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Flying Start
Elevate Your Early Career as a Pharmacist with Flying Start!
Flying Start is the only program of its kind that offers a comprehensive and customised approach to support early career pharmacists in their transition to the workforce. Our program combines expert-led workshops, individual mentorship, and a realistic case study game to provide you with the practical knowledge and hands-on experience you need to succeed in your early pharmacy career. Join our program and benefit from the unique combination of structured learning and realistic application that sets Flying Start apart.
The benefits of the course:
- Four facilitator-led workshops that will provide you with in-demand skills and knowledge
- An individual session with a mentor to discuss real-life problems or case studies
- Registration to one of the PSA’s Annual Therapeutic Updates with a buddy/mentor to guide you
- A guided CPD plan to help you stay up-to-date with the latest industry developments
- A clinical game following a patient journey to help you apply your knowledge in a realistic setting
- One unit from the Graduate Diploma of Advanced Pharmacy Practice integrated into the program.
Investing in your career has never been more important than it is today. With the Flying Start program, you’ll be well-prepared to tackle the challenges of early career pharmacy and stand out from your colleagues!
“As a new pharmacist, it can be overwhelming to navigate the professional world on your own. I’ve been fortunate to have PSA’s support throughout my journey from student to intern to pharmacist, but I can see how a program like Flying Start would have been a huge asset in my first 100 days of practice. Having a tailored program with mentorship and real-world case studies would have been incredibly helpful in my transition into the workforce”.
Erin Cooper – PSA Intern of the Year 2021
The Flying Start program is your opportunity to gain the skills, knowledge, and support you need to excel in your early career as a pharmacist. Don’t let this opportunity pass you by!
If you’re ready to take your career to the next level, don’t miss out on this exclusive opportunity for Professional Plus members! As a member, the Flying Start program is available to you for free.
If you are already a PSA Professional Plus member, fill out the Expression of Interest form now and one of our team members will be in touch to discuss how we can support you in your professional journey.
Administering medicines by injection
Empowering pharmacists for emerging health needs
The Administering Medicines by Injection Course
Build your confidence and competence in administering medicines by injection, empowering you to provide integrated patient care, and enabling patients to have greater access to safe administration of medicines.
PSA has developed the Guidelines for pharmacists administering medicines by injection and is the only provider of education and training required for pharmacists to administer medicines by injection.
Please note: this online course is designed for trained and authorised pharmacist immunisers to continue professional development and upskill in administering medicines by injection.
If you are not a pharmacist immuniser, you must complete Immunisation Training before administering medicines by injection and before completing the Injection Course.
Guidelines
Guidelines relevant to administering medicines by injection include the Guidelines for pharmacists administering medicines by injection and the Practice guidelines for the provision of immunisation services.
PSA are custodians of a range of Guidelines to support pharmacists in practice.
Legislation
The authority and recognition of the pharmacist’s role in administering medicines by injection, is provided by jurisdictional legislation and may vary nationally.
Pharmacists in all states and territories can administer unscheduled medicines by injection if they can establish therapeutic need, have the required skills and professional requirements are met.
Currently pharmacists are permitted (with conditions) to administer scheduled medicines by injection in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Tasmania and Victoria. Long-acting buprenorphine is currently the only scheduled medicine pharmacists in Queensland can administer by injection.
Pharmacists must meet relevant legislative requirements for the State or Territory in which they practise, to administer medicines by injection.
See PSA’s Summary of legal authority for pharmacist administration of medicines by injection to see which medicines you can administer by injection in your state or territory.
More comprehensive legislative requirements are outlined within the Injection course.
An innovative and contemporary training course only at PSA, to respond to emerging health needs.
Pharmacists administering medicines by injection must be familiar with the products they can administer to patients. This course currently includes additional injectable product familiarisation modules: Cosentyx, Hyrimoz, Xolair, Ozempic and we will continue developing new modules in the near future.
Residential Aged Care Pharmacist
Become a Residential Aged Care Pharmacist
The role of the residential aged care pharmacist is emerging in Australia. There is a significant number of residents taking multiple medications and often high-risk medicines.
As medicines experts, pharmacists are well placed to provide clinical pharmacy services and activities to ensure the safe and quality use of medicines in residential aged care facilities. Pharmacists play a valuable role in determining how to best manage the appropriate use of medicines and how potential step downs should occur.
Generally, a pharmacist provides a Medication Management Review every two years. However, by being present in the facility, pharmacists can undertake on the spot medication reviews and follow up based on resident need, improving the safety and care of residents.
The PSA Residential Aged Care Pharmacist Foundation Training Program is the only short and affordable online CPD training currently available. This course provides you with the knowledge and skills you need to lead the way in medicine safety in order to optimise patient health outcomes, whilst utilising the full extent of your clinical knowledge.
Why now?
In January 2019 the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety was undertaken. The findings highlight that Australia is facing a critical problem with medicine mismanagement in aged care facilities.
There is no doubt that the absence of regular pharmacist services in aged care facilities is causing harm to older Australians. As custodians of medicine safety, pharmacists are here to keep people safe from medicine-related harm. When you don’t have the right level of investment in pharmacists, this is the outcome which results.
“This is a game of Russian roulette, and unfortunately our older Australians are paying the price.”
– PSA National President, Associate Professor Chris Freeman
PSA’s Medicine Safety: Aged Care Report, findings demonstrate that need for onsite Residential Aged Care Pharmacists. You can read the report HERE.
What’s in it for you?
This short accredited CPD foundation training will help you build confidence and competence to upskill and understand the aged care environment. You will advance your knowledge and skills in evidence based practice and in the provision of clinical pharmacy services in aged care to provide support to patients and other members of the healthcare team.
You will have access to:
- Five online modules
- Nine video lectures on aged care clinical topics
- Three optional modules dedicated to quality use of medicines
- Numerous support tools and resources
Immunisation and Injection
Pharmacist can do more as health professionals, from immunising to building confidence and knowledge to administer medicines by injection.
Pharmacists administering medicines by injection
The scope of practice for appropriately trained Australian pharmacists includes the administration of medicines by injection (including vaccinations), enabling pharmacists to provide consumers greater choice in the delivery of their health care.
Pharmacists administering medicines by injection is an emerging health need (subject to State and Territory legislation), playing an important role in increasing medicine safety and better patient health outcomes.
As custodians of the Practice guidelines for the provision of immunisation services and Guidelines for pharmacists administering medicines by injection, completing your training with PSA, ensures that you are well prepared to meet practice standards and deliver successful immunisation and administering medicines by injections services.
Immunisation Training
For pharmacists who are embarking on the journey of becoming an immuniser and/or administering medicines by injection.
Administering medicines by injection
For pharmacist immunisers who wish to administer other medicines by injection (in addition to vaccines).
If you are not a pharmacist immuniser, you must complete the Immunisation Training before administering medicines by injection and before completing the Injection Course.
PSA is removing barriers to your practice and empowering pharmacists to do more as health professionals.
Advanced Stage Training
Advanced workshops are being offered across Australia to support your work in general practice and individual professional development needs.
Workshops will cover both clinical and non-clinical topics. For further information or to register your interest, please email gppharmacist@psa.org.au
Victorian Opioid Pharmacotherapy Program
Opioid Replacement Therapy Training Program
Be at the forefront of Opioid Replacement Therapy service
PSA offers the following training programs to enable pharmacists and pharmacy staff deliver a safe and patient-centred Opioid Replacement Therapy (ORT) service.
- Victorian Opioid Pharmacotherapy Program (VOPP) – for pharmacists and pharmacy staff
- Long Acting Injectable Buprenorphine Administration by Pharmacists Training (LAIB Training) – for pharmacists
Why are these training programs important?
The aim of these training programs is to provide pharmacists and pharmacy support staff with the relevant knowledge, skills and tools required to deliver a safe and patient-centred Opioid Replacement Therapy (ORT) service.
The VOPP will help pharmacists and pharmacy staff identify those who would benefit from pharmacotherapy, engage in a discussion of the benefits of the program in a non-stigmatising manner, and ensure the consistency and quality of services offered.
The LAIB training will enable pharmacist acquire relevant knowledge and skills to administer long-acting injectable buprenorphine in a safe and patient-focused environment.
What’s in it for you?
The VOPP and LAIB training
- are FREE for all pharmacists and pharmacy staff in Victoria
- have all you need to know about delivering an ORT service
- help you establish your pharmacy to support patients with an opioid dependence
- enable you to play a key role in reducing the health, social and economic harms to individuals and the community
Your learning journey
The table below illustrates the training requirements for pharmacists to:
Provide ORT service including methadone and oral buprenorphine
Complete VOPP
Administer long acting injectable buprenorphine
Complete VOPP
Complete an accredited Immunisation training
Complete LAIB training
VOPP explained
This program is delivered via a blended mode, consisting of the following:
- Self-paced pre-reading online modules
- Two-part series facilitator-led workshop (Workshop 1 and 2)
The program content comprises of Part 1 and Part 2:
Workshop 1 or Pre-reading online modules
- covers all necessary information and knowledge on ORT
- addresses the learning objectives of Part 1
Workshop 2
- is a case scenario based workshop that reinforces concepts through real life scenarios and group discussions, led by the workshop facilitator
- addresses the learning objectives of Part 2
Please note:
- Workshop 1 is optional. Participants may choose to complete the online modules only, as pre-reading for Workshop 2.
- Workshop 1 and 2 are available via digital delivery (video conferencing platform Zoom) and face-to-face. Delivery method will be indicated when selecting the workshop dates.
LAIB training explained
This self-paced online training module details the relevant knowledge, skills and tools required for pharmacists to administer long-acting injectable buprenorphine.
In Victoria, in order to administer LAIB, pharmacist are required to
- be familiar with and understand requirements for pharmacotherapy program delivery by:
- Completing VOPP (described above) OR
- Working as a registered pharmacist in ORT delivery for at least five years
- be familiar with and understand requirements for injection administration, by completing an accredited Immunisation training
- complete this LAIB Training
Contact
For more information about the training programs, please contact PSA Learner Support at learnersupport@psa.org.au.
For further support on the ORT service in Victoria, please contact Alcohol and other Drugs, Department of Health at aod.enquiries@dhhs.vic.gov.au
Acknowledgement
PSA acknowledges the support of the Victorian State Government.
First Aid and CPR
To support your First Aid and CPR learning needs, we’ve teamed up with Australia Wide First Aid and St John Ambulance NSW to ensure you have access Nationally Recognised Training Courses, available across Australia.
Provide First Aid (HLTAID011 or HLTAID003) & Provide CPR (HLTAID009 or HLTAID001) are pre-requisites for our Immunisation Training (APPIMM806 – Manage the delivery and administration of injections and immunisations).
Australia Wide First and St John Ambulance NSW offers courses tailored to Healthcare Professionals. CPD Credits will vary with suppliers but you can claim 2, group 2 CPD Credits per hour of education as a non-accredited program. Once they’ve been issued with the relevant qualification, PSA Members can self-record these CPD credits and evidence, using PSA’s member-only CPD planning tool.
Explore First Aid and CPR workshops in your location by clicking on the provider links below:
Australia Wide First Aid
Australia Wide First Aid is a nationally recognised training organisation (RTO No. 31961), providing innovative and accredited First Aid Training in locations around Australia since 1996.
When you partner with Australia Wide First Aid for your training, you have the support of one of Australia’s most trusted First Aid training providers. Blending online and face-to-face training, we deliver up-to-the minute First Aid skills that are 100% in-line with the Australian and New Zealand Committee on Resuscitation (ANZCOR). Our First Aid trainers are second to none, continually exceeding VET Quality Framework compliance standards.
St John Ambulance NSW
Please note, the following sessions are available in NSW Only.
At St John, we’re passionate about saving lives through first aid. Every day, Australians are at risk of illness, injury and potentially life-threatening situations at home, in the workplace and in the community. We believe that every Australian should have access to responsive healthcare and wellbeing support when and where they need it. As a registered charity and ‘Profit for Purpose’ organisation, every dollar of profit made from our commercial activities goes towards our activities which work to achieve our mission including:
- Training and Education
- Health Services
- Community Response
- Fundraising
First aid and CPR training is available online and face to face:
- 100% Online First Aid Training is now available from the comfort of your own home
- Face to face first aid training is also available for authorised workers
- For any questions, please contact Customer Service Team on 1300 ST JOHN or click here for First aid (HLTAID011 or HLTAID003) and CPR courses (HLTAID009 or HLTAID001)
Immunisation Training
Become a pharmacist immuniser with the leaders in immunisation training. As custodians of the immunisation practice guidelines, completing your training with PSA, ensures that you are well prepared to meet practice standards and deliver successful immunisation services. PSA continually optimises its high quality program to enhance your training experience. Whether you are looking to start immunising, or to maintain your competency, PSA has everything you need.
Pharmacy Assistant S2/S3 training
This short course will help you develop your knowledge and skills in the supply of S2/S3 Medicines within the community pharmacy environment. Successful completion of this unit meets compliance for the relevant standard under the Quality Care Pharmacy Program (QCPP)
Medication Management Review Stage 1 Online Course
PSA’s MMR Stage ONE is a preparatory training course provided in seven online modules. The modules aim to prepare participants for the AACP Stage Two accreditation assessment process and provide participants with an understanding of the MMR process, and the knowledge and skills required to successfully undertake an MMR.
