Undergraduate entry into pharmacy

For entry into undergraduate pharmacy courses in 2022, the ATAR/Selection Rank was generally in the 70s or 80s. Following is a guide for the ATAR scores or Selection Ranks for every pharmacy course in Australia in 2022:

Please note that apart from your ATAR, entry and/or placement requirements for undergraduate pharmacy may also include:

• a police check
• a working with children check
• pre-requisite subjects
• first aid training
• health checks and immunisations

It is also worth noting that some universities will accept applicants who hold a full or partial Bachelor’s degree. Some universities also have specific entry requirements for students from a rural or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background. Please check with the universities you are looking at applying to for their complete entry requirements as this varies widely across the different universities.

After completing a Bachelor’s degree in pharmacy, you are required to complete a 1-year intern training program and pass a registration examination to become a registered pharmacist.

Bachelor/Masters degree in pharmacy

The University of Sydney has a Bachelor/Master’s degree that includes the 1-year intern training program. You will still be required to pass the registration examination to become a registered pharmacist.

Graduate entry into pharmacy

Entry into postgraduate pharmacy courses will involve requirements such as a high Grade Point Average (GPA) in your undergraduate degree as well as pre-requisite subjects.

Following is a table which shows postgraduate qualifications which lead to registration as a pharmacist in Australia (following internship and passing the registration exam):

Please note that apart from your GPA and pre-requisite subjects, graduate entry and/or placement requirements for pharmacy may also include:

• a police check
• a working with children check
• first aid training
• health checks and immunisations

Current list of approved programs of study to become a pharmacist

The information presented in this article was correct at the time of publishing. Please check with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency for an up to date list of approved programs of study on the pathway to becoming a pharmacist in Australia.
If you would like to find courses to become a pharmacist:
1. Go to https://www.ahpra.gov.au/Accreditation/Approved-Programs-of-Study.aspx
2. In Profession select Pharmacist
3. In Country make the appropriate selection – for example, Australia
4. In Qualification Type select General
5. Click Search

More resources on My Health Career

• Your free guide to a career in pharmacy
• Videos about a career in pharmacy
• Two pharmacists on what they love about their job

Disclaimer

This information is general in nature and does not take into account your personal circumstances. My Health Career accepts no responsibility for ensuring that you enrol in a course that is right for you. Please do your own research to ensure that you enrol in the correct course. This may include speaking with people in the profession, a careers advisor, guidance officer, career development practitioner, representatives of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, and admissions officers from the university or universities you are looking at applying to.

The post ATAR for pharmacy – Your guide to the ATAR for every pharmacy course in Australia in 2022 appeared first on My Health Career.

Pre-budget submissions

Pharmaceutical Society of Australia

In its 2022-2023 pre-budget submission, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) advocated for 4 key measures:

• Embedding pharmacists in Residential Aged Care Facilities to improve medication management, reduce medicine-related harm, and improve quality of life for residents
• The introduction of a Medicare Benefits Schedule service payment to pharmacists for administering National Immunisation Program vaccinations including COVID-19 vaccinations
• Supporting a GP-Pharmacist Collaborative Prescribing Pilot to address workforce shortages in regional, rural and remote General Practice
• Introduce a Medicare Benefits Schedule rebate for pharmacists to be remunerated for multi-disciplinary case conferences.

Immediate Past PSA National President, A/Prof Chris Freeman, said that embedded pharmacists in Australia’s aged care workforce is well overdue.

“Ahead of next month’s Federal Budget, PSA has outlined to the Federal Government four key asks aimed at improving access to medicines and health care for Australians, particularly for residents in aged care facilities.

“As medication experts and the custodians of medicine safety, pharmacists must play an even greater role in the nation’s healthcare system by supporting aged care providers.

“PSA has been calling on the Government to provide funding for embedded pharmacists in residential aged care facilities for quite some time, to improve medication management, reduce medication-related harm, and to improve quality of life for their vulnerable residents.

“This will ensure that aged care facilities can consistently deliver a patient-centred, multidisciplinary service aimed at identifying, resolving and preventing medication-related problems such as polypharmacy and chemical restraint.

“It is crucial that service providers are allowed the flexibility to determine how they secure pharmacist services. Some facilities may choose to contract pharmacists through community pharmacies, some may choose to employ a pharmacist directly, or via a third party. It can’t be a one size fits all approach, as every facility is different.

“Every day that a pharmacist is not working alongside aged care staff in caring for older Australians, is a day residents are in danger from medication harm.

The Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia

The Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA) had 7 priorities in its 2022-2023 federal pre-budget submission:

1. Develop a more sustainable and resilient hospital pharmacy workforce.
2. Provide funding for regional and rural health services to implement Virtual Clinical Pharmacy Services (VCPS).
3. Tackle the pressures of ambulance ramping and time burdens on elective surgery wait-lists by funding Pre-Admission Partnered Pharmacist Medication Charting (PPMC) services to perform medication reconciliation and charting for emergency departments and admitting medical or surgical teams.
4. Hospital pharmacist-embedded stewardship programs for antimicrobials, anticoagulants, analgesics and antipsychotic treatments as endorsed by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC) for antimicrobial stewardship under the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards.
5. Enable Hospital Pharmacists to supply medicines to Indigenous Australians under Closing the Gap PBS Co-Payment system.
6. Embed geriatric medicine pharmacists into residential aged care facilities at 1:200 ratio.
7. Establish an Improving Sustainability in Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Industries Strategy which sets best practice and aims for hospitals, community pharmacies and industry.

SHPA Chief Executive Kristin Michaels said a strong and sustainable workforce of pharmacists and technicians was crucial to maximising benefits to the health of Australians as well as investment in healthcare.

‘As custodians of 23 per cent of PBS expenditure, Hospital Pharmacists are essential to ensuring the safe and optimal use of the scheme, which supports patient access to lifesaving medicines.

‘Pharmacy is a relatively young workforce and recent data warns of declining student interest and the closure of some pharmacy schools. SHPA recommends prioritising an updated Pharmacy Workforce Planning study – it is now 14 years since the last iteration – to inform national strategies on growing and sustaining an experienced workforce.

‘Experience is key, as embedding expert hospital pharmacist-led stewardship programs around key medicines, such as antimicrobials, anticoagulants, analgesics and antipsychotic treatments, is an important step to achieving cost-savings for the healthcare system, reductions in medicines usage and resistance and overall better health outcomes.’

Ms Michaels said focus on equity of care in rural and remote communities and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians were also top priorities in 2022.

‘Often spurred by necessity during COVID-19 lockdowns, we’ve seen evidence of successful telehealth models in rural and remote outpatient settings and SHPA recommends national funding of virtual clinical pharmacists in rural and remote areas to reduce medication-related harms and costs, improve patient outcomes and reduce burdens on rural and remote healthcare services.

‘And while a key Closing the Gap Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) Co-payment Measure is designed to help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians access low cost or free PBS medications, it currently excludes medications dispensed at discharge from public hospitals. This must change, through all hospitals in Australia, to improve equity of access of medications for Indigenous Australians as they return home.’

Ms Michaels said that Australia enters the third year of COVID-19, it was equally important to retain focus on the unfolding climate emergency in the wake of COP26.

‘A new Improving Sustainability in Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Industries Strategy is needed to improve the sustainability of our sector and mitigate and reduce the known environmental impacts from the pharmacy and pharmaceutical industry.

‘By defining best practice and aims for hospitals, community pharmacies and industry we can work together to reduce pharmaceutical wastage and environmental damage, which is rightly expected from the Australian community as the impacts of the climate emergency become more readily apparent and clearly forecast.’

Budget opinion

Pharmaceutical Society of Australia

In March 2022. the PSA welcomed the Government’s commitment to provide funding of $345.7 million to embed pharmacists in residential aged care facilities.
A/Prof Chris Freeman, PSA National President at the time the 2022-2023 federal budget was handed down, said that the announcement had been long-awaited.

“This is a win for those residents who will now have greater access to medicines experts, our pharmacists, and I have no doubt that this sentiment will be shared by the aged care sector.

“PSA has been advocating for funding to improve medicine safety in residential aged care facilities since 2018, following the establishment of the Royal Commission into Aged Care – and now, almost four years later, the Government has taken action.

“The Royal Commission into Aged Care detailed well-known issues like the overuse of psychotropic medicines, and since then, troubling data on medication misadventure has continued to emerge.

“Since the Royal Commission was established, PSA has been working closely with all governments to implement recommendations outlined in our Medicine safety: aged care report from 2020, and it is incredibly pleasing to see that our advice has been heeded.

“With more than 19,000 Australians in residential aged care prescribed antipsychotics with no indication, the level of chemical restraint must be addressed. We also know that the more medicines someone is prescribed, the more likely it is to cause harm.

“The evidence is clear – pharmacists need to be an embedded part of the aged care equation if medication misadventure is to be minimised and rectified.

“As the custodians and experts of medication safety, embedding pharmacists in aged care is the obvious solution to address the longstanding issues of polypharmacy and chemical restraint in aged care facilities. We are delighted that the Government will now invest in our pharmacist workforce to improve the quality of care for aged care residents.

“Over the next four years, this $345.7 million contribution to supporting pharmacists embedded in aged care will make a significant difference to protecting and improving the quality of life for our aged care residents. Consultation on the most suitable model will occur over the next six months.

“It is crucial that aged care service providers are allowed the flexibility to determine how they secure pharmacist services. Some facilities may choose to contract pharmacists through community pharmacies, some may choose to employ a pharmacist directly, or via a third party.

“It can’t be a one size fits all approach as every facility is different. Therefore, all of these options must be accommodated.

“We look forward to working with the Minister and the Department of Health on the implementation.” A/Prof Freeman said.

However, PSA also expressed disappointment at the government’s failure to support case conferencing and vaccinations as advocated for in the pre-budget submission.

“As it stands, pharmacists are the only health provider that the Government does not remunerate for their time and participation in case conferencing. In addition to this, pharmacists are being remunerated at a significantly lower rate than other providers for providing exactly the same vaccination services, including vaccinations against COVID-19.

“Introducing an MBS service payment to pharmacists for administering National Immunisation Program vaccines, and a separate MBS rebate for pharmacists to be remunerated for multidisciplinary case conferences, would increase consumer access to pharmacist expertise and skills.

“We welcome the Government’s commitment to funding pharmacist roles in aged care, and this initiative will present new and exciting career opportunities for Australian pharmacists. However, if these pay disparities continue to exist, it will have dire consequences on Australian healthcare, jeopardising the future of the pharmacist workforce.

“In a budget aimed at tackling the cost of living, PSA agrees with the Pharmacy Guild of Australia that reducing PBS Safety Net thresholds does not adequately address the rising cost of prescription medicines,” A/Prof Freeman said.

The Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia

The SHPA welcomed the federal government’s budget which centred on easing cost of living pressures, but warned that the announced expenditure in hospitals and pandemic preparedness will have limited impact without developing Australia’s current and future workforce of Hospital Pharmacists.

SHPA Chief Executive Kristin Michaels said ‘Managing almost a quarter of PBS expenditure, Hospital Pharmacists are crucial to its sustainability and will play a key role as $2.4b was committed over five years for new PBS medicines, subsidising access to highly specialised and complex medicines initiated and supplied in the hospital setting, including medicines to treat breast cancer, advanced colorectal cancer, cystic fibrosis and COVID-19.

‘As we work to minimise COVID-19 hospitalisations, SHPA welcomes $6m to extend COVID Community Care Pathways to support effective coordination of care in the community, where Hospital Pharmacists are intimately involved in Hospital in The Home care models to care for patients and keep them out of hospital.

‘Hospital Pharmacists also welcome the advance purchases of vital medicines to treat COVID-19 for the National Medical Stockpile, the majority of which are administered in hospitals by Hospital Pharmacists.’

Ms Michaels says almost $1b to extend the National Partnership on COVID-19 Response, coupled with multifaceted spending on hospitals and aged care, underscores the importance of developing a National Pharmacy Workforce Plan, a key election priority for the Hospital Pharmacy sector, who are experiencing recruitment challenges all across Australian hospitals, both in metropolitan and regional areas.

‘Whilst the investment into the medical workforce in Budget 2022-23 is great news for our medical colleagues, at the same time, we must look ahead and fund the training and development of expert pharmacists, and plan the Hospital Pharmacy roles Australia needs, to safely and fully realise the benefit of these investments.

Ms Michaels says Hospital Pharmacists stand ready at the frontline of Australia’s pandemic preparedness, welcoming the Federal Government’s partnership with the Victorian Government to support Moderna’s new mRNA vaccine manufacturing facility.

‘SHPA’s leading work on medicines shortages the last few years has demonstrated the risks that come with limited sovereign capability to produce and manufacture medicines on our own shores, and the establishment of this new facility is to be commended.

‘Having supported the establishment of over 500 vaccine clinics in major hospitals from Phase 1a in early 2021, our Hospital Pharmacy workforce has the expertise and experience to drive future rollouts, if and when they are required to keep Australians safe.’

Pre-federal election

The Pharmacy Guild of Australia

The National President of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Professor Trent Twomey, said the Guild looked forward to working closely and constructively with Senator Anne Ruston who would be the Federal Minister for Health if the Coalition was re-elected.

“A priority is to ensure a commitment is made that the current model of community pharmacy, including the location rules which ensure accessibility to pharmacies for patient across the country, is maintained,” Professor Twomey said.

“The current model works, and works well.

“The past two years have been particularly challenging for the community pharmacy sector but the way pharmacies have risen to these challenges has underscored their just how critical role their role is in the healthcare sector.

“Senator Ruston would bring to the position of Heath Minister a range of skills and experience which will help further build on the strengths of community pharmacy.
“One area we will focus on is ensuring community pharmacists can work to their full scope of practice so their skills and training are fully utilised.

“Significant shortages of primary healthcare practitioners are putting huge pressure on doctors and emergency departments.

“Having community pharmacists prescribe, dispense, administer and review medicines is not only common sense, but good health policy that helps to improve patient outcomes.”

The Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia

Following the Labor campaign launch, The Society of Hospital Pharmacists Australia (SHPA) welcomed the Federal Labor Party’s announcement pledging to reduce the general patient Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) co-payment from $42.50 to $30 from 1 January 2023, and their bipartisan support to improve medicines affordability and access for Australians, guaranteeing Australians more affordable medicines from 2023.

SHPA Chief Executive Kristin Michaels says this equates to a saving of $150 per year for Australians taking a PBS medicine regularly, $30 more than what was pledged by the Coalition government over the weekend.

‘With the rising costs of living we know many Australians, particularly our most vulnerable patients – those belonging to lower socioeconomic groups, and those who suffer from multiple chronic conditions – are increasingly struggling to afford medicines.

Hospital Pharmacists are responsible for 24% of all PBS expenditure, supplying just under five million PBS prescriptions annually to patients, and these significant figures continue to grow year on year.

‘Hospital Pharmacists and their healthcare colleagues, who are keenly aware of the barriers patients face when attempting to receive timely and quality access to life-saving medicines, welcome this bipartisan support for guaranteeing significant savings for PBS medicines.’

Ms Michaels says Hospital Pharmacists often see patients presenting to emergency departments or being re-admitted to hospital, because they were unable to access their required medicines or suffered a decline in their health due to not being able to afford medicines.

‘Hospital Pharmacists provide care to the most unwell and complex patients in our healthcare system, many of whom find themselves discharged with a long list of medicines, and who privately admit they will struggle to meet the cost of their discharge medicines.’

‘We welcome the bipartisan support to further reduce co-payment amounts for PBS medicines and improved medicines affordability for patients, many of whom are still required to pay well above standard co-payment amounts for non-PBS medicines. This will inevitably reduce preventable admissions and keep more Australians out of the hospital system.’

‘On behalf of our members, we call for further action to address medicines access and affordability for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who currently face higher PBS co-payments in hospital settings.

This is central to SHPA’s Federal Election 2022 policy priorities, and we look forward to working on this issue with all parliamentarians.’

Post-federal election

Pharmaceutical Society of Australia

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) welcomed the announcement of the Hon. Mark Butler MP as Minister for Health and Aged Care, and Emma McBride MP MPS as Assistant Minister for Regional and Rural Health under the Albanese Labor Government.

PSA National President, A/Prof Chris Freeman, said he was looking forward to working with the new Federal Government to ensure pharmacists’ voices are being heard.

“We look forward to continuing our productive relationship with the Australian Labor Party, in particular with incoming Minister for Health and Aged Care, the Hon. Mark Butler MP,” he said.

“I would also like to congratulate fellow pharmacist and PSA member, Emma McBride MP MPS on her appointment as Assistant Minister for Regional and Rural Health.

“As one of Australia’s key frontline health professionals, pharmacists share the drive to deliver world-class healthcare to all Australians.

“PSA is ready to work with the Minister to progress the funding of onsite aged care pharmacists and ensuring all Australians have access to fully funded National Immunisation Program (NIP) vaccines, including influenza vaccinations.

“Patients still face out of pocket costs to receive an influenza vaccination under the NIP if delivered by a pharmacist, whilst this same service is subsidised if done at a general practice.

“It must also be a priority for the incoming Minister for Health and Aged Care to ensure that there is a consistent approach to the NIP vaccines and that all Australians can access fully funded vaccinations from their local pharmacist.”

A/Prof Freeman pointed to retention of pharmacists as the major challenges facing the sector.

“There are consistent challenges in recruiting and retaining pharmacists across all sectors, with many choosing to leave pharmacy because of low base rates of pay,” he said.

“We need investment in a whole of profession workforce strategy so that we can sustainably meet all the exciting opportunities in front of the profession, while provide rewarding careers, both professionally and financially.

“PSA has a long history of working with governments at all levels to achieve better outcomes for Australian pharmacists and their communities, and we look forward to continuing that work with the incoming ALP Health team,” said A/Prof Freeman.

The Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia

SHPA President Peter Fowler welcomed the commitments the Australian Labor Party had made to hospitals, Medicare, aged care, medicines access and affordability.

‘SHPA congratulates Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the ALP, who are set to form government. We look forward to working constructively with the incoming Health ministry team to ensure Australians have more equitable access to vital, lifesaving medicines through the world-class Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) regardless of where they receive their hospital care.

‘We applaud the planned new Strengthening Medicare Fund, which seeks to improve access to GPs, including after-hours services. Hospital Pharmacists are acutely aware of the impact of medicines affordability, as the only bill Australians receive from public hospitals is for their PBS medicines. We welcome the ALP’s commitment to reduce PBS co-payments, as well as investing in and listing PBS medicines as a top priority, further strengthening this strong Labor initiative.

Mr Fowler said that medicine management remains an ongoing challenge, with the transition of care from the acute setting to primary care presenting a particular challenge for health policy.

‘With the implementation of My Health Record and associated electronic medical records, hospital pharmacists are well placed to lead changes that will reduce harmful and potentially fatal medication errors and support better patient outcomes.

‘This election has shown the importance of stability in crucial sectors such as hospitals and healthcare, and SHPA is keen to see that reflected in funding across pharmacy settings. In Prime Minister Albanese’s first term, several reviews into medicines will be finalised, including the National Medicines Policy, chemotherapy medicines and PBS medicines in hospitals.

‘It is therefore more important than ever for Hospital Pharmacists – who manage a quarter of the entire PBS expenditure and the majority of chemotherapy expenditure – to be engaged to help remove the barriers currently in place that contribute to Australians missing out on vital medicines.’

Mr Fowler welcomed Mr Albanese’s commitment to fifty new Medicare urgent care clinics, which will be delivered next financial year would help take pressure off emergency departments.

‘Hospital Pharmacists have been integral to the COVID-19 pandemic response, operating the state-run vaccination clinics which have delivered over 35% of doses to Australians. In this time, Hospital Pharmacists have also dealt with increased strain on public hospitals with overcrowded emergency departments and ambulance ramping, and a reduced healthcare workforce in which Hospital Pharmacists are being asked to do more with the same resources.

‘Hospital Pharmacists, along with our healthcare colleagues, call on the new government to further address these pressures, by commissioning a 10-year National Pharmacy Workforce Plan, one of SHPA’s election priorities, and increase Commonwealth hospital funding contribution to 50%, as requested by all State and Territory Health Ministers.

‘SHPA looks forward to a strong relationship with the Albanese Government, and ensuring the many campaign commitments have the maximum positive impact on our healthcare workers, hospital infrastructure and the health and wellbeing of Australians.’

The post Pharmacy 2022: The Profession’s Priorities in an Election Year appeared first on My Health Career.

Undergraduate entry into pharmacy

For entry into undergraduate pharmacy courses in 2021, the ATAR/Selection Rank was generally in the 70s or 80s. Following is a guide for the ATAR scores or Selection Ranks for every pharmacy course in Australia in 2021:

Please note that apart from your ATAR, entry and/or placement requirements for undergraduate pharmacy may also include:

• a police check
• a working with children check
• pre-requisite subjects
• first aid training
• health checks and immunisations

It is also worth noting that some universities will accept applicants who hold a full or partial Bachelor’s degree. Some universities also have different entry requirements for students from a rural or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background. Please check with the universities you are looking at applying to for their complete entry requirements as this varies widely across the different universities.

Graduate entry into pharmacy

Entry into postgraduate pharmacy courses will involve requirements such as a high Grade Point Average (GPA) in your undergraduate degree as well as pre-requisite subjects.

Following is a table which shows postgraduate qualifications which lead to registration as a pharmacist in Australia (following internship):

Please note that apart from your GPA and pre-requisite subjects, graduate entry and/or placement requirements for pharmacy may also include:

• a police check
• a working with children check
• first aid training
• health checks and immunisations

Pathways to becoming a pharmacist

Following is an infographic which summarizes the above pathways to becoming a pharmacist. For simplicity, it does not include the possibility of transferring into pharmacy from another course. Click here for more information on our become a pharmacist page.

Current list of approved programs of study to become a pharmacist

The information presented in this article was correct at the time of publishing. Please check with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency for an up to date list of approved programs of study to become a pharmacist in Australia.

If you would like to find courses to become a general dentist:

1. Go to https://www.ahpra.gov.au/Accreditation/Approved-Programs-of-Study.aspx
2. In Profession select Pharmacist
3. In Country make the appropriate selection – for example, Australia
4. In Qualification Type select General
5. Click Search

More resources on My Health Career

• Your free guide to a career in pharmacy
• Videos about a career in pharmacy
• University scholarships
• Two pharmacists on what they love about their job

Disclaimer

This information is general in nature and does not take into account your personal circumstances.

My Health Career accepts no responsibility for ensuring that you enrol in a course that is right for you. Please do your own research to ensure that you enrol in the correct course. This may include speaking with people in the profession, a careers advisor, guidance officer, career development practitioner, representatives of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, and admissions officers from the university or universities you are looking at applying to.

The post ATAR for pharmacy – your guide to the ATAR for every pharmacy course in Australia in 2021 appeared first on My Health Career.

Undergraduate entry into pharmacy

For entry into undergraduate pharmacy courses in 2020, the ATAR was generally in the 70s or 80s. Following is a guide for the ATAR scores for every pharmacy course in Australia in 2020:

Please note that apart from your ATAR, entry and/or placement requirements for undergraduate pharmacy may also include:

• a police check
• a working with children check
• pre-requisite subjects
• first aid training
• health checks and immunisations

It is also worth noting that some universities will accept applicants who hold a full or partial Bachelor’s degree. Some universities also have different entry requirements for students from a rural or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background. Please check with the universities you are looking at applying to for their complete entry requirements as this varies widely across the different universities.

Graduate entry into pharmacy

Entry into postgraduate pharmacy courses will involve requirements such as a high Grade Point Average (GPA) in your undergraduate degree as well as pre-requisite subjects.

Following is a table which shows postgraduate qualifications which lead to registration as a pharmacist in Australia (following internship):

Please note that apart from your GPA and pre-requisite subjects, graduate entry and/or placement requirements for pharmacy may also include:

• a police check
• a working with children check
• first aid training
• health checks and immunisations

Pathways to becoming a pharmacist

Following is an infographic which summarizes the above pathways to becoming a pharmacist. For simplicity, it does not include the possibility of transferring into pharmacy from another course. Click here for more information on our become a pharmacist page.

Current list of approved programs of study to become a pharmacist

The information presented in this article was correct at the time of publishing. Please check with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency for an up to date list of approved programs of study to become a pharmacist in Australia.

If you would like to find courses to become a general dentist:

1. Go to https://www.ahpra.gov.au/Accreditation/Approved-Programs-of-Study.aspx
2. In Profession select Pharmacist
3. In Country make the appropriate selection – for example, Australia
4. In Qualification Type select General
5. Click Search

More resources on My Health Career

• Your free guide to a career in pharmacy
• Videos about a career in pharmacy
• University scholarships
• Two pharmacists on what they love about their job

Disclaimer

This information is general in nature and does not take into account your personal circumstances.

My Health Career accepts no responsibility for ensuring that you enrol in a course that is right for you. Please do your own research to ensure that you enrol in the correct course. This may include speaking with people in the profession, a careers advisor, guidance officer, career development practitioner, representatives of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, and admissions officers from the university or universities you are looking at applying to.

The post ATAR for pharmacy – your guide to the ATAR for every pharmacy course in Australia in 2020 appeared first on My Health Career.

There are schools of pharmacy in every state and territory in Australia. Depending on whether which pathway you take, it takes a minimum of 5 to 6 years to become a pharmacist. After completing study at university, you must undertake a one year internship to become a registered pharmacist.

Undergraduate entry into pharmacy

Following is a guide for the ATAR scores for every pharmacy course in Australia in 2019:

Please note that apart from your ATAR / OP, entry requirements for undergraduate pharmacy may also include:

• a police check
• a working with children check
• pre-requisite subjects
• the completion of first aid training before starting the course
• health checks and immunisations

It is also worth noting that some universities will accept applicants who hold a full or partial Bachelor’s degree. Some universities also have different entry requirements for students from a rural or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background. Please check with the universities you are looking at applying to for their complete entry requirements as this varies widely across the different universities.

Some universities don’t publish the full requirements for entry into their pharmacy course in the course or university handbook section on their website. In such cases, you may need to be prepared to contact the university directly or check their FAQs page.

Graduate entry into pharmacy

Entry into postgraduate pharmacy courses will involve requirements such as a high Grade Point Average (GPA) in your undergraduate degree as well as pre-requisite subjects.

Following is a table which shows postgraduate qualifications which lead to registration as a pharmacist in Australia:

Please note that apart from your GPA and pre-requisite subjects, graduate entry requirements for pharmacy may also include:

• a police check
• a working with children check
• the completion of first aid training before starting the course
• health checks and immunisations

Pathways into Pharmacy

Following is an infographic which summarizes the above pathways to becoming a pharmacist. For simplicity, it does not include the possibility of transferring into pharmacy from another course. Click here for more information on our become a pharmacist page.

More resources on My Health Career:

• Your free guide to a career in pharmacy
• Videos about a career in pharmacy
• University scholarships
• Two pharmacists on what they love about their job

The information presented in this article was correct at the time of publishing. Please check with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency for an up to date list of approved programs of study to become a pharmacist in Australia https://www.ahpra.gov.au/Education/Approved-Programs-of-Study.aspx?ref=Pharmacist. The courses which lead to a qualification as a pharmacist have division “pharmacist” and qualification type “general” according to the listing on AHPRA.

Disclaimer: This information is general in nature and does not take into account your personal circumstances.

My Health Career accepts no responsibility for ensuring that you enrol in a course that is right for you. Please do your own research to ensure that you enrol in the correct course. This may include speaking with people in the profession, a careers advisor, guidance officer, career development practitioner, representatives of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, and admissions officers from the university or universities you are looking at applying to.

The post ATAR for pharmacy – your guide to the ATAR for every pharmacy course in Australia in 2019 appeared first on My Health Career.

1. Understanding what you already bring to the table

Considering the 4 key blueprint principles are the perfect approach to getting underway, as they will encourage you to look at your starting point.

Firstly, the principle of value. In what ways do you add value to the organisation you are currently working in? If you really look, could you tease out a greater appreciation for what competencies you already have at your disposal? Is your greatest value in being efficient, do you have excellent communication skills, or are there additional proficiencies you have picked up along the way?

Secondly, the principle of building. What opportunities can you identify that will assist you in building on the skills you have to set the bar even higher?

Thirdly, the principle of progress. In the time that you have been in your profession, what has changed? How has progress taken place? How do you see yourself as part of the future progress in health care, potentially even at the cutting edge?

Fourthly, the principle of impact. How have you leveraged your skills in your current role, and where have you had the greatest impact? Have you improved the delivery of services, increased profits, been the catalyst for building a more cohesive team within your organisation, or had a significant impact outside your organisation?

2. Identifying your stream

The blueprint has identified 5 core work streams that health professionals may engage in when they are looking at the overall direction in which they would like to take in terms of career development. These are practice, education, research, management and strategy.

Practice involves being a clinician delivering patient care directly.

Education could take a number of forms ranging from providing instruction and education to patients and communities to health practitioners and students in clinical or academic environments.

Research could be at the level of systematic investigation to increase knowledge and establish an evidence base, or could be via translating research into practice.

Management could be in diverse ways such as leading and managing departments, service delivery, human resources or project funding.

Strategy might include leading change, developing and leading policy, implementing innovations, or transforming processes for an industry, sector or organisation.

3. Defining your future growth

The 4 levels of growth defined in the blueprint are gaining experience, further skills and knowledge, becoming an expert and being an acknowledged leader.
Gaining experience is the initial phase of acquiring your qualification and consolidating your skills.

Further skills and knowledge is the next phase where as a practitioner you develop a deeper breadth of experience and understanding within your profession.
Becoming an expert is where you deepen your knowledge and skill in a particular area.

Being an acknowledged leader is where you are recognised by your peers as someone able to guide and influence others.

4. Transitioning from where you are to a leadership role

Now that you understand what you bring to the table, have identified your stream and have defined the level of growth you wish to attain in the future, it’s important to consider how you are going to make this transition. Now is the time to step out of the model of the blueprint and use the principles to transform your career in a tangible way.

If you are currently a clinician and know that the predominantly academic areas of education or research aren’t the best fit for you, management or strategy would be excellent areas to look at. If you were to go down that path, you would need to develop further skills and knowledge on the way to becoming an expert or acknowledged leader.

The knowledge you would need to gain in order to make this transition might include health economics, health law, systems and policy, management, developing health systems and the application of strategies which advance managing patient care processes.

A postgraduate qualification could be an excellent investment in your career development and aspirations. The Monash Online Master of Health Administration has been developed with aspiring health care managers in mind with the course focusing on leadership, marketing, economics and management of the patient care process. This master’s qualification will also boost your health-specific knowledge with areas such as epidemiology and biostatistics being included.

The Master of Health Administration has been purposely designed to build upon your ability to lead and manage effectively in a health care environment. The fusion of the course units from The Faculty of Business and Economics with those from The School of Public Health and Preventative Medicine means that you will gain knowledge of both business and health care practices.

On completion of the course, opportunities that would be open to you as an expert or acknowledged leader would be in health care organisations including government and non-government organisations. You might find yourself in high-level roles in private or health and welfare service management, practice management or in the management of teams of health professionals.

Now you have access to the ultimate blueprint and means to develop your career in health. Now is the time to put your aspirations into action.

The post The ultimate guide to career development for health professionals in just 4 simple steps appeared first on My Health Career.

• Everything is on the table, but only 2 things matter for the aged care workforce taskforce
• Nursing program funding freeze not an obstacle to be recognized worldwide but an obstacle in addressing the shortage of nurses in Australia
• ADNet to accelerate research for the prevention and treatment of Dementia

The post The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety – worthwhile or not? What the AMA, ANMF and Universities Australia have to say appeared first on My Health Career.

In light of a recent incident where an organisation was publishing only positive reviews from consumers, AHPRA has published further guidance for advertisers of regulated health services to clarify which review or testimonial editing practices are deemed illegal.

The post Selective editing of reviews: illegal or not? AHPRA draws the line appeared first on My Health Career.

Spearheaded by Professor Christopher Rowe of Austin Health, ADNet commits to facilitate high-quality research and clinical care through the cooperation of researchers, clinicians and health service providers with people living with dementia to present the ADNet Registry and research program.

Aged Care Minister Ken Wyatt AM said, “Dementia is already the biggest killer of Australian women and the second most common cause of death among the overall population, claiming more than 13,000 lies each year. This is the accelerator we need to win the race against dementia.

“By significantly increasing public access to, and participation in, clinical trials it will also speed the development and approval of new prevention and treatment therapies.”

He continued, “ADNet means Australia will be a strong contributor to, and an early beneficiary of, the worldwide search for dementia treatments and cures.”

“At present, an estimated 425,000 Australians are living with dementia. The potential power of ADNet is our best hope of preventing that number reaching more than one million by 2050” the Minister said.

In support of the movement against dementia, Exercise Sports and Science Australia (ESSA) on the other hand, emphasized the importance of community-based exercise not only for brain health but also for dementia and other cognitive conditions.

Beth Sheehan, Accredited Exercise Physiologist explains, “Social inclusion is a fundamental human right for all Australians. The importance of facilitating social opportunities for Australians with dementia and other cognitive conditions that also enhance and prolong quality of life needs to be discussed on a global level.

“Whilst there is no cure as yet for dementia, physical activity and exercise has been shown to improve memory and learning whilst also addressing co-morbidities associated with sedentary behaviour which is common amongst individuals with dementia,” Ms Sheehan argued.

ESSA states that these community-based programs can provide the vital link between people with dementia accessing exercise in a safe environment. It commits to:

• Increase levels of motivation and enjoyment
• Improve physical function and independence
• Minimise the growing incidence rates of chronic disease
• Assist older adults to live longer and fuller lives
• Provide access to additional aged care services
• Offer safety and supervision when undertaking exercise
• Offer social connectedness and interaction, encouraging the Dementia Friend movement.

Several philanthrophic organisations like the JO and JR Wicking Trust, and the Yulgilbar Foundation, along with universities, research centres, and State Governments also expressed commitment to the initiative, boosting the $18 million government investment by $20 million more.

ADNeT will:

• Establish a national network of memory clinics to speed assessment of cognitive disorders and improve specialist access for all Australians, through advanced imaging, genetics and lifestyle data
• Register and prepare volunteers for participation in clinical trials and other research programs, by providing them with state of the art diagnosis and tracking their disease trajectory
• Collate and compare data to chart dementia causes, progression and risks and potential new treatments, while supporting research participants and benchmarking clinical care
• Ensure Australian and international data can be shared, providing unprecedented research access to global data and collaboration, to inform prevention, treatment and care.

Photo by Matteo Vistocco on Unsplash

More articles on My Health Career:

• ATAR for nursing – your guide to every university nursing course in Australia
• Opt-out period for My Health Record starts soon, but most Australians in favour of having a record
• Australian, American, British and New Zealand organisations join forces to close the life expectancy gap of the mentally-ill

The post ADNet to accelerate research for the prevention and treatment of Dementia appeared first on My Health Career.

The Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA) stance is that although they support a “sugar tax” on sweetened beverages, this is not enough in isolation. They have recommended a multi-faceted long term approach with dietitians being part of the solution, and has called for funds raised from a sugar tax to be invested in this approach.

Public Health Association Australia CEO Terry Slevin believes that this voluntary step taken by the beverage companies in Australia is an attempt to resist the pattern of sugar regulation happening all over the world.

He said, “The makers of sugary drinks know their time is up in under-regulated trading in their unhealthy products to the Australian population, and this pledge to reduce 20 per cent of the sugar on average is a clear admission on their part that they are selling an unhealthy product.”

“It is good to see that industry finally understands that change is required. But what they propose is too

little, too slow, too late, and is inadequate to bring the progress we desperately need. Self-regulation is no regulation” he added.

Mr Slevin also cited UK’s newest tax regulation on sugary drinks as an example. He said, “The announcement in the UK recently that it will introduce a health levy on sugary drinks resulted in soft drink manufacturers reformulating their products before the tax was even due to commence, which shows how quickly they can potentially change the sugar content in their drinks if needed. 2025 is a long way away.”

As mentioned by CEO Slevin, sugar tax regulations in the UK provoked soft drink businesses in the country to make some changes, the Australian Medical Association envisions that this same strategy will be effective in Australia.

Australian Medical Association President, Dr Tony Bartone said that this week’s announcement on sugar reduction was totally inadequate and further evidence of the industry shirking its stated intention and responsibility to contribute to improving public health.

“The soft drink industry’s commitment to cut sugar content is too little over too long a period, and there is no guarantee of less sugar in the most popular sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs).

“By the time 2025 rolls around, more Australians will be affected by the health harms of obesity, including from the high sugar content in SSBs.

“One of the best ways to achieve a change in consumer behaviour is with a sugar tax. The evidence is in. Price signals work.” Dr Bartone said.

The AMA has called for prioritization of a sugar tax in the health policies for the next federal election. It believes that the introduction of a sugar tax in Australia will aid the problem of obesity and improve health population across all age groups.

And while doctors from the Royal Australasian College of Physicians RACP also agree in implementing a tax on sugar, they also pointed out the importance of a detailed action plan.

As RACP President, Associate Professor Mark Lane said, “Otherwise, it’s just the same smoke and mirrors we usually get.”

“It’s good to see the industry express a commitment to producing healthier products but we want to see the details of its plan to achieve a sugar reduction,

“The Government should revise the Health Star Rating system’s nutrient profiling algorithm to give stronger weight to sugar content and make it mandatory by 2019.

“The Government also needs to stop kowtowing to industry and effectively regulate their marketing activities. The food and beverage industry continue to advertise unhealthy foods and sugar-sweetened beverages in a way that directly targets children and adolescents.” he said.

Photo by rawpixel at Pixabay

More articles on My Health Career:

• ATAR to become a dietitian – a guide to every dietetics course in Australia
• A No-Diets approach: Universities are changing the way they teach nutrition – by Christina Turner, Bond University
• A better student, mom, and health provider by virtue of mindfulness – A Q&A with Lulu Cook RDN

The post 20% voluntary sugar reduction regulation for soft-drink businesses to solve the problem of obesity in Australia? Dietitians, doctors and public health advocates not convinced appeared first on My Health Career.