Tue 15 October 2024
First Standards for Technicians as AdPha celebrates ‘Partners in patient care’
Advanced Pharmacy Australia leads the development of Australasia’s first competency standards for pharmacy technicians while announcing major membership offer on National Pharmacy Technicians and Assistants Day.
Advanced Pharmacy Australia (AdPha) today is celebrating National Pharmacy Technicians and Assistants Day by opening consultation on the first Competency Standards Framework for Pharmacy Technicians, while offering 50% off annual Technician Membership fees until the end of October.
The first Australasian Competency Standards Framework for Technicians provides a standardised approach to the profession in all practice settings and a platform from which educational content, accreditation standards and recognition programs may be developed.
AdPha President Tom Simpson says the foundational document, developed in collaboration with the New Zealand Hospital Pharmacy Association (NZHPA), is the first major step in formally recognising the integral role pharmacy technicians play in supporting patient care.
‘Pharmacy technicians working across all areas of practice are highly skilled and essential members of pharmacy and multidisciplinary teams. ‘Their duties can vary from preparing and dispensing medications, compounding medications, customer service, inventory management, record keeping, ensuring regulatory compliance and ultimately supporting pharmacists to improve efficiencies for the delivery of safer patient care.
‘This is why they are our “partners in patient care” and we’re proud to announce this latest investment in the profession, following the addition of an elected Technician Member to the AdPha Board of Directors as part of our Transformation 2024 agenda.
'This vital area of the pharmacy workforce plays a critical role in supporting patient safety and should, like all pharmacy professionals, have competency standards that reflect their area of practice.
‘As our profession continues to evolve, so too does the role of pharmacy technicians and we are proud to make this first leap into ensuring technicians are recognised and supported to practice consistently, appropriately and safely.’
Mr Simpson says as part of celebrations marking the incredible work the more than 40,000 pharmacy technicians and assistants across the country do every day, AdPha will also be offering 50% off annual Technician Membership fees until 31 October 2024.
‘AdPha offers numerous benefits to both technicians and assistants to support the essential work they perform across Australia’s pharmacy departments.
‘We provide leadership opportunities through our branch committee positions, discounted registration and dedicated sessions at Medicines Management each November, and discounted access to seminars, webinars and other events through our Education and Development program, including our special ‘Techtober’ series running this month.
‘If you’ve been on the fence, now’s the time to join, connect and learn from others across our national AdPha networks, including via our Specialty Practice Groups on the new app-based “Communities” platform.
‘On behalf of everyone at AdPha, I wish all technicians and assistants a very special Pharmacy Technician and Assistants Day and thank you for everything you do to ensure pharmacy settings operate smoothly, safely and efficiently.’
Consultation for the draft Competency Standards Framework for Pharmacy Technicians is open in Australia until 5.00pm AEDT Friday 29 November 2024.
For more information visit the Technician Standards Competency Project.