ePlacebo - January/February 2024

ePlacebo JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024

CONGRESS EDITION

Principal Sponsors

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Contents President’s Report Congress Report International Congresses APC Interprofessional Colloquium Branch Update - UNSW PharmSoc Life Pharmacy at NAPSA Congress APSJ Summer 2024 Issue Branch Update - JCUPSA PDL at NAPSA Congress SHPA at NAPSA Congress LocumCo at NAPSA Congress Vital facts on community pharmacy PSA Upcoming Events

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President’s Report PRESIDENT

Dear friends,

Bano Serhan

I hope you enjoyed your summer holidays and are settling into a new academic year! To our new members, welcome to NAPSA! And to our existing members: how’s the hangover going?

In January this year, 150 pharmacy students from across the country and Aotearoa, New Zealand came together on Nipaluna Country (Hobart, Tasmania) for our annual NAPSA Congress - a week full of insightful education and other shenanigans. I had the pleasure of meeting all of the amazing future pharmacists who joined us there, and thoroughly enjoyed connecting with you all! If you haven’t heard, the next congress will be in Brisbane! So stay tuned on our social media channels for more on that!

Of course, it wouldn’t be a NAPSA Congress without a cheeky little scavenger hunt! This year, we had a tie for the winner - Congratulations to UoNAPS (Newcastle University) and QPSA (University of Queensland)!

The Spirit of Congress award was also a difficult decision because everyone came with such great energy and enthusiasm. Still, one person stood out to us, a round of applause must go to our Cartwheel King, Caspar Townsmed from WAPSA (Curtin University, WA)! Finally, the award for Best Branch was presented to our golden cowgirls and cowboys from up North, JCUPSA (James Cook University)! Congratulations to all of our winners!

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A massive thank you to all of our Congress sponsors, especially our Diamond Sponsor, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, and our Platinum Sponsors, the Pharmacy Guild of Australia and Pharmaceutical Defence Limited, we appreciate you!

Thank you also to our incredible Congress Chair, Lucy Rowell for her tireless work behind the scenes, as well as the rest of the organising committee, McKinley, Felicity, Chelsea, Megan, Mia, Caeli, Alec, Jake, and Sebastian.

Congress 2024 wouldn’t have been possible without your unwavering support and dedication to the future of the pharmacy profession.

This year, we also have some really exciting news to share with you! For 2024, all NAPSA memberships are either free or subsidised, thanks to the support of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia. Please get in touch with your local branch to sign up if you haven’t already!

Some more exciting news… we have a brand new addition to our NAPSA pharm-ily! Please give a warm welcome to UNSW-PharmSoc (University of New South Wales Pharmacy Students' Society), NAPSA’s 19th branch!

Lastly, Charity Cup is in full swing, running from February 26th to May 17th, and if you haven’t already heard, this year NAPSA will be raising funds for Qendo, an organisation that provides support, education, and awareness for anyone affected by endometriosis, adenomyosis, PCOS, and infertility across Australia and New Zealand. I encourage you all to get involved with your local branch, and to get your friends and family in the loop too!

Until next time, Bano Bano Serhan National President 2023/2024 president@napsa.org.au

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Congress Report Dear NAPSA members,

CONGRESS CHAIR

Lucy Rowell

We were so thrilled to host pharmacy students from all over Australia and New Zealand for the NAPSA Congress 2024 in Hobart!

Congress was a week-long student conference with over 150 students, various education and workshop speakers, and a hugely successful tradeshow. This year, the theme for the week was ‘Small but Mighty’ and for me, this truly represents the pharmacy profession with only 4.2% of the healthcare system in Australia being made up by pharmacists. As we continue to study and become our community's medicine experts, we will hold the vital role of being the most accessible healthcare professional to our patients. The work that pharmacists do day in and day out is what makes me so proud and excited to have everyone visiting my hometown.

Some personal highlights from the week were the moving presentation by Mitch McPherson from Speak Up, Stay ChatTY about breaking the stigma around mental health and suicide and the importance of supporting our colleagues, patients, friends, and family. I also loved the presentation from Cystic Fibrosis Tasmania about the important role pharmacists can play in patient care and the newest treatment options in the CF space. The social events were so much fun, and I especially enjoyed the Gala Ball celebrating the amazing week that was. I’m so grateful to have met so many amazing people and have contacts that will last a lifetime.

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I need to express my gratitude to all of our amazing sponsors for their support of Congress, from incredible education sessions to engaging trade show stands, our amazing event would’ve been possible without you.

I’m so grateful to have had such an amazing team throughout the whole journey with me, supporting me and contributing endless amounts of work.

McKinley, Felicity, Chelsea, Megan, Mia, Caeli, Alec, Jake, Sebastian, you all worked so hard to make Congress possible and you should be so proud of all of your efforts.

We can’t wait to see you all in Brisbane in 2025!

Lucy Rowell Congress Chair

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WEEK IN REVIEW NAPSA Congress Hobart 2024

WELCOME NIGHT Sponsored by MedReleaf Delegates came together for drinks and dinner to celebrate the start of NAPSA Congress Hobart 2024!

1 PUB CRAWL

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Sponsored by Chemist Warehouse All delegates put on their coloured shirts, and in small groups were led around the iconic bars and venues of Hobart.

BATTLE NIGHT Sponsored by Life Pharmacy

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All dressed up, branches competed against each other in a number of fun challenges and games for prizes.

ALUMNI NIGHT

4 TRADESHOW Aside from the abundance of freebies, the tradeshow provided a platform for students to interact with a multitude of organisations and businesses relevant to their future careers.

Set in a relaxed yet sophisticated atmosphere, the cocktail style event provided a perfect setting for networking and rekindling old friendships.

5 GALA BALL

6 @napsacongress

Sponsored by LocumCo

Sponsored by PSA Held at the beautiful Glen Albyn Estate, there was plenty of drinks and dancing to go around, the perfect finish to an amazing week!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

International Congresses International Congresses: What the IPSF can offer you!

IPSF DIRECTOR

Gage Ede

As the post-congress depression wears off, you may find yourself longing to attend more conferences. Of course, NAPSA Congress will come around again next January, but why wait 12 months when you can attend international events hosted by the IPSF in July and August?

The International Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation (IPSF) is the leading international advocacy organisation for pharmacy students, who now represent over 500,000 pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences students in more than 100 countries around the world. IPSF promotes public health by providing members with information, education, and networking opportunities to develop their skills as a healthcare professional. Through the dimensions of public health, pharmacy education, and professional development, IPSF organises a range of initiatives such as public health campaigns, research, student exchange, and hosts international congresses every year. These congresses include regional symposiums for all five regions of IPSF, of which NAPSA falls under the Asia Pacific region, as well as the IPSF World Congress.

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The Asia Pacific Regional Symposium (APPS) will be held in Chiang Mai, Thailand from the 30th of June to the 7th of July. Over the course of the event, there will be three highly informative symposiums held, discussing the areas of hospital pharmacy, marketing in the pharmaceutical industry, and bioinformatics, which uses specialised software to analyse genomic data. Additionally, APPS will have academic workshops covering compounding, drug analysis, designing the ideal pharmacy, and Thai herbal medicines. If you are looking to expand your understanding of Thai culture, APPS will provide you with that through four cultural workshops where you can learn about Thai traditional games and dances, Bosang umbrella crafting, and even learn how to speak Thai. APPS is also the host of four exciting competitions, covering the areas of clinical skills, compounding, pharmacy counselling, and industrial skills. Every night you are provided with the opportunity to network with other delegates and explore Thai culture, as well as cultures from all over the Asia Pacific. Finally, after APPS you can join post-symposium tours to Chiang Rai, Bangkok, or Phuket if you would like to further explore the region. APPS promises to be an amazing experience, right in our own backyard.

Less than a month later, the International Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation World Congress will be hosted in Incheon, Republic of Korea from the 9th of August to the 17th of August. Much like APPS, World Congress will have three symposiums exploring the role of pharmacists in solving health industry problems, the competencies and attitudes of world health leaders, and the role of pharmacists in digital therapeutics. World Congress provides delegates with five workshops that cover topics ranging from clinical pharmacy and communication skills, to Korean culture and arts. This event will also host competitions, where you can compete against students from not just the Asia Pacific, but from all over the world! Each night you will experience what Korea has to offer, as well as networking with other students and celebrating the 75th Anniversary of IPSF. To cap off the event, there will be a gala night, followed by a post-congress tour to over 10 breathtaking locations over three days, if you are interested. .

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Both APPS and IPSF World Congress promise to be the best experiences of your time as a pharmacy student, and are truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

For more information on each event, make sure you check out the APPS, and IPSF World Congress Instagram accounts by clicking on the images below, or contact me at ipsf@napsa.org.au or via Messenger.

Gage Ede IPSF Director/Contact Person ipsf@napsa.org.au

@appsthailand2024

@wc.ipsf

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Branch Update UNSW Pharmacy Students’ Society (UNSW PharmSoc) The University of New South Wales, Sydney (UNSW Sydney) is the 19th university in Australia to have an accredited Pharmacy Degree.

UNSW Sydney was founded in 1949 with a motto, “Scientia Corde Manu et Mente” which translates to “Knowledge by Heart, Hand and Mind” where it embodies the commitment to embrace diversity of thought, integrity, innovation, and our deep connections with the community.

In 2021, UNSW introduced a new school under the Faculty of Medicine & Health, called the School of Health Science. The school introduced 4 new degrees in 2023 that included Nutrition/Dietetics, Exercise Physiology/ Physiotherapy, Applied Exercise Science/Clinical Exercise Physiology, and Pharmaceutical Medicine/Pharmacy.

Our new pharmacy degree is a double degree, consisting of a Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Medicine and a Master of Pharmacy. It is a five-year degree that consists of a three-year bachelor's and a two-year master's.

As of 2024, UNSW Pharmacy has taken in its 2nd cohort, which brings the total number of pharmacy students at UNSW to around 140.

On the 29th of September 2023, UNSW Pharmacy Society held our Inaugural General Meeting. We were able to pass our constitution and elect our very first Executive Team which consisted of 9 Executives across 10 positions.

Since then, over 150 members, both pharmacy students and nonpharmacy students have joined our society, and expecting more members in the weeks to come.

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Our society has a mission: “To represent our new pharmacy degree and provide the opportunity for UNSW pharmacy students to connect with one another as well as prominent figures in the industry to cultivate and define our own paths as we pave the way for UNSW pharmacy. We aim to project your voices through advocacy and to hold exciting events to get us on track academically and socially.” – UNSW PharmSoc During the National Council Meeting at NAPSA Congress, UNSW PharmSoc became the 19th Official Branch to be a part of NAPSA. This became a historic day as the first pharmacy society to join NAPSA in over 15 years.

We are thrilled to be a part of NAPSA and to work along with the other branches to spread awareness and connect pharmacy students from all over Australia.

Immanuel Mansour President of UNSW Pharmacy Students’ Society

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Branch Update James Cook University Pharmacy Student Association (JCUPSA) G’day everyone!

Hope you're all smashing it in your respective corners of our vast and beautiful country! I'm here to share a slice of life from JCUPSA, and trust me, it’s been a whirlwind of a year filled with achievements, firsts, and loads of community spirit.

One of the standout moments was launching our first "Conversations with Chemists" event in Cairns. Imagine a casual meet-up but with the added bonus of mingling with some of the sharpest minds in pharmacy and the healthcare industry. It was a fantastic evening where students from Cairns got to rub elbows with local pharmacists and industry professionals, sparking conversations that went way beyond the textbooks. It's the kind of event that reminds us why networking can be both fun and invaluable to our future careers.

In an exciting turn of events, we’ve welcomed the first cohort of Pharmacy Students in the new Trimester Program at JCU, and let me tell you, they’ve hit the ground running. Their enthusiasm for getting involved with JCUPSA has been infectious, and it’s clear they’re eager to dive into all the opportunities and experiences we offer.

Speaking of thriving, our membership numbers have seen a significant boost, thanks in large part to NAPSA’s incredible support. By making membership completely free, we’ve opened the doors to many more students who want to be part of something bigger. This move has not only expanded our community but also reinforced the value of inclusivity and accessibility in everything we do.

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And who could forget about the new merch? This year, we introduced some cool, sustainable frank green water bottles, making a small but meaningful statement about our commitment to the environment. It’s been great seeing these pop up around campus, and even at other branches! It’s a little reminder of the difference we can make, even in small ways.

Winning 'Best Branch' at the NAPSA Congress was the cherry on top of a fantastic year. It’s a big shout-out to our members' passion, dedication, and the community spirit that we embody at JCUPSA. This recognition isn’t just for us; it’s a win for all of us in the pharmacy student community, showing what we can achieve when we come together.

As we look to the future, we’re buzzing with excitement for what’s to come.

We’re all about building bridges, not just within our own community but across the country. So, whether you’re part of JCUPSA or rocking it in another part of Australia, we’re all on this journey together.

Thanks for letting us share our story. Here’s to more learning, connecting, and making a difference in the world of pharmacy. Can't wait to see what we can all achieve together in the coming year!

Cheers from the tropics!

Jordan Dickson JCUPSA President

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Congress Reflection NAPSA Congress 2024 was a life-changing experience - a week of amazing presentations & the opportunity to meet so many fantastic people from all over Australia. The time away opened my eyes to the wonders of the amazing profession we chose to study. I wouldn’t change anything, and I can’t wait to do it all again in 2025. Congress gave me a new profound passion for our profession, and I can’t wait to see where it will take me!

Shi-Anne Wallace (JCUPSA Member) JCUPSA Fundraiser for McGrath Foundation Internationally, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and JCUPSA created a limited-edition pink shirt to fundraise and broach conversations around this important health issue. The limited-edition Ringers Western pink shirt is a version of the current blue shirt in the JCUPSA merchandise stable.

All proceeds from the pink shirts were donated to the McGrath Foundation, a national Breast Cancer Nurse support service that relies on government, corporate, and community donations. McGrath Breast Cancer Nurses work tirelessly to offer free support to women with breast cancer regardless of private or public care treatment and early or metastatic diagnosis.

We raised $600 and JCUPSA President Jordan and I presented the cheque to McGrath Breast Cancer Nurse Deidre at Cairns Hospital to express our gratitude for their work, especially for women in North Queensland. Many conversations have been initiated about the pink shirt, and as pharmacy students, we are proud be able to open dialogue around health promotion.

Melissa Gibson (JCUPSA Treasurer)

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Vampire Cup 2023 As the pharmacy awareness chairs for JCUPSA, the NAPSA Vampire Cup competition is an event we eagerly anticipate each year. Over 10 weeks, we tirelessly rallied every friend, cousin, sister, brother, lecturer, mum, dad, grandparent, friend of a friend, and really anyone else who would listen to us —to donate blood or plasma, all in the pursuit of bringing the Vampire Cup trophy back to JCUPSA for 2023.

This year, the victory was doubly sweet as JCUPSA emerged triumphant once again, following our win in 2022. With a total of 92 donations, surpassing last year's winning score of 86, we were astounded by the collective dedication and generosity of our fellow students.

Participation in the competition not only solidified our appreciation for the significance of blood and plasma donation, but also highlighted the profound impact it has on countless lives. It was inspiring to witness our student body unite for such a noble cause and give back to the community.

We were so proud to be a part of this competition, and we are privileged to have contributed to its success.

Ruby Schembri & Shelby Joyce (JCUPSA Pharmacy Awareness Chairs)

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Highlights from NAPSA Congress in Hobart The National Australian Pharmacy Students’ Association recently held its muchanticipated annual Congress in the picturesque city of Hobart, Tasmania. This event presented a wealth of opportunities for learning, networking, and professional development. Among the standout features of the Congress were engaging workshops, a dynamic trade show, and the unforgettable Gala Ball at the Glen Albyn Estate Winery.

Workshop on Interview Skills As director of LocumCo, I had the privilege of presenting a workshop on interview skills. This session was an opportunity for me to share invaluable insights into the world of pharmacy recruitment. I focused on providing practical advice and strategies to excel in job interviews, covering aspects such as resume building, effectively showcasing skills and experiences, and navigating challenging interview questions. I aimed to equip the final-year students, poised to enter the workforce, with the necessary tools to stand out in competitive job markets. It was a rewarding experience to interact with these bright, upcoming professionals and contribute to their career journey.

Alumni Cocktail Party Sponsored by LocumCo Another notable event was the Alumni Cocktail Party, sponsored by LocumCo. As the host of this elegant evening, I had the opportunity to welcome a diverse group of alumni, from recent graduates to seasoned professionals. The event was designed to foster connections between the past and present members of the pharmacy community, encouraging a meaningful exchange of experiences and insights. Set in a relaxed yet sophisticated atmosphere, the cocktail party provided a perfect setting for networking and rekindling old friendships. It was a pleasure to see the vibrant interactions that took place, further highlighting the sense of community and support that is so vital in our profession.

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Trade Show Day: A Platform for Connection The trade show was another focal point of the week, presenting an excellent platform for students to interact with a multitude of businesses and organisations relevant to their future careers. LocumCo had a stand at the event, where we engaged with students, sharing insights into career paths, locum work, and the vast opportunities available across Australia. The day was marked by enthusiastic participation, with students keenly exploring various career options and networking with professionals.

Social Highlight: The Ball at Glen Albyn Estate Winery The social highlight of the Congress was undoubtedly the Gala Ball, hosted at the stunning Glen Albyn Estate Winery on Friday night. This event provided a splendid opportunity for students to unwind and socialise before going their separate ways back home. The picturesque backdrop of the winery, combined with exquisite local cuisine and entertainment, made for a memorable evening. It was a perfect way to conclude the productive and inspiring days of the Congress, allowing students to forge lasting connections with their peers and industry professionals.

The 2024 NAPSA Congress in Hobart was a resounding success, marked by informative sessions, fruitful networking opportunities, and memorable social events.

Such events play a crucial role in shaping the future of pharmacy students, offering them a platform to learn, grow, and prepare for exciting careers ahead.

Written by Sue Muller

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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/ March 2024 Wednesday 20 March - Live Webinar: Respiratory Syncytial Virus Prevention in Older Adults Wednesday 27 March - Live Webinar: Reducing the Risk of Cumulative Medicines (Deprescribing) April 2024 Tuesday 9 April - Live Webinar: Optimising Eczema Care Friday 12 April - Pharmacists in Aged Care Symposium 2024 - Adelaide Friday 12 April-Saturday 13 April - SA/NT Annual Therapeutic Update (ATU) - Adelaide Wednesday 17 April - Live Webinar: Influenza in 2024 –The Right Vaccine for the Right Patient Friday 19 April - WA Pharmacist Awards Night 2024 - Perth Tuesday 23 April - Live Webinar: Pharmacist Initiated Treatment of Urinary Tract Infection in WA

Edited by Mia Avram NAPSA Publications Chair 2023/2024 Email: publications@napsa.org.au

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