Advertise on podcast: The AJP Podcast

Caps on the number of HMRs pharmacists can provide are stifling the profession’s capacity to prevent patients from being hospitalised, the AJP Podcast hears  Consultant Pharmacist of the Year Kelly Abbott has told AJP Podcast host Carlene McMaugh that caps on the Home Medicines Review (HMR) program are “disincentivising things”  Based in one of Australia’s most unhealthy regions, Gippsland, Abbott called on politicians to spend some time with her to see the challenges the current policy creates.   ” Last month, 59 referrals from GPs arrived in my inbox,” she said.  “I desperately would love to see all of those people, and I have got the time. I work so many other roles to fill my time. Why can’t I turn that time into these positive outcomes, reduce the hospitalisations for these people, focus on making us Australia’s second, then third, then fourth, then one day if I’m magical, least unhealthy area?   “I don’t think I’ll ever get there, but I would love to be able to make a difference, and I’m stifled right now because the suggestion is that we can make patients pay for a home medication review.  “Sure, some of them can afford it, but some of my regions are just so socioeconomically disadvantaged – this is not a priority for them,” Abbott said.  “Our food banks are struggling to keep up with the demand. We’re seeing increased crime because they can’t afford things in our local area.   “We need to fund things like this to help them afford their medicines, use the right medicines, and stay out of hospital to get them back into employment if we can. This is so important, this service. We’re not asking for much. We’re asking for reality to be brought into policy.”  Our key points include:   Recruitment and retention challenges in regional and rural areas (1 minute 32)  Practising in the GP setting (4:03)  Working alongside community pharmacy (5:10)  The La Trobe Valley – Australia’s unhealthiest place (6:44)  “I’m choosing to live here because they need people like me” (7:49)  GPs are gaining confidence in pharmacists’ advice (8:53)  Supporting the general practice team (13:41)  Pharmacist prescribing (15:56)  “We need to encourage our younger pharmacists to give rural a go” (18:21)  Treating heart failure (19:56)  What happens when the funding runs out (22:06)    You can access the full transcript of this podcast here. While we endeavour to ensure all important words and phrases are correct, please note there may be some minor inaccuracies in the transcription. ACCESS PODCAST TRANSCRIPT Go here for the full list of active AJP podcasts. These can also be accessed via Apple Podcasts and Spotify  Carlene McMaugh

It is nearly impossible to find someone with an understanding of rural pharmacy at the meetings where decisions are made, Heather Volks tells the AJP Podcast  AJP Podcast host, Carlene McMaugh, discusses life as a rural pharmacist with Charles Darwin University’s pharmacy lead, Associate Professor Heather Volks.   Logistical challenges are hindering pharmacists working in rural and remote areas from sharing their experiences with the profession’s peak bodies, Volks says.   “We… as the profession, we haven’t allowed rural pharmacy to grow,” she said.   “And I think a lot of that is because our lobbying bodies, our policymakers don’t have active participating rural pharmacists on committees… these people can’t take an hour out of their pharmacy day to join a teleconference.  “If they want to go to a face-to-face meeting, they can’t logistically get there, and so to find someone that really understands rural pharmacy at the table at a high level meeting is nearly impossible.   “And so we’re not getting a true representation of what people on the ground know they need – that voice is not getting through to people that can actually make a difference.”  Other key topics include:  Professional isolation (2 minutes 08)  Drivers of workforce maldistribution (4:15)  Lack of understanding of how well-trained pharmacists are (7:54)  Rural pharmacies are often independent stores without back office support (9:01)  Pharmacist prescribing would be an amazing boost for rural GPs, but pharmacists need to have the capacity to do it (14:20)  Rural pharmacists need funding to deliver on expanded scope of practice (16:34)  Student placements (17:52)  The rewarding side of rural pharmacy (19:51)  Doctor of Pharmacy (28:01)  Volk’s four asks:  Harmonisation of legislation (21:57)  Access to PBS funding for pharmacist prescribing (22:28)  Having a practicing rural pharmacist at the table when making policy (23:00)  New pay award that recognises the different scopes of practice that pharmacists are now working in (23:40)  You can access the full transcript of this podcast here. While we endeavour to ensure all important words and phrases are correct, please note there may be some minor inaccuracies in the transcription. ACCESS PODCAST TRANSCRIPT Go here for the full list of active AJP podcasts. These can also be accessed via Apple Podcasts and Spotify  Carlene McMaugh

Digital innovations will be “useful tools” for pharmacists going into the future, but the ability to think critically will help cement the profession’s role in healthcare, Paul Tait tells the AJP Podcast  AJP Podcast host Carlene McMaugh discusses key skills pharmacists will need going into the future, their role in palliative care and more, with the 2026 Pharmaceutical Society of Australia Pharmacist of the Year, Paul Tait.   With more than three decades of experience across multiple settings, Tait, said he was humbled to be recognised by his peers, noting the “pharmacy has been an amazing driver… to understand big parts of the health system”.   The South Australian clinician researcher noted that the profession has evolved over the years, providing new funded services including home medication reviews and playing a bigger role within multidisciplinary care teams.   Looking to the future with the emergence of AI, Tait said that “critical thinking is an important skill to have”  “I think that’s very important from where we are heading as a profession,” he told McMaugh.   “I would argue that critical thinking element is something that we can bring to the table that will help to cement us in the healthcare ecosystem.  “A good example is … [in] the research aspect of my role currently, I will look at the data and that data might be numbers of how many patients did a certain activity, or it might be words of what people’s thoughts and feelings are about an issue.   “But actually, I think with critical thinking, what you do is you actually stop and you think about, well, what are the tensions in the system?”  Other key topics include:   The skills pharmacists bring to the palliative care team (5 minutes 25)  PBS-funded ‘pharmacist bag’ to improve access to palliative care medicines (7:41)  Hurdles hindering access to specialisted pharmacist end of life care (10:04)  The role of pharmacists in supporting carers (12:25)  Use of virtual care to bridge the gap for rural and isolated patients (15:45)  Pharmacists input to multidisciplinary care (18:05)  Digital health and end of life care (20:48)  The “Tait legacy” (27:05)  You can access the full transcript of this podcast here. While we endeavour to ensure all important words and phrases are correct, please note there may be some minor inaccuracies in the transcription. ACCESS PODCAST TRANSCRIPT Go here for the full list of active AJP podcasts. These can also be accessed via Apple Podcasts and Spotify  Carlene McMaugh

Australia’s first Indigenous pharmacist, Professor Faye McMillan, speaks with AJP Podcast host Carlene McMaugh about her journey in pharmacy, the profession’s role in Closing the Gap, racism and more  Wiradjuri woman, Faye McMillan, tells the AJP Podcast that she was inspired to pursue a career as a pharmacist after working at a dispensing assistant in her local pharmacy in Trangie, NSW.   “[I] saw the contribution that the pharmacist made to the community, and the community held him in such high regard, in the sense of relationally regarded,” she said.   “It really gave me a sense of ‘in service’, and what it meant to be in service with your community… that’s why I wanted to do it – I wanted to be in service, I wanted to – at the time – go back home after studying and be the local pharmacists, which didn’t happen.”  Reflecting on becoming the first pharmacist of Aboriginal heritage, McMillan said “when somebody gets to say that they were the first, there’s a lot of things that we don’t fully appreciate until the distance of time”.   “So, to experience being the first, there was no safety net in the sense of who can I go to ask questions? What’s been the experience? How do we navigate this? Why aren’t we learning so more about indigenous peoples? Why aren’t we understanding the pharmacology of indigenous plants? Why aren’t we doing all these things?   “It was so Western and biomedical that it was a struggle, but in hindsight, one that I think certainly crafted who I am, the relationship I have to the profession, and also the relationship I have to my family.”  McMillan told the AJP Podcast that after completing her training she faced challenges in finding opportunities where she could be both an Indigenous person and a pharmacist.   “There were doors that were open if I just wanted to be Aboriginal, or there were doors that opened if I just wanted to be pharmacist, but very few doors that opened that allowed me to be both, that allowed me to be who I was,” she said.  An opportunity to embrace both side of her identity came when Australian Pharmacy Council (APC) chief executive, Bronwyn Clark, invited McMillan to work with the APC.   “It was I think that moment of acceptance that I could be both an Aboriginal woman as well as a pharmacist, and I bring knowledge of both of those systems.   “And so it started a relationship with APC that continues to this day.”  While McMillan said she has found opportunities to be here authentic self, she noted that racism remains an issue in Australia.   “You can’t be an Indigenous business owner and be successful because that doesn’t fit the stereotype of what being a business owner should look,” she said.  “Or you only get to a position because you’re Black or because they pull the race card and we have quotas that organisations want to fill.   “It’s not like I have done a master’s; I have done a doctoral qualification; I have postdoctoral qualifications. I am qualified to do the job as well as bringing that other unique set of diverse lens.  “I think the challenge for us is understanding why we’re so afraid of difference and why we want to have conforming ideas.”  Other key topics include:  Perceptions of pharmacies being retailers are holding the profession back from playing a greater role in Closing the Gap for Indigenous patients (21 minutes 35)  New guidelines for supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with medicines management (24:58)  Cultural safety in pharmacy (28:11)  Attracting more First Nations people to pursue careers in pharmacy (30:23)    You can access the full transcript of this podcast here. While we endeavour to ensure all important words and phrases are correct, please note there may be some minor inaccuracies in the transcription. ACCESS PODCAST TRANSCRIPT Go here for the full list of active AJP podcasts. These can also be accessed via Apple Podcasts and Spotify  Carlene McMaugh

This PDL podcast seeks to demystify a stressful subject: what can pharmacists do when they receive a regulatory notification? Ahpra acting executive director of Health Regulation, Monica Lambley; PDL lead pharmacist education and professional development and host of the Be Risk Ready Podcast Amy Minion; and PDL Professional Officer and chair of the Victorian Local Advisory Committee Naomi Lim discuss how important it is to understand the notification process. Minion says that “in this episode, we’ll break down what a regulatory notification is and what it isn’t,” as well as some common reasons why notifications are made – and tips for navigating the process. And does a notification always mean that a pharmacist has made an error, or something has gone wrong? PDL takes an in-depth look… Highlights include: 02:36 – What is a notification? 03:29 – Statistics on notifications 04:24 – “The first struggle is almost always emotional.” 06:36 – What a notification doesn’t mean 07:26 – What regulators are looking for in their assessment of a notification 08:52 – “This is a learning.” 10:39 – When a pharmacist reaches out to PDL 12:35 – How do practitioners show accountability and insight? 13:49 – Looking after your own wellbeing 16:24 – Why notifications do not define a practitioner 18:12 – “A really high proportion of the information that we receive relates to a miscommunication or a misunderstanding.” 20:09 – Staying ahead of risk 22:47 – The importance of seeking information You can access the full transcript of this podcast here. While we endeavour to ensure all important words and phrases are correct, please note there may be some minor inaccuracies in the transcription. ACCESS PODCAST TRANSCRIPT Go here for the full list of active AJP podcasts. These can also be accessed via Apple Podcasts and Spotify

What’s going to change with the replacement of QCPP with QSPP? The AJP Podcast asks the questions AJP Podcast host Carlene McMaugh chats with Natalie Willis, senior vice president of the Pharmacy Guild in WA, national councillor and chair of the Guild’s clinical governance committee, about the new Quality and Safety in Pharmacy Program (QSPP) framework. There’s two major themes, says Willis: what’s changing, and how. “What we’ve changed is around clinical governance and patient engagement,” she says. “The how is around the way that we’ll be assessing the program going forward.” Highlights include: 01:00 – What’s actually changing? 03:47 – How can pharmacists prepare for the change? 05:11 – “The biggest challenges in making it happen were just going through the process in a different way.” 07:23 – What feedback has the Guild received? 08:34 – “Obviously there is some trepidation out there.” 09:01 – The most frequently asked questions 10:38 – A lower administrative burden 12:44 – A goal of reducing anxiety 15:01 – “Everything is still evolving and it’s designed not to be a static process.” 16:11 – Are dedicated compliance staff needed? 18:40 – What happens to pharmacies which aren’t ready? 21:18 – What the outcome should look like 23:23 – What does the community pharmacy of 2030 look like? 25:46 – What to do now 28:31 – How to know a QSPP assessment is coming You can access the full transcript of this podcast here. While we endeavour to ensure all important words and phrases are correct, please note there may be some minor inaccuracies in the transcription. ACCESS PODCAST TRANSCRIPT Go here for the full list of active AJP podcasts. These can also be accessed via Apple Podcasts and Spotify  Carlene McMaugh

CEO of the Australian Pharmacy Council Bronwyn Clark sits down with AJP Podcast host Carlene McMaugh to talk about full scope, training, interprofessional collaboration and more “Full scope is obviously super, super important and very exciting time for us here in Australia,” Clark says. “So our role at the APC is to be the national accreditation and standard setting body for education and training for pharmacists. “And so when we are looking at how we can support full scope, it’s really top of mind for us and we’re putting a lot of work and effort into collaborating with people to do this work. “I think the key thing around the challenges with these programs has been around making sure that we have graduates who have the right level of competence and capability to be able to deliver full scope and prescribing regardless of where they are.” Highlights include 01:40 – The biggest challenges in creating agile standards 04:50 – Will accreditation be applied nationally? 06:05 – “It will be a bit like optometry.” 11:10 – Harmonising the standards 15:46 – Could the traditional four-year plus internship model be replaced? 20:46 – Ensuring potential new programs are rigorous 23:21 – A new set of learning models for preceptors and supervisors 26:17 – Changes to the intern written exam 28:22 – “You’re actually assessing someone’s competence as opposed to their ability to remember.” 30:19 – The colloquium and its focus on respectful, inclusive conversations 34:41 – Changes to accreditation for CPD activities 37:35 – Does this shift create uncertainty? 39:19 – “The APC is very committed to this strategy of embedding cultural safety” 42:37 – The APC is nominated as a finalist in the leading tech awards in Australia 45:08 – The workforce crisis You can access the full transcript of this podcast here. While we endeavour to ensure all important words and phrases are correct, please note there may be some minor inaccuracies in the transcription. ACCESS PODCAST TRANSCRIPT Go here for the full list of active AJP podcasts. These can also be accessed via Apple Podcasts and Spotify  Carlene McMaugh

In this episode of the AJP Podcast, Sally Cairnduff explains what it’s like to work for a not-for-profit pharmacy servicing a rural community – and her lessons for the profession As the general manager of not-for-profit Wonthaggi Miners’ Pharmacy in regional Victoria, Sally Cairnduff runs her pharmacy a little bit differently.  “Profit is not the goal in itself,” she tells AJP Podcast host Carlene McMaugh. “Instead, we’re more interested in supporting our community and improving their health and wellbeing. So it’s a little bit different to other pharmacy models where all funds are either reinvested into the pharmacy to improve access and quality of care or donated to community initiatives.” Cairnduff tells McMaugh how else the pharmacy supports locals and how she manages staff shortages in a regional community.  Other highlights include: 3.15 – How the pharmacist gives back to the community. 5.45 – Helping patients who are ‘missed’ in the traditional healthcare system. 7.02 – Contributing to the community in other ways, such as supporting the arts scene. 8.12 – The pharmacy’s membership model. 14.22 – How the community reacted to automated dispensing. 20.26 – Investing in pharmacists. You can access the full transcript of this podcast here. While we endeavour to ensure all important words and phrases are correct, please note there may be some minor inaccuracies in the transcription. ACCESS PODCAST TRANSCRIPT Go here for the full list of active AJP podcasts. These can also be accessed via Apple Podcasts and Spotify  Carlene McMaugh

Former PSA national president, Associate Professor Fei Sim, reflects on the society’s evolution during her term, and looks to the future on the latest episode of our podcast  AJP Podcast host Carlene McMaugh sits down with the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia’s immediate past president, Associate Professor Fei Sim, to discuss her time at the helm, and what the future holds for the organisation.  Having broken through the glass ceiling to become the PSA’s first female leader, Sim led the society through a transformative period, securing a heads of agreement for the First Pharmacy Practice Agreement, and the acquisition of the Australasian College of Pharmacy.  Highlights include:  1min 28 – A presidency was based on teamwork  2.20 – Succession – Professor Mark Naunton is “the prefect leader… to take the PSA into the next chapter”  4.18 – Predecessors, Dr Chris Freeman and Dr Shane Jackson woke the giant that is the PSA  7.52 – Growing the PSA’s membership  8.54 – The acquisition of the Australasian College of Pharmacy  11.22 – The PSA needs to keep the momentum going to deliver on its strategic priorities  12.33 – Growing pains in the pharmacist/GP relationship  16.24 – Health professions need to support each other to work to the top of their scope of practice  19.56 – Translating leader diversity into better outcomes  22.56 – The First Pharmacy Practice Agreement  29.54 – Breaking the glass ceiling to become the first female president of the PSA  34.11 – Looking to the future in a new role with the AMH  38.32 – Addressing unfinished business.    You can access the full transcript of this podcast here. While we endeavour to ensure all important words and phrases are correct, please note there may be some minor inaccuracies in the transcription. ACCESS PODCAST TRANSCRIPT Go here for the full list of active AJP podcasts. These can also be accessed via Apple Podcasts and Spotify  Carlene McMaugh

AJP Podcast host Carlene McMaugh discusses cybersecurity in 2026 – including why pharmacists need to consider themselves data stewards She sits down with PSA’s digital health lead and pharmacist Jarrod McMaugh to discuss everything from why criminals target small businesses, how to tell the difference between a legitimate communication from a GP or wholesaler and a data theft attempt, and pharmacists’ obligations to their patients when it comes to privacy. The two discuss why the greater amount of data now collected and shared could leave a “back door” open to cyber threats – and why you should never pay a ransom if you’ve been targeted. Highlights include 01:03 – Why is community pharmacy a high-value target for cybercriminals? 02:52 – Protection and prevention 06:25 – The common weak links in pharmacy digital infrastructure 07:58 – Spot the difference: legitimate requests and data theft attempts 10:31 – Pharmacies’ responsibilities under the Australian Privacy Principle 11 13:28 – Legal and professional obligations if a breach occurs 20:34 – “Every health service in the country must have a policy around their access to My Health Records.” 23:33 – Privacy considerations around the Pharmacists Shared Medicines List 27:01 – The top three non-negotiable digital hygiene habits 28:53 – The role of software vendors 31:49 – How do shared records raise privacy and cyber threat concerns? 33:42 – The role of professional indemnity insurers 36:21 – The role of the PSA You can access the full transcript of this podcast here. While we endeavour to ensure all important words and phrases are correct, please note there may be some minor inaccuracies in the transcription. ACCESS PODCAST TRANSCRIPT Go here for the full list of active AJP podcasts. These can also be accessed via Apple Podcasts and Spotify  Carlene McMaugh

Decisions around the adoption of AI in healthcare need input from those who will be using it, hospital pharmacist Ella Shearing says  AJP Podcast host Carlene McMaugh sits down with clinical pharmacist Ella Shearing, of Locumate, to discuss the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in pharmacy.  A survey conducted by Shearing at a Sydney hospital found pharmacists were receptive to using the new technology (2 minutes 30), but understanding of AI was mixed (3:26).   Shearing noted that while AI is already being used by pharmacists and other health practitioners for administrative tasks (7:03), decisions regarding how it is implemented need to take the views of frontline workers into account (16:13).  “Just because we can adopt AI tools doesn’t mean we should,” Shearing told McMaugh (17:12).   Highlights include:  3:35 – Environmental costs of AI not well understood  9:25 – Barriers to taking AI into the clinical space  10:41 – Lack of transparency around AI software fuels hesitancy among some pharmacists  13:16 – High costs mean AI is unlikely to replace existing drug interaction software  14:25 – Integrating AI into electronic medical record systems (EMRs) “could be quite useful”  21:15 – AI could be used to generate medication charts for patients to take home and for providing information about Webster pack changes with patients’ community pharmacies  22:15 – The best way to learn about AI is to use it  25:12: Development of guidelines and policies will be key to ensuring the safe and ethical use of AI in healthcare settings  26:14 – Pharmacists currently using AI are conservative about how they use it.   You can access the full transcript of this podcast here. While we endeavour to ensure all important words and phrases are correct, please note there may be some minor inaccuracies in the transcription. ACCESS PODCAST TRANSCRIPT Go here for the full list of active AJP podcasts. These can also be accessed via Apple Podcasts and Spotify  Carlene McMaugh

Vaccination will always be the “inaugural proof point for full scope,” says “the Vaccination Pharmacist” In this episode of the AJP Podcast, host Carlene McMaugh sits down with Anna Theophilos, who takes listeners through her journey into an educator on social media – and how to cut through misinformation about vaccines. Discussing the importance of communicating about the risks of influenza, especially for people aged over 50, and RSV, Theophilos says that the public already know and trust pharmacists as vaccinators. “What needs to shift is not necessarily public perception, but it’s the system’s willingness to formally recognise what pharmacists already are, which we are immunisation leaders,” she says – noting that this also means appropriate remuneration and a new look at vaccinating outside community pharmacies. Highlights include 01:23 – Theophilos’ mission 02:10 – From a “very sad Facebook page” to effective social media communication 04:30 – Where Theophilos gets ideas for content 05:45 – “I actually think the public is already ahead of the system on this one.” 09:04 – How she plans to work with the PSA to advocate for legislative change to support pharmacist immunisers 10:10 – System and funding barriers 12:55 – Work in aged care 14:30 – How can a busy community pharmacy integrate high volume vaccination programs without compromising safety or staff wellbeing? 16:49 – Ensuring financial viability 19:38 – High-level discussions 21:40 – Collaborating with local GPs 26:07 – “Vaccination will always be the inaugural proof point for full scope.” 28:19 – Advice for ECPs 30:51 – The most common vaccine myth Theophilos debunks 32:32 – “I’d make every vaccine funded.” 33:27 – A call to action You can access the full transcript of this podcast here. While we endeavour to ensure all important words and phrases are correct, please note there may be some minor inaccuracies in the transcription. ACCESS PODCAST TRANSCRIPT Go here for the full list of active AJP podcasts. These can also be accessed via Apple Podcasts and Spotify  Carlene McMaugh

Do pharmacists have a bigger role to play recognising and supporting patients with mental health concerns? The AJP Podcast discusses the matter with Claire O’Reilly Australia’s pharmacists have a frontline role in triaging patients who are struggling, but more training is needed across the profession, the AJP Podcast has heard.  Pharmacist and Associate Professor at the University of Sydney School of Pharmacy, Claire O’Reilly, has been a researching the evolving role of pharmacists in the mental health space for some time. She has become an advocate for further education and training.  “I think we do need to really work at improving the communication skills to make people feel comfortable,” she told Carlene McMaugh.  “If someone does say that they’re not okay, then what? That’s the critical next step.” Other highlights include:  4.01: A distressing incident that highlighted the need for further education.  5.58: The importance of mental health training.  10.03: Signs or cues someone may be struggling.  15.00: Creating a safe, non-judgmental space.  19.19: Medications management.  21.32: Essential steps pharmacists can take.  23.02: Referral services.  26.00: How pharmacists can manage their own mental health and burnout.  Pharmacists can contact the Pharmacists’ Support Service (PSS) on 1300 244 910 for peer support related to the demands of being a pharmacist in Australia. Lifeline is available on 13 11 14. Members can call PDL on 1300 854 838 for support from a professional officer. For urgent assistance or in an emergency please do not hesitate to contact emergency services on 000. You can access the full transcript of this podcast here. While we endeavour to ensure all important words and phrases are correct, please note there may be some minor inaccuracies in the transcription. ACCESS PODCAST TRANSCRIPT Go here for the full list of active AJP podcasts. These can also be accessed via Apple Podcasts and Spotify  Carlene McMaugh

“Legislation and practice aren’t necessarily keeping up with the universities,” says a leading pharmacy student, discussing the future of the sector Sebastian Harper, national president at the National Australian Pharmacy Students’ Association (NAPSA), chats with AJP Podcast host Carlene McMaugh about scope of practice, the importance of making pharmacy friends and placement poverty. Harper says that universities are already ahead of the game when it comes to expansion of pharmacy practice. “I think things like legislation and practise aren’t necessarily keeping up with the universities,” he says. “The unis are pretty much almost there with having graduates ready to get out there and adapt to the new scope of practice for pharmacists, but it’s the legislation, it’s the scope of practice programs.” While some states are ahead of others, “some are falling a bit behind,” he warns. “And it’s actually, I think, students that are really ready to undertake these services. Obviously, we do need that extra training, but compared to the pharmacists who graduated 20 years ago, not as much extra training and not as much extra knowledge and skill with what we’re learning. “It’s really about the profession actually continuing to push the government, continuing to push each other to make sure that practise actually is adapting to what students are ready to do from graduation and from when they finish internship.” Highlights include: 00:56 – Discussing placement poverty with decision-makers 02:45 – Talking to patients in full scope consultations 05:42 – Skill gaps between study and practice 07:21 – Stories from NAPSA Congress 09:14 – The surprise changes of 2025 11:00 – NAPSA goals 14:23 – “Students don’t necessarily realise the power that they have in their profession.” 17:28 – Core competencies needed for future success 21:29 – NAPSA’s long-term vision 25:32 – The most-needed skill in 2026 26:55 – A deeper look at placement poverty 29:21 – Key questions when interviewing for an internship 32:31 – Staying centred during internship 34:48 – “Get involved in NAPSA.” You can access the full transcript of this podcast here. While we endeavour to ensure all important words and phrases are correct, please note there may be some minor inaccuracies in the transcription. ACCESS PODCAST TRANSCRIPT Go here for the full list of active AJP podcasts. These can also be accessed via Apple Podcasts and Spotify  Carlene McMaugh

PSA’s new president flags changes to the profession, with priorities including the negotiation of the pharmacy programs agreement, the new Code of Ethics and the College transition AJP podcast host Carlene McMaugh sits down for a chat with Pharmaceutical Society of Australia national president Mark Naunton, who says that he has “great confidence” in how the agreement’s negotiations are taking place. “There’s a number of things that we’ll be advocating strongly for, and our credentialed pharmacist need to know that they are at the forefront of our minds. “When we are doing these negotiations, our credentialed pharmacists have a great impact in trying to improve patient safety, which is, as medicine safety is as national health priority area, all pharmacists have a responsibility to do this, but under the first PPA, our credentialed pharmacist, those pharmacists doing HMRs, RMMRs, they do need special attention. “There’s been years where they’ve had no increase in their pay. They’re limited by the amount of work they can do, and we know that they do great work, but not all patients are getting benefit from these because there’s caps, for example, on the amount of HMRs that they can do. “So we’ll be strongly advocating for things like removal of caps, indexation of payments, back pay for programs that have not had increases in pay over the last five or six years.’ Highlights include: 01:36 – The sector’s biggest recent achievement 03:36 – How is PSA supporting upskilling as scope expands? 08:36 – Unifying the profession 11:12 – The impact of work on focus areas like palliative care, mental health first aid and vaping reform 14:18 – The Code of Ethics review 17:13 – Advocating for the funding of professional services 21:43 – Key goals for career pathways 24:02 – Naunton’s plans for his first term 28: 23 – PSA’s 2025 achievements 31:02 – What does 2026 hold in store for pharmacists and the PSA? You can access the full transcript of this podcast here. While we endeavour to ensure all important words and phrases are correct, please note there may be some minor inaccuracies in the transcription. ACCESS PODCAST TRANSCRIPT Go here for the full list of active AJP podcasts. These can also be accessed via Apple Podcasts and Spotify  Carlene McMaugh