Creating
Acknowledgement of Country
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia acknowledges Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present.
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia
From the National President
Towards 2035: A Future Built on Trust, Care and Community
It is with great pride and optimism that I present Towards 2035: the Pharmacy Guild of Australia’s strategic plan. This plan is not just a roadmap; it is a declaration of our unwavering belief in the power of community pharmacy to create healthier communities.
Shaped through one of the most far-reaching consultations in our history, this plan brings together voices from across the country, from vibrant city centres to quiet rural towns and the most remote communities. It stands as a proud, collective vision that reflects the diversity, dedication, and aspirations of those who live and breathe community pharmacy.
For generations, community pharmacies have stood as trusted pillars in towns, suburbs, and cities across the nation. They are places where care is personal, access is local, and support is always close at hand. We have come a long way, and today, our role is more vital than ever. As the healthcare landscape evolves, so too does the opportunity for community pharmacy to lead. Our vision is bold: that our communities think pharmacy first for healthcare.
Towards 2035 builds on the strong foundations of our past and charts a course for a future where pharmacy is not only accessible, but central to the health and wellbeing of every person in Australia. It is a future underpinned by the patient–practitioner–practice relationship, a belief that healthier communities are created when patients are placed at the centre of care, practitioners are empowered and pharmacy practice can thrive.
“This strategy is guided by our purpose to create healthier communities and driven by our mission to serve, empower and ignite the full potential of community pharmacies.”
It reflects our values of authenticity, connection, and excellence, and it calls on all of us to embrace innovation, champion accessibility, and lead with integrity.
We know this journey will require courage, collaboration, and commitment; but we also know that our profession is ready. With the support of our members and partners together with the communities we serve, we will continue to grow as a cornerstone of Australia’s primary healthcare system.
Together, let us step forward towards innovation, towards empowerment, and ultimately, Towards 2035.
Professor Trent Twomey National President The Pharmacy Guild of Australia
About the Guild
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia is a national employers’ organisation for community pharmacists, registered under the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009. Established in 1927, the Guild advocates for the vital role of community pharmacies in the Australian healthcare system. With nearly a century of experience, it works to ensure that pharmacies remain accessible, sustainable, and equipped to meet the evolving needs of patients across the country.
The Guild’s focus is not just on pharmacy as a profession, but as a viable business and as an integral publicprivate partnership. Consistency in funding, regulation, and supply chains is essential so that pharmacies can deliver certainty to patients. The Guild works to secure that certainty through long-term planning, industry leadership and strong advocacy. It also plays a key role in negotiating Community Pharmacy Agreements with the Australian Government, which underpin the delivery of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medicines through community pharmacies. Each and every day, the Guild helps shape policy and practice to strengthen the future of pharmacy in Australia.
As the healthcare landscape evolves, so too does the opportunity for community pharmacy to lead.
Our Purpose Create Healthier Communities.
Our communities think pharmacy first for healthcare.
Our Mission To serve, empower and ignite community pharmacies to reach their full potential to provide accessible healthcare in their local communities.
Nicholas Serafim of Serafim’s Bourke Street Pharmacy, Darlinghurst, NSW joined the Guild in 2003.
Our Values
Our Behaviours
We respect and care for people, place and self.
We do what we say we will do.
We go further together. We find a way. We lead by example.
Driven by Purpose, United by Values
At the heart of Community Pharmacy lies a deep commitment to people, patients, communities, and each other. Our values of Authenticity, Connection, and Excellence are not just words on a page; they are the guiding principles that shape every interaction, every decision, and every moment of care. These values are lived daily by our members, from pharmacists on the frontline, to elected officials and every employee within the Guild, who embody them with integrity and purpose.
Authenticity is the foundation of trust. In every pharmacy, our members show up with honesty and transparency, building genuine relationships with patients and colleagues. They speak with clarity, act with integrity, and remain true to the mission of community care.
Our elected officials lead with authenticity, representing members with honesty and advocating for the profession with unwavering commitment.
“Within the Guild, it’s about being genuine in our relationships, transparent in our actions, and true to our purpose.”
Connection fuels our collective strength. Community pharmacies are woven into the fabric of Australian life. Offering more than just medicines, they offer understanding, empathy, and support. Our members connect deeply with their patients and their communities, listening and responding to their needs. Within the Guild, it’s the collaboration between colleagues, the shared commitment to our vision, and the sense of belonging that drives us forward. Connected teams are more than efficient, they are resilient, innovative, and united by purpose.
Excellence is our standard. Across the industry, our members strive for the highest quality care, pushing boundaries and setting benchmarks. At the Guild, excellence means taking pride in our work, continuously improving, and inspiring one another to bring our best every day. It’s a spirit that lifts individuals and strengthens the whole.
We live our behaviours with pride and purpose:
• We respect and care for people, place and self—because wellbeing begins with compassion.
• We do what we say we will do—because reliability builds trust.
• We go further together—because collaboration fuels progress.
• We find a way—because challenges are opportunities in disguise.
• We lead by example—because leadership is about action, not position.
These behaviours are more than words on a page; they are a reflection of the trust our members place in us and the values we live every day. They embody our shared ambition to create healthier communities and build a more connected future for everyone who calls those communities home; powered by the strength, integrity and vast potential of community pharmacy.
Transformative Drivers
Over the next decade, Australia’s community pharmacy sector will continue to face a complex mix of challenges and opportunities. Headwinds like regulatory uncertainty, workforce shortages, rising operational costs, and ongoing reform pressures will test the sector’s resilience. At the same time, there are strong tailwinds — including growing public trust in pharmacists, progress toward full scope of practice, increasing recognition of pharmacy’s role in primary care, and new opportunities through digital health and collaborative models.
Together, these forces mark a pivotal moment. Strategic advocacy and innovation will be essential to ensure the sector’s sustainability and impact into the future.
Drivers Outlook Assessment Insights
Community pharmacies will continue to be highly trusted, accessible primary health hubs. This expansion of the delivery of services for everyday heath conditions will result in healthier communities and reduced pressure on other parts of the health system.
Pharmacy as a Health Destination
Digital Health & Connected Care
Technology is transforming how Australians access medicines and health advice. From eScripts to telehealth and digital records, pharmacies are becoming more connected and efficient.
Strength
High public trust and accessibility. Opportunity
Expanded services to improve community health.
89% of Australian patients support community pharmacists providing more health services Full Scope of Practice –National Voter Research Track 4, November 2024, by Insightfully.
Pharmacists are ranked among the top three most trusted professions in Australia, behind only nurses and doctors Roy Morgan, 2021.
Pharmacists are increasingly involved in chronic disease management Pharmacy Guild of Australia State of the Industry Report 2023
Opportunity
Smarter, safer, more personalised care.
As of July 2025, over 219 million eScripts have been issued Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care, 2023.
Drivers Outlook Assessment Insights
Evolving Patient Expectations
Australians expect more from their local community pharmacy: faster service, personalised advice, and seamless digital experiences. Pharmacies must adapt to stay relevant and valued.
Strength
Strong, established community presence.
Opportunity
Continue to build loyalty through tailored, accessible care.
Patient expectations are shifting toward convenience and immediacy
Consumer Health Preferences Survey, 2022.
Community pharmacies are investing in consultation rooms and IT infrastructure Guild Workforce Capability Framework, 2023.
The future of pharmacy depends on attracting and retaining skilled professionals by creating rewarding career paths for pharmacists and pharmacy assistants and by supporting ownership opportunities for the next generation.
A Sustainable and Skilled Workforce
Strength
Year-on-year growth in pharmacy university enrolments and completions.
Opportunity
New roles and training pathways.
Introduced in 2025, pharmacist prescribing training equips pharmacists to assess, diagnose, and prescribe for common conditions.
Doctor of Pharmacy delivers the prestige and recognition the profession deserves.
Policy, Partnerships and Public Value
As healthcare evolves, so too must the policies that support it. Strong partnerships and clear advocacy will be essential to protect access, affordability, and the unique role of community pharmacy.
Strength
Established, trusted stakeholder relationships.
Opportunity
Collaborate to shape future health systems.
The 8th Community Pharmacy Agreement secured over $3 billion in additional funding Department of Health, 2023.
The Guild continues to be supported by a broad range of health services and patient representative bodies on key priorities such as full scope of practice and more affordable medicines.
Community Pharmacy Core Fundamentals
Location
The location of community pharmacies approved to dispense and supply pharmaceutical benefits is regulated by a set of Pharmacy Location Rules. These rules are designed to ensure community pharmacies are distributed around the country according to community need. As a result of the location rules, community pharmacies are the most accessible primary healthcare providers and are located in most towns and cities, including in rural and remote areas. They can be found in main streets, shopping centres, shopping strips, medical centres, and even some private hospitals. The location rules encourage pharmacies to open in underserved regions and prevent clustering in more profitable urban areas, ensuring that patients have timely and reliable access to medicines no matter where they live.
Ownership
Legislation in Australia restricts the ownership of a community pharmacy to a registered pharmacist. This recognises that medicines are not typical items of commerce and must be managed safely and responsibly. As both a business owner and registered health professional, a pharmacy owner is responsible for clinical governance as well as the commercial operations of the pharmacy — always with the needs of the patient at the centre. Unlike large corporates managed by distant boards, the pharmacy owner is typically an active member of their local community, who knows and has the trust of their patients. They put the needs of their patient and their community first and are not driven by shareholder profits.
Community Pharmacy Agreements
These five-yearly agreements between the Federal Government and the Pharmacy Guild of Australia on behalf of the community pharmacy sector provide a stable framework that guarantees the reliable and timely dispensing and supply of pharmaceutical benefits anywhere in Australia. The agreements provide the Federal Government with the confidence of effective and efficient management of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, and provide the community pharmacy sector with business stability. This enables the ongoing financial investment by pharmacy owners and lenders into community pharmacies as a health-related business in the interests of their local community.
Scope of Practice
With a constrained health budget and workforce shortages across all healthcare professions, especially in rural and remote areas, it is critical Australia optimises the productivity of our limited health resources for the benefit of patients. Enabling all health professionals to work to their full scope helps governments and communities to meet Australians’ ever-increasing health needs.
The equitable distribution of community pharmacies across Australia makes them a highly accessible healthcare destination that can be utilised to provide patients with timely access to care. Pharmacists in Australia are now delivering the kinds of services long provided by their counterparts in countries like Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. With additional training and qualifications, pharmacists are reviewing, prescribing, dispensing, and administering treatments for many everyday health conditions. They are also providing vaccinations, administering injectable medicines, and offering health screening and monitoring services within their local communities.
About Australia’s Community Pharmacy Network
Australia’s community pharmacy network is one of the most trusted and accessible parts of the health system. With more than 5,900 pharmacies across the country, Australians visit their local pharmacy over 440 million times a year. These pharmacies dispense more than 330 million prescriptions annually, provide vaccinations and medication reviews, and serve as a vital first point of care for millions of people to access treatment for everyday health conditions. Their contribution is local, personal, and professional.
During the pandemic, community pharmacies stepped up when it mattered most. They moved fast, adapted services, and provided care when other parts of the system were overwhelmed. When others closed their doors, community pharmacy remained open. Australians turned to their pharmacists not just for medicines, but for trusted advice and critical health services. The sector’s ability to pivot quickly in times of crisis showed that pharmacy is an indispensable part of the health solution.
These experiences have accelerated change. Patients now expect more convenient, connected, and timely care. With general practitioner shortages and hospital
pressure continuing, pharmacies are helping to fill the gap by offering more services, guided by robust clinical governance and supported by qualified pharmacists and pharmacy assistants. Patient-reported experience measures and patient-reported outcome measures now help ensure that these services deliver the value patients want and need.
Australia’s healthcare system thrives when its parts work together. Community pharmacy does not stand apart from the rest of the system; it works best in collaboration with doctors, nurses and allied health professionals.
By helping patients manage everyday health needs, community pharmacies free up GP time for more complex care. This collaboration is essential to a more efficient and effective health system.
As the industry continues to evolve, the Guild remains committed to supporting members with modern business practices, workforce development, and governance tools. It understands that sustainability must be built on strong foundations, and that the future must be shaped through data, accountability, and meaningful partnerships with other parts of the health sector.
The Signatories recognise that community pharmacies owned by approved pharmacists are a central part of the Australian primary health care system, and that this Agreement is designed to provide predictable remuneration for community pharmacies to support a viable, sustainable, efficient, and effective network of approved pharmacists across Australia; and share an aspirational goal that community pharmacies transition towards providing a wider range of primary healthcare services.”
Page 3, Eighth Community Pharmacy Agreement, signed 3 June 2024.
fostering a culturally safe workplace by providing cultural awareness training that acknowledges Australia’s history and its continuing impact on First Nations peoples. We have developed a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) supported by a commissioned artwork from Aboriginal artist Maggie-Jean Douglas, which features on lanyards and staff polo shirts. Indigenous artwork is displayed throughout Guild offices, and inclusive recruitment practices are promoted. The Guild also observes National Reconciliation Action Week and NAIDOC Week through various initiatives and uses First Nations-owned suppliers and catering services.
Externally, the Guild is engaged in partnerships and advisory roles that support First Nations health and representation. This includes a partnership with Symbion, to offer an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student Scholarship Initiative which encourages and supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to undertake a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree or Certificate III in Community Pharmacy.
and the establishment of the Guild’s Indigenous Health Strategy and First Nations Advisory Sub-committee. Further involvement includes representation on the QCPP Impartiality Subcommittee and membership of Close The Gap, a coalition of 53 member organisations fighting for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander justice.
The visual story recognises the long history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia and reflects the Pharmacy Guild’s intention to continue walking alongside First Nations communities to support improved health outcomes and economic empowerment through community pharmacy.
Surrounding this are U-shapes which symbolise people – Guild members, pharmacy owners, staff, and patients. This central motif reflects community and collaboration.
Leading out from the central meeting place are pathways, representing the Guild’s journey, outreach and connection to all corners of the nation — from remote areas to cities — and all the communities in between. Smaller meeting places represent community pharmacies around Australia. These are places of health, healing, and connection.
The blue tones reflect health and healing, while the use of warm colours represents the energy and strength of the people and communities the Guild works with.
The artist, Maggie-Jean Douglas is a proud Gubbi Gubbi artist from Sunshine Coast of Queensland. Maggie-Jean grew up on Goreng Goreng Country and has been based on Ngunnawal Country in recent years.
Often described as a “proud Murri,” Maggie-Jean’s Indigenous identity deeply informs her artistic vision. At the centre of this artwork is a large meeting place which represents the Guild.
Maggie-Jean Douglas
Artist
About Towards 2035
Towards 2035 is the Pharmacy Guild’s strategic plan for the next decade. It is a bold and practical response to the lessons of the pandemic, the challenges of workforce shortages, and the increasing expectations of patients and policymakers. It outlines a clear vision: that our communities will think pharmacy first for healthcare.
The plan is shaped by extensive consultation with members, elected officials, patients and staff. It is grounded in sound business principles and aligned with international standards, including the OECD’s findings on the need for more integrated and efficient primary care. It reflects a profession ready to lead and a network ready to deliver.
The strategy is anchored by four focus areas:
1
Patient Services and Innovation
Expanding pharmacist-led care through digital health, full scope of practice and better integration with other providers, while improving outcomes through Patient Reported Experience Measures (PREMs) and Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs).
2
Member Services, Value, and Engagement
Strengthening business practices, governance and member support to ensure that every community pharmacy can thrive and deliver consistent, high-quality care.
3
4 Advocacy and Partnerships
Elevating the voice of pharmacy and building strong alliances across the health system to create a more connected, patient-focused model of care.
A Thriving Community Pharmacy Network
Securing long-term future-ready community pharmacies through equitable access, workforce growth, a competitive supply chain and ongoing public-private partnership.
Towards 2035 Focus Areas
Towards 2035 is a plan built on trust, shaped by evidence, and designed to deliver. It recognises that true value lies in healthier patients, stronger communities, and a well-supported pharmacy profession. It is the next step in a journey that has already begun with innovation, with collaboration, and with the courage to create a better future for all Australians.
The Towards 2035 Journey
The development of Towards 2035 was shaped by an extensive and inclusive consultation process. To establish a strong foundation, leading external experts 11eight, Callida, Insightfully, and National Advisory were engaged to examine the strategic environment, including emerging risks, socio-economic trends, healthcare preferences, and organisational effectiveness.
Building on these insights, the Guild led an eight-month national consultation from November 2024 to June 2025, involving more than 1,100 survey responses and 400 workshop participants at in-person events. Contributors represented every state and territory, from metropolitan, regional, rural, and remote areas, and included Members, National Councillors, Branch Committee, Guild staff and industry stakeholders. This broad engagement ensured Towards 2035 reflects the real-world needs, ambitions and diversity of Australia’s community pharmacy sector.
Shared Vision
This plan represents a unified vision for community pharmacy, outlining our collective aspirations for the future, along with the strategic priorities, practical actions, and measures of success that will guide us. This strategy goes beyond strengthening the role of community pharmacies in primary care; it speaks to our ambition to build healthier, more connected communities, support a sustainable workforce, and foster excellence across the profession.
Implementing the Plan
We will work alongside members, governments and sector partners to remove barriers, embrace new opportunities, and champion the role of community pharmacy in delivering accessible, patient-directed care.
We call on all stakeholders across jurisdictions and across sectors to stand behind this vision. Realising its full potential will require a nation-wide effort that aligns policy, funding, and systems with the future of healthcare and the needs of every community.
“The Guild will lead a collaborative and structured approach to bring this plan to life. We will invest in data, evidence and innovation to support implementation and policy reform.”
Tracking Progress
Quarterly reporting will measure progress towards the plan, tracking key indicators, sector trends, and milestones. These reviews will provide transparency, drive continuous improvement and ensure we hold ourselves accountable. We will also review and refine the plan over time, ensuring it remains responsive to a changing landscape and the priorities of those we serve.
Community Pharmacy Impact
Delivering for Patients
219+million
Community Pharmacy in Action
5,900+
63,335
373.74
74,400+
Working Together for Patients
Guided by Towards 2035, the Guild envisions a future shaped by shared purpose and evolving partnerships. As we move forward, our journey will be enriched by the insights, innovation, and energy of collaborators across sectors from suppliers and universities to governments, peak bodies, and communities. Together, we’ll explore new possibilities, foster growth, and support a thriving pharmacy workforce, all while staying true to the vision we have set.
Community Pharmacists’ Journey to being Qualified Prescribers
Training pharmacists as prescribing practitioners is a critical step in transforming community pharmacy into a cornerstone of modern, accessible, primary healthcare. Our strategic vision includes a bold goal: to have 80% of Australian community pharmacists qualified as prescribing pharmacists by 2035.
This is central to our purpose to create healthier communities by enhancing timely access to high quality expert care.
Over the next few years, the prescribing qualification will be embedded into the base registerable pharmacy degree, ensuring every new graduate enters the profession with the clinical capabilities to prescribe safely and effectively.
This will encourage new enrolments in pharmacy— whether that be school leavers or individuals making a career-change.
The Guild wants community pharmacy to be a flexible and inclusive profession that supports modern family life, diversity, and career mobility. The prescribing pathway opens opportunities for pharmacists to work autonomously, build deeper clinical relationships with patients, and practice to their full scope. Importantly, it positions community pharmacy to be the preferred clinical setting for new pharmacy graduates.
Additionally, the newly endorsed Doctor of Pharmacy title will elevate pharmacists alongside their peers in comparable professions such as physiotherapy and dentistry. It will provide international reciprocity, allowing graduates to gain experience abroad and return with enriched skills—strengthening the Australian healthcare system.
Ultimately, training pharmacists as prescribers is about putting patients first, future-proofing the profession, and delivering better care to Australian communities.
Our goals are both ambitious and achievable. Towards 2035, charts a path for 80% of community pharmacies to be delivering Full Scope of Practice and 80% of community pharmacists to be qualified to prescribe by 2035.
Community Pharmacies as Holistic Primary Healthcare Destinations
The Guild is committed to ensuring community pharmacists across every state and territory are supported to work to their full scope of practice. This is not just a professional evolution—it is essential to building healthier communities.
Our vision is clear: by 2035, 80% of Australia’s community pharmacies will be delivering full scope of practice services. This is central to placing the patient at the heart of everything we do in community pharmacy.
Delivering care for more than 22 common acute and chronic health conditions means patients can access fast, affordable, and trusted care locally. That’s exactly what Australians are asking for: more accessible, community-based healthcare.
At a time when frontline services like general practice and hospital emergency departments are under pressure, community pharmacy stands ready to help. By expanding the scope of practice, pharmacists can play a greater role in supporting continuity of care, reducing system strain, and improving patient outcomes.
For community pharmacies, scope of practice also offers enhanced thrivability. It creates a valuable new service stream highly complementary to dispensing, deepens relationships with patients, and enhances the clinical role of pharmacists as primary health providers.
Ultimately, embracing full scope of practice is about modernising the profession, responding to the community’s needs, and ensuring community pharmacy remains a vital, responsive, and future-ready part of Australia’s primary healthcare system.
Focus Area 1: Patient Services and Innovation
Putting Patients First Through Accessible, Innovative Care
Community pharmacies are often the first place Australians turn to for healthcare, and for good reason. With their trusted expertise, local presence and deep understanding of patient needs, pharmacists are uniquely positioned to deliver timely, personalised care. This focus area is about expanding the services patients can access through their pharmacy, from everyday health advice to advanced clinical care, digital health solutions and full scope of practice.
By embracing innovation and strengthening clinical governance, we ensure patients receive safe, high-quality care that meets their evolving expectations. This benefits not only patients, who gain more convenient and connected care, but also pharmacists, who are empowered to work to their full potential, and practices, which become more integrated within the broader health system. Ultimately, this focus area helps build healthier communities by placing patients at the centre of care.
Focus Area 1: Patient Services and Innovation
Aim Statement:
To advance patient-directed care through innovative pharmacy services and the critical cognitive practice of dispensing. Community pharmacy delivers accessible, high quality, and effective care by embracing new technologies, expanding professional services, and fostering collaboration across the healthcare system to improve health outcomes for patients.
Strategy
1. Supporting safe patient access and use of appropriate medication through community pharmacists’ trusted medication management expertise, counselling and accessibility.
2. Focus on the evolving health and wellness needs of all patients, to create healthier communities.
3. To be the first port of call for primary healthcare services through the adoption of full scope of practice.
4. Demonstrate and deliver high quality clinical governance in all settings.
5. Demonstrate and respond to emerging technology trends and educate members on best-in-market solutions to enhance patient care and health professional collaboration.
Outcomes
Increase patient access to effective, affordable and safe medications while ensuring community pharmacies are locally owned and operated by highly trained community pharmacists.
Strengthen the role of community pharmacy in the provision of everyday health services, medication management and medication adherence.
Expand community pharmacy professional service innovations delivering improved community health outcomes.
Increase patient uptake of existing and new community pharmacy services and programs tailored to patient needs.
Full scope of practice adoption and harmonisation to the highest level across all jurisdictions, enabling pharmacists to provide primary health care services to all patients, no matter where they live.
Advance the integration of community pharmacy in health networks and deliver efficient triage and referral to other healthcare professionals.
Continued implementation and adoption of a recognised and accredited clinical governance framework for community pharmacy.
Improve patient safety and clinical outcomes through high-quality clinical governance practices.
Enable members to shift from provider centred to patient-directed care and improve patient satisfaction and engagement through Patient Reported Experience Measures (PREMs) and Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs).
Increase member awareness and adoption of digital health technologies, aligned with government policy and industry-led solutions, to enable seamless integration and enhanced patient care.
Improve patient outcomes through digital health initiatives which deliver patient-directed health solutions.
Focus Area 2: Member Services, Value, and Engagement
Empowering Members to Thrive in a Changing Healthcare Landscape
This focus area is about supporting members to succeed. As healthcare evolves, so too must the tools, resources and support available to pharmacy owners and teams. This includes best-in-class workplace relations advice, governance frameworks and business solutions that help members navigate complexity and deliver consistent, high-quality care.
By investing in member engagement, education and operational excellence, we ensure that every community pharmacy is equipped to thrive. This benefits pharmacists by strengthening their businesses and professional confidence, and benefits patients by ensuring their local pharmacy remains a reliable and trusted source of care. A strong, well-supported membership base is essential to the sustainability of the entire community pharmacy network.
Focus Area 2: Member Services, Value, and Engagement
Aim Statement:
To focus on members as the core purpose of the Guild by delivering industry leading, innovative, and accessible business practice solutions, advice, and engaging events and communications. To continue the pursuit of governance excellence.
Strategy
1. Deliver industry-leading workplace relations advice and practice support.
2. Provide members with frameworks, implementation assistance and education for regulatory compliance, quality assurance, and clinical governance.
3. Deliver members access to high quality practice support services and solutions to help community pharmacies thrive.
4. Attract, empower, and retain members through relevant, consistent, and timely engagement.
5. Strengthen pharmacy regulations across all states and territories to ensure patient choice and access is guaranteed.
6. Be an organisation focused on continuous improvement, robust governance, and compliance together with financial and operational success.
Outcomes
Exemplary industrial relations services and support enabling members to navigate compliance and workplace complexities.
Support members to strengthen workforce attraction and retention through best practice workplace policies.
Equip members with industry leading frameworks and education materials for compliance, governance, and quality assurance.
Robust patient safety standards with increased member confidence in consistent regulatory compliance and excellence.
Support members through future-focused practice tools, information, workforce strategies, and enhanced technology awareness and integration.
Develop innovative solutions and partnerships that advance community pharmacy thrivability and service expansion.
Increase member empowerment and activation through dedicated growth and retention strategies and engagement opportunities.
A connected and engaged member community fostering collaboration and communication.
Enhance and standardise pharmacy regulatory frameworks supporting only pharmacist-owned community pharmacies and patient choice.
Maintain and enhance accessibility of pharmacy services to meet diverse patient need via location rules.
Invest in our people, technology, and operations to foster a high-performing organisation built for long-term success.
Optimise assets, governance, and strategic initiatives and investments to reduce reliance on membership fees and evolve the Guild’s role.
Focus Area 3: Advocacy and Partnerships
Championing Pharmacy as a Pillar of Australia’s Health System
Community pharmacy is a vital contributor to Australia’s primary healthcare system. With growing public trust, expanded scope of practice and stronger integration across the health sector, pharmacists are well positioned to do even more for patients and the system as a whole. This is about harnessing that momentum, advocating for policy reform, building strategic partnerships, and promoting the unique value of pharmacy to improve health outcomes and system efficiency.
By working collaboratively with governments, health organisations, and industry stakeholders, we aim to strengthen the role of community pharmacy in delivering accessible, high-quality care. These partnerships help unlock new opportunities for pharmacists to contribute to public health, support diverse communities, and reduce pressure on other parts of the system.
This focus area benefits patients by improving access and equity, supports pharmacists by expanding their professional opportunities, and strengthens the healthcare system by fostering collaboration and innovation.
Focus Area 3: Advocacy and Partnerships
Aim Statement:
To advance, promote, and demonstrate the value and opportunity community pharmacy provides to patients and governments as an essential component of Australia’s primary health infrastructure. Develop and collaborate on game-changing partnerships, which enhance patient outcomes.
Strategy
1. Advocate with influence on behalf of patients, members and community pharmacy.
2. Embrace mutually beneficial partnerships that strengthen Australia’s health systems and promote positive health outcomes.
3. Deliver direct-to-patient promotion of the unique value and vital services delivered by community pharmacy, pharmacists, and pharmacy assistants.
Outcomes
Successful policy outcomes that reinforce and advance community pharmacy as a key pillar of primary healthcare.
Elevate member and public awareness of strategic collaboration with other health and community organisations, government, and industry stakeholders.
Strong alliances with health and community organisations, governments, and industry stakeholders.
Improve public awareness, trust, and value of community pharmacists, pharmacy assistants and their contribution to primary health care.
Increase brand reputation and trust in community pharmacy, pharmacists, and pharmacy assistants.
4. Demonstrate how thriving community pharmacies are in the best interests of patients, stakeholders, and governments.
5. Drive initiatives and partnerships that enhance an equitable, inclusive, and culturally competent community pharmacy industry to support all patients.
Increase recognition of community pharmacies’ evolving role in affordable, timely, and equitable access to primary health care.
Strengthen access to primary health services for remote, diverse, and marginalised communities.
Support programs and initiatives that foster workforce diversity and cultural competence, and strengthen equitable access for all patients.
Focus Area 4: A Thriving Community Pharmacy Network
Building a Future-ready, Equitable, and Resilient Community Pharmacy Sector
Australia’s community pharmacy network is one of the most trusted and accessible parts of the health system. To maintain and grow this vital infrastructure, we must ensure pharmacies are supported by fair regulation, growing funding, and a competitive supply chain. This focus area is about securing the long-term thrivability of the network through strong public–private partnerships and workforce development.
Investing in the people, systems, and policies that underpin community pharmacy ensures that patients, no matter where they live, can access high-quality care. This benefits the entire healthcare industry by strengthening primary care delivery, improving health equity and ensuring that community pharmacy continues to play a central role in Australia’s health future.
Focus Area 4: A Thriving Community Pharmacy Network
Aim Statement:
To ensure patients have equitable access to a network of local community pharmacies that provide medicines, primary health care services, and health consumables delivered by pharmacists and pharmacy assistants. To secure a thriving partnership between community pharmacy and governments that delivers more direct patient benefits and healthier communities.
Strategy
1. Negotiate Commonwealth and state government agreements that enhance patient access and deliver a fair return to members for their role as healthcare professionals.
2. Community pharmacy to play a leading role in the provision of primary healthcare services.
3. Foster a community pharmacy supply chain characterised by competition and low market concentration.
4. Deliver a fit-for-purpose industrial relations framework that meets the changing needs of the community pharmacy industry.
Outcomes
Regulation and remuneration that strengthens community pharmacies, recognises their unique medicines knowledge, health service delivery, and their role in primary health care.
Deliver new funded services to community pharmacy to complement existing Commonwealth and state government agreements.
A stronger role for community pharmacists in public health initiatives, the treatment of everyday health conditions and long-term condition management (chronic diseases).
Increase market resilience and sustainability within the whole pharmacy sector.
A competitive and accessible pharmacy supply chain supporting patient care and the needs of community pharmacies.
5. Grow, retain, and nurture a highly skilled workforce across Australia that exceeds the expectations of patients and members.
Effectively influence industrial and workplace relations matters to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes.
Develop and publish a comprehensive workforce development plan for community pharmacy.
Improve workforce sustainability through structured career advancement, attraction, and retention strategies.
From the Executive Director
Where to From Here
Success is not optional. Fulfilment of this strategic plan is the embodiment of the Guild’s commitment to our members, facilitating the steady evolution of the primary care network and contributing to healthier communities across Australia. We know we need to be a little better tomorrow than we are today.
Towards 2035 is not only a vision. It is a coordinated, measurable, and deliberate plan of action. It reflects the priorities set by our members and is built to be implemented. Every outcome we pursue will be supported by a clear operational framework, aligned internal systems, and a strong governance model that ensures accountability, responsiveness, and results. Our approach is grounded in authenticity and shaped by the real needs of those we serve.
The Guild is committed to community pharmacy’s longterm success as a central pillar of Australia’s primary healthcare system. This means attracting and developing the best people, building an inclusive and connected culture where collaboration thrives, and fostering a shared commitment to excellence. We are investing in our people, encouraging innovation, and securing the Guild’s future to grow alongside the evolving healthcare landscape we represent.
Since 1927, the Guild has proudly served community pharmacy, and we continue to honour the trust our members place in us. We operate with fiscal responsibility and strategic discipline, always guided by the understanding that we are stewards of members’ contributions and community equity. Every decision we make is rooted in purpose and aligned with our values as we work to advance community pharmacy, support patients, and strengthen primary care in Australia.
The Guild is a connected, capable, and prestigious organisation, and we aim to be an employer of choice for those who want to make a meaningful difference. Our people bring authenticity, energy, and purpose to their work, and we are committed to creating a workplace where they thrive.
“This strategy sets an ambitious course for community pharmacy.”
The Guild’s role is to ensure we have the systems, the talent, and the momentum to stay that course. Through aligned operations, strong partnerships, and a deep connection to our members, we will deliver Towards 2035
Towards 2035 is more than a plan, it’s the path to create healthier communities no matter where you live.
Gerard Benedet Executive Director The Pharmacy Guild of Australia
