Late 2024 saw us formalise our relationship with the Pharmacy Guild of Australia (PGA) and begin working even more closely together.
The two Guild’s have enjoyed a close working relationship for many years, and formalising this with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed in October 2024, was the natural next step.
We recognised that our combined capabilities will better enable us to develop and offer solutions to our respective members, as well as patients, government and other stakeholders.
Prior to the MoU being signed, members saw us begin working more closely, with the launch of this joint publication, Australasian Pharmacy, in May 2024, focused on providing business and clinical content for community pharmacy owners in both countries.
Launch of Australasian College of Pharmacy in New Zealand
Another highlight of our new closer working relationship was the launch of the Australasian College of Pharmacy (College) in New Zealand in December 2024, with all Guild members in New Zealand receiving complimentary access to the College, something which members in Australia already enjoy and benefit from.
This will allow our members to meet their CPD requirements, expand their scope of practice and upskill to provide additional services.
We are delighted to offer this incredible benefit to our members, giving them access to hundreds of CPD activities covering clinical, business and leadership topics. This makes their Guild membership even more indispensable.
Student membership
We are currently updating our student membership offering in New Zealand. Thanks to our relationship with PGA, we will be able to extend complimentary College access to New Zealand pharmacy students, helping them to enter the workforce more informed and inspired about their pharmacy careers than ever before.
We also hope that our more frequent contact with students will help promote the many benefits of a career in community pharmacy, over the other pharmacy paths they could take, going some way to address our sectors workforce shortage.
Ongoing relationship between the Guilds’
As part of the MoU, we have agreed to work together and share information on:
- advocacy efforts and government relations
- sector related funding proposals
- pharmacy regulation
- quality use of medicines
- clinical governance including information about PGA’s QCPP quality assurance program
- advancing the pharmacy profession including scope of practice initiatives and implementation activities
- health service delivery programs
- the World Pharmacy Council.
We will also share documents, including policy documents and position statements, and work together to share and develop relevant member offerings and partnership opportunities.
Regular contact
Over the years Guild staff and board members have met regularly and worked closely together, attending events, visiting one another, presenting on the operational challenges we are each facing, and visiting pharmacies to see service developments in action.
I, along with fellow board members and Andrew Gaudin our Chief Executive, are looking forward to once again attending the Australian Pharmacy Professional (APP) conference in March. This always provides us with a great opportunity to catch up and compare notes on new policy settings, proposed practice changes, opportunities and challenges.
While at APP we will be participating in the National Council meeting and Branch Assembly meeting. We will be updating the National Council on the progress we are making in New Zealand on our key sector advocacy priorities, and the challenges we see ahead. We are particularly keen to learn more about the development and intended implementation of PGA’s next ten-year strategic plan for community pharmacy. This will ensure that both Guilds have a full understanding of each other’s current priorities and future goals.
We look forward to delivering further opportunities for community pharmacy thanks to our relationship with PGA and hope New Zealand members enjoy the additional benefits they are already receiving.