthcareprofessionals.Mindfulnessis valuablebecauseitenablesustofocusonwhatwearedoingdespite distractions Italsoenablesustobepresentforthepatientlisteningtowhatthey aresayingandrespondinginanempatheticway.
Attention
Practisingmindfulattentionhelpsustoslowdownandconsciouslythinkabout whatwearedoing Whetherthisisdispensingorcommunicatingorproblem solvingwearelesslikelytomakeamistakeormisssomething
Curiosity
Developingasenseofcuriosityinspiresustoquestionmoreanddigdeeper.This isusefultobuildrapportandfosterempathywithpatients.Itisalsovaluableto helpusidentifysomethingthatisnotquiteright–ratherthanactingonautopilot wearemorelikelytothinkthingsthroughandtoquestionadoseordirectionsor thechoiceofmedication Itisalsohelpfulinproblemsolvingwhenaskingafew morequestionsmayproduceasolution
Presence
Listeningdeeplywithoutjudgement,interruptionorpreconceptionsimprovesour communicationwithpatientsandalsofellowhealthprofessionals Whena patientfeelsunderstood,theriskofmiscommunicationanderrorisreducedand theyaremorelikelytolistentousandtheinformationweareproviding Whenwe communicaterespectfullyandwithcarefulthoughtwithanotherhealth professionalthereislesslikelytobeamisunderstandingandwearemorelikely toachievethebestpossibleoutcomeforeveryoneinvolvedbutespeciallythe patient.Mindfulpharmacistsenjoyamoresatisfyingcareer,haveimproved relationshipswithcolleaguesandotherhealthprofessionalsandcontributeto betteroutcomesforpatients
ThePharmacists’SupportService(PSS)isacharitywhichfocusesonthemental healthandwell-beingoftheAustralianpharmacyprofession PSSisjustaphone callawayandcanhelpifyouarestressed,concernedaboutyourmentalhealth orneedalisteningear ThePSStelephoneisansweredbyvolunteers,whoareall experiencedpharmacistsorretiredpharmacists,whohaveundertakentrainingin crisissupportcounselling.PSSisavailabletoallpharmacists,interns,students, overseaspharmacygraduatesseekingregistrationinAustralia PSSprovide anonymousandconfidentialsupportoverthephoneeverydayoftheyear between8.00amand11.00pmAEDTbyphoning1300244910.
FormoreinformationaboutPSSandtoaccessinformationandresourcesvisit ourwebsiteatwwwsupportforpharmacistsorgau
KayDunkleyBPharm,GradDipHospPharm,GradDipHealthAdmin,FPS,AdPhaM, FANZCAP(Lead&Mgmt)
ExecutiveOfficer,Pharmacists’SupportService
Why Attending APP 2025 Should Be on Every Pharmacy Student’s Radar
As pharmacy students, we’re constantly juggling coursework, placements, and planning our future careers With so much on our plates, it’s easy to overlook opportunities outside the classroom One such opportunity, however, that deserves your attention is the Australian Pharmacy Professional Conference & Trade Exhibition (APP).
APP is Australia’s largest pharmacy event, bringing together pharmacists, industry leaders, and key stakeholders from across the profession Here’s why you should prioritise attending APP 2025
1 Build Your Professional Network
Networking is essential for career growth, and APP offers unparalleled access to leaders and peers in the pharmacy industry You’ll meet pharmacists from all career stages, employers seeking fresh talent, and students from universities across the country.
Conversations with experienced professionals can provide guidance on career paths, internships, or niche areas of practice you may not have considered These connections can also serve as invaluable mentors as you progress through your career.
2 Gain Insights Into the Evolving Profession
Pharmacy is a rapidly changing field, and staying informed about industry trends is crucial APP 2025 will feature presentations on key topics such as digital health, expanded pharmacist services, and regulatory changes.
Hearing directly from thought leaders and participating in panel discussions will give you a broader perspective on the opportunities and challenges shaping the future of pharmacy This knowledge will not only help you during your studies but also give you an edge as you enter the workforce.
3 Explore Diverse Career Pathways
One of the most valuable aspects of APP is the opportunity to learn about non-traditional pharmacy roles The conference showcases pathways in hospital pharmacy, the pharmaceutical industry, digital health, academia, and rural practice
Workshops and seminars often include real-life case studies and success stories, helping you understand what it takes to succeed in these areas This exposure could inspire you to explore a career path you hadn’t previously considered
4 Enhance Your Employability
Many employers attend APP specifically to scout for talent By attending, you can position yourself as a proactive and engaged student ready to contribute to the profession
Bring copies of your CV, dress professionally, and approach potential employers with confidence Whether it’s discussing internship opportunities or simply introducing yourself, these small steps can leave a lasting impression
5 Access Free or Discounted Student Tickets
APP values the importance of nurturing the next generation of pharmacists and often provides discounted or free tickets for students This makes it a cost-effective way to access an event packed with resources, knowledge, and networking opportunities
Additionally, many universities or professional organisations like the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) offer scholarships or grants to support student attendance Check with your faculty or student organisations to see what assistance might be available
6. Experience the Excitement of the Trade Exhibition
The APP Trade Exhibition is one of the largest in the Southern Hemisphere, showcasing the latest products, technologies, and services in pharmacy
As a student, this is a fantastic opportunity to explore innovative solutions, learn about new developments, and engage directly with companies shaping the future of pharmacy practice
Talk to LocumCo and find out what career opportunities are available to you
7. Be Inspired
Perhaps the most compelling reason to attend APP 2025 is the inspiration you’ll gain From keynote speakers to success stories of young pharmacists making a difference, the event is designed to energise and motivate attendees
Hearing about the real-world impact pharmacists can have on patients and communities may reaffirm your passion for the profession and spark ideas for how you can contribute
How to Make the Most of APP 2025
Plan Ahead: Review the program and identify sessions that align with your interests
Network Actively: Introduce yourself to speakers, attendees, and exhibitors
Ask Questions: Engage in discussions to deepen your understanding of key topics
Take Notes: Capture insights and tips you can use during your studies and career planning.
Final Thoughts
APP 2025 is more than just a conference; it’s a platform to explore your future in pharmacy, connect with leaders, and gain insights into the profession’s evolution. By attending, you’ll position yourself as a proactive and informed future pharmacist, ready to take advantage of the opportunities ahead
Don’t miss out on this unique experience Start planning now, and make APP 2025 the launchpad for your exciting pharmacy career.
Sue Muller
PSA Upcoming Events
FormoreinformationonanyofthePSA’sUpcomingEvents,checkout theirwebsite-https://wwwpsaorgau/networking-events/all-events/
January2025
Wednesday22ndJanuary-DigitalMentalHealthFirstAidWorkshop-SA
February2025
Tuesday11thFebruary-ImmunisationPracticalWorkshop-Perth
Wednesday12thFebruary-BoostingPneumococcalVaccinationRatesin Pharmacy-OnlineWebinar
Wednesday12thFebruary-ImmunisationPracticalWorkshop-Adelaide
Saturday15thFebruary-ImmunisationPracticalWorkshop-Brisbane
Wednesday26thFebruary-ImmunisationPracticalWorkshop-Sydney
EditedbyFelicityRadcliff
NAPSAPublicationsChair2024/2025
Email:publications@napsaorgau