ePlacebo - International Women's Day Edn (March/April)

eplacebo

COVER ART BY STEFFI VENTURI

SARAH HO

DearNAPSAmembers,

PRESIDENT 2023

Flynn Swift

I hope that everyone has had a great start totheuniversityyear,andgettingreadyfor placements and exams coming up at the endofthesemester!

The Pharmacy Guild of Australia's annual conference, the Australian Pharmacy Professional Conference and Trade Exhibition (APP), was held at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre fromMarch23to262023.

I would like to thank the Pharmacy Guild of Australia for inviting the NAPSAExecutiveDirectorsandItoattendAPP2023,andforhostingsuch an engaging and inspiring event for the profession NAPSA offered two all-inclusive scholarships to APP for pharmacy students who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to and have strong aspirations for working in community pharmacy Sebastian Harper, a second-year student from Griffith University, and Kira Wang, a first-year student at the Queensland University of Technology were the successful applicantsfortheNAPSAAPPScholarship.Ourtwoscholarshiprecipients spent their time going to all the insightful workshops and education events,aswellasgettingtheirhandsonallfreebiesatthetradehall.

At APP 2022, NAPSA and The Pharmacy Guild of Australia hosted the annual NAPSA Alumni Networking Event on Friday, March 24th. I would like to thank Kayla O’Kane, the NAPSA Alumni Chair, and the Pharmacy GuildofAustraliafororganisingthisstandouteventthatprovidedNAPSA members and Alumni to connect and share their professional journeys andendeavours.

TheNAPSABrancheshavebeenraisingmoneyforStreetsideMedics.Iwould like to thank Laura Edmondson, the NAPSA Pharmacy Awareness Chair, as well as all of the NAPSA Branches for all of their hard work thus far, and we look forward to continuing to support Streetside Medics throughout the last two weeks of 2023 NAPSA Charity Cup. The Charity Cup winners will be announcedatthe2023AGMheldinMelbourneonthe1stofJuly,sokeepan eyeoutforthat.

As the 2022/2023 NAPSA Board of Executive Directors and myself approach our last two months in office, we have opened up applications for the 2023/24 NAPSA National President position and Executive Director roles. On behalfofNAPSA,IencourageallmemberstoapplyfortheBoard,asitisan excellent opportunity to represent students on a National Level and ensure theirfutureisprosperous.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to me at president@napsa.org.au with anyquestionsorsuggestions.Thankyou!

FlynnSwift

2022/23NAPSANationalPresident

international women's day international women's day international women's day

let's celebrate our amazing women in NAPSA

My journey in pharmacy over the last 4 years has led to me being able to serve not only as president of my local branch, but as a director onthenationalboard.

Over this time I’ve had the amazing opportunity to see many amazing women in our profession and the work they are doing to improvetheindustryforall.

GEORGIA BRIDGES TREASURER

In universities now we see that pharmacy is now becoming a female dominated profession, and my experience has being that we have made a lot of progress, but we have moretogo!

It was an incredible honour of mine to see the first female president of the PSA I’d love to see more women steppingupintoleadershippositionsinallsectors.

We also still see the majority of pharmacy owners are male, and this is starting to change but I think we need more programs aimed at supporting women and the industrytocontinuetosupportthismovement.

My experience has been extremely positive, and I’ve had many amazing mentors along the way. I’m looking forward to seeing where the profession goes, and to hopefully seeing more female representation across the boardaspharmacycontinuestochangeandgrow!

international women's day international women's day international women's day

let's celebrate our amazing women in NAPSA

My pharmacist is the most lovely person you will ever meet She is strong, caring and patient She continues to work hard in her career and family life She is a role model for all types of women she talks to. That'swhoIwanttobe.

Women have the power to defy career stereotypes, especially in pharmacy Our strength and passion for care are seen and heard within Australia. It is my goal to project more awareness andimportancetowardswomeninpharmacy.

At UWA, my pharmacy journey has just begun, from becoming Vice President of my local branch and taking part in NAPSA as their publications chair. I believe active leadership, constant support and passion for our profession will pave a greater path for futuregenerationsinpharmacy.

To see the strengths of women showcased through pharmacy ownership, hospital careers, 'locuming' and so much more has inspired my idea of the possible future for all my female friends and I as we reachourfinalyearatuniversity

SARAH HO

Being a leader and business owner of LocumCo, the leading pharmacy recruitment and locum agency is an exciting and challenging role, but as a woman in this field, it is particularly rewarding. As we celebrate International Women's Day, I want to share my experiences and thoughts on the positive impact that women in pharmacy have had on the field.

As the owner of a pharmacy recruitment company, my role is to connect talented pharmacists with the best opportunities in the industry. This requires not only a deep understanding of the pharmacy field but also excellent communication and networking skills. As a woman, I believe that I bring a unique perspective to this role even though when I started out in 1986, I have no recruitment experience at all, only experience as a pharmacist Women are often skilled at building relationships and creating connections that can benefit everyone involved. This is particularly important in the healthcare industry, where networking, teamwork and collaboration are essential.

My friends and colleagues always joke with me and say that I would go to the opening of an envelope. I would never decline an opportunity to network within the industry. Being a spokesperson for LocumCo is also a critical part of my role I am responsible for promoting our brand and conveying our message to the public. This involves everything from crafting marketing campaigns to speaking with potential clients, candidates and students who will be the pharmacist of the future. As a woman, I believe that I have a particular talent for connecting with people and making them feel heard and valued. This is especially important in a field like pharmacy, where patient care is at the heart of everything we do.

WrittenbySusanMuller2023

MullerwiththeNAPSACommittee

Women in pharmacy have made significant contributions to the field. They have brought a fresh perspective and innovative ideas to improve patient care, medication management, and pharmacy operations Women are well represented in most areas of pharmacy, from community pharmacies to hospitals and research institutions. The main area which lags behind is women in pharmacy ownership and more needs to be done in this area to improve this. They have shown that they are just as capable as men of excelling in leadership roles and contributing to the advancement of the field.

One area where women in pharmacy have made a significant impact is in patient care Women have been instrumental in developing new treatments and medications that have helped to save countless lives. They have also been at the forefront of efforts to improve medication safety and reduce medication errors Women have brought their unique perspective to the field of pharmacy, prioritising patient care and empathy over profits.

In conclusion, being a leader and business owner of LocumCo, the leading pharmacy recruitment company is a rewarding and challenging role. As a woman and a pharmacist, I believe that I bring a unique perspective and skill set to the field of pharmacy. Women in pharmacy have made significant contributions to the field, and their impact will continue to be felt for years to come. On this International Women's Day, I encourage all women to pursue their dreams and use their talents to make a positive impact on the world.

WrittenbySusanMuller2023

"they are just as capable as men of excelling in leadership roles and contributing to the advancement of the field."

"Women have brought their unique perspective to the field of pharmacy, prioritising patient care and empathy over profits."

Season7,Episode2ofYourPharmacyCareerPodcast

Season7Episode2-JacquieMeyerisapharmacistandpharmacyownerwhoprovides a team of pharmacists to her communities to engage in their health and well-being journey.Usingrobottechnologyandaforwardpharmacymodel,Jacquievaluestherole ofthePharmacist

Breaking the barrier between hospital and community Pharmacy, Jacquie provides a unique environment for Pharmacists to experience both within her LiveLife Cooroy Pharmacy in this Hybrid model She also has experience and exposure to palliative care throughherCooroypharmacy.

She is passionate about the future of Pharmacy and is always highly engaged with pharmaciststofulfilltheircareerpathways

LocatedintheenviablenorthernregionoftheSunshineCoast,Jacquieisapartnerinthe LiveLifePharmacygroup,whichisthelargestemployerofcommunitypharmacistsonthe sunnycoast.

YoucanfindJacquieMeyeronLinkedIn.

YoucanlistentothepodcastonourwebsiteorviayourfavouritePodcastapp.

withJacquieMeyer withJacquieMeyer

The Women of PSA The Women of PSA

DR FEI SIM

I often tell both pharmacists and students to bite off more than you can chew, and then chew like mad As leaders, it is our role to motivate and drive our teams to success, both personally and through our practice

A great leader is someone who is able to recognise the strengths and limitations of their team Leaders work to empower those around them, to capitalise on their strengths whilst also encouraging continuous learning and development A leader should lead to create a functional and effective team dynamic, and empowering the team to work collaboratively with one another

I believe a leader should also be always humble and open to feedback We are all human, and none of us are immune to making mistakes We can always improve on the way we do things What we can control is how to move forward and learn from experience Reflection is an important tool for all leaders – if we don’t reflect, we can never improve

Importantly, I encourage all of you to embrace challenges, learn from the experience, and appreciate the mentors around you By offering support and mentoring others, we can build a thriving community that fosters growth and success for all

Often, a key element that determines success, is the ability to see the positive in every situation and capitalise on that as your opportunity to make an impact In the same situation, one person might see obstacles, another will see opportunity

My message to you all is this: be the one that sees the opportunity Our roles are constantly evolving, whether it is changes to pharmacy regulations or new medicines entering the Australian market, or, as we ’ re seeing now, conversations around pharmacists’ scope of practice

Despite recent changes to our practice, it ’ s an exciting time to be a pharmacist –COVID-19 has helped bring attention to the impact that we can make in healthcare These opportunities have created momentum for our profession We are making a huge difference in each and every one of our patients ’ lives every single day, and as our scope of practice evolves, we have the opportunity to have an even bigger impact on all of them

AMANDA FAIRJONES

Amanda is the NSW Manager, based in the Sydney office Her role includes managing all NSW membership programs, state-based policy and advocacy activities and NSW projects She has a strong level of engagement working collaboratively with key stakeholders, to drive important policy changes and improvements for pharmacists to better support communities

The NSW Office offers a variety of member services, including professional development events, engagement with universities and pharmacy students, and activities for early career pharmacistsproviding pharmacists with valuable networking opportunities

Amanda is the NSW Manager, based in the Sydney office Her role includes managing all NSW membership programs, state-based policy and advocacy activities and NSW projects She has a strong level of engagement working collaboratively with key stakeholders, to drive important policy changes and improvements for pharmacists to better support communities

The NSW Office offers a variety of member services, including professional development events, engagement with universities and pharmacy students, and activities for early career pharmacists - providing pharmacists with valuable networking opportunities

SARAH GILLESPIE

There are currently approximately 2,400 pharmacists who are accredited (credentialed) to conduct medication management reviews in both residential aged care facilities (Residential Medication Management Reviews or RMMRs) and in the community (Home Medicines Reviews or HMRs) These reviews are remunerated by the Commonwealth

Sarah Gillespie has recently joined the PSA team following the closure of the Australian Association of Consultant Pharmacy (AACP) where she worked as Clinical Services Manager for 15 years

An accredited pharmacist for almost 20 years, Sarah is responsible for coordination of the PSA medication management Review (MMR) stage one and stage two courses including assessment, the learner journey and mentoring Much of her time is devoted to supporting pharmacists as they progress through the PSA accreditation assessment program She also has an important role in providing both clinical and procedural advice to accredited pharmacists

Accredited pharmacists are essential members of the inter-professional healthcare team who work with other health professionals and exchange information on a regular basis regarding optimum medication use with the aim of achieving better health outcomes for patients and aged care residents These pharmacists conduct medication reviews on referral from GPs and other physicians, often for complex patients with multi morbidities, where polypharmacy can be problematic Improving medication safety and promoting the quality use of medicines is our goal

Sarah is a strong advocate for the value of medication management review services as PSA has a strong vision for the future of accreditation and wants to see accreditation become a major career pathway for pharmacists

Her role also involves collation of relevant updates and production of a regular clinical newsletter for distribution to learners and accredited pharmacists She supports the PSA CPD and qualifications teams to develop resources for pharmacists undergoing accreditation and those maintaining accreditation

CAROLYN ALLEN

Carolyn is a member of the PSA Practice Support Team She has extensive previous experience as a hospital pharmacist, community pharmacist and consultant HMR pharmacist

The PSA Practice Support Team is responsible for development of APF content, clinical and practice guidelines, Professional Practice Standards, Essential CPE and Australian Gold Questionnaire

Carolyn contributes to the development of all of these PSA products, but her role is focussed mainly on the Australian Pharmaceutical Formulary and Handbook (APF) Creation and revision of APF content follows an 8 stage quality assurance process involving planning, SME review, PSA team review, APF Editorial Board review, stakeholder consultation, copy edit, layout, proofing and publishing

Carolyn creates new APF content, revises and updates existing APF content and is involved in all APF quality assurance and publication steps Clinical knowledge and writing and communication skills are vital to this role

LEAH ROBINSON

Having worked in many different roles in the pharmacy industry over the last 20+ years, I have always wanted to learn and gain as much experience as possible By saying yes to (almost) all opportunities that I have been presented with has helped build my career – which now leads me to working in a talented consulting team at the PSA that manage national multimillion dollar projects in pharmacy

In 2020, I lost my mum to GBM Brain cancer and during her palliative care I identified a tremendous unmet need in the role of pharmacists in palliative care By following this passion and growing my knowledge and network, I saw the great work PSA was doing in this space and knew that I could contribute my lived experience and build on this

As part of my journey, I felt the time couldnt align better than to add in a pharmacy degree – which I currently study part time along with working at the PSA as a Project Manager Everyone has a passion and can contribute, it just for me, built slowly over time and is now gaining so much momentum Its such an exciting time to be in pharmacy and be part of something so necessary to all Australians

SUZANNE GREENWOOD

Ms Suzanne Greenwood joined the Pharmacy Guild as Executive Director in 2019 where she is a fierce advocate for community pharmacy as it strives for better health and wellness outcomes for all Australians. With Masters level qualifications in Law and in Business, she has

HELEN O’BYRNE

Helen O'Byrne is the Vice President of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia and Chair of the Workplace Relations Committee. She is also the President of the Pharmacy Guild’s Tasmania Branch

Helen has over 33 years of experience in the pharmacy industry, including being a pharmacy owner for the past 28 years. In addition to her role with the Pharmacy Guild, she is also an Accredited Pharmacist and a co-owner of Riverside Terry White Chemmart and Windsor Terry White Chemmart in Tasmania

Natalie Willis began practicing as a pharmacist in 1996 and in 1999 entered into pharmacy ownership. That same year she was elected to the Pharmacy Guild’s Western Australia Branch Committee where, as the current Senior VicePresident, she is focussed on advocating for a larger role for community pharmacy in the primary healthcare landscape.

Natalie was elected as a Guild National Councillor in 2017 where she currently plays a role in negotiating & implementing the CPA, policy & regulation, and clinical governance.

WrittenbyFionaSaunders

PSAUpcomingEvents

FormoreinformationonanyofthePSA’sUpcomingEvents,checkouttheirwebsitehttps://www.psa.org.au/networking-events/all-events/

June2023

Tasmania

17June-TasmanianPharmacistoftheYearAwardDinner

July2023

Sydney

28July-PSA23-PSA'sFlagshipNationalConference

PublishedbySarahHo

NAPSAPublicationsChair2022/2023

email:publications@napsaorgau