Specialty Practice

Communities is here!

You asked, and we have delivered! Specialty Practice has moved to Communities, a new purpose-built platform for faster, easier communication between members, backed by our first app.

Enter Communities

(AdPha Members and NZHPA Affiliate Members only)

Enhance your knowledge and advance your career at every stage

Specialty Practice is a valued Advanced Pharmacy Australia (AdPha) - formerly known as SHPA - member benefit, wrapping pharmacists and technicians in networks of expertise and support, while enabling specialist hospital pharmacy expertise to shape the profession and national health policy.  

Specialty Practice provides three levels of engagement across 30+ specialties. 

Joining Specialty Practice is your gateway to a nationwide network of professionals and peer learning opportunities, and a wide range of resources including CPD, research, advocacy and policy, as well as SPG discussions.

Benefits of Specialty Practice for members

• Improve patient care and clinical decisions 
• Develop pharmacy services, protocols and procedures 
• Educate and train staff, and inform AdPha's national education program  
• Identify medicine use trends 
• Apply new research to practice 
• Lead and influence your field by assisting with the development of Standards of Practice, education offerings and through advocacy 
• Fulfil your CPD requirements and accruing Group 1, 2 and 3 CPD credits 
• Consult and share information with members, key stakeholders and government 
• And much more! 

Find out more about Specialty Practice in our Five Years of Specialty Practice report (August 2022). This covers all of the bases of what makes Specialty Practice such a useful benefit for our members, as well as the leaders and achievements of Specialty Practice in the first five years since its 2017 revamp.

Specialty Practice Groups

Start your Specialty Practice journey by sharing your expertise, developing your knowledge, and supporting the growth of fellow members.

Key benefits and information

• Open to all members: students, interns, technicians, pharmacists 
• Join all Specialty Practice Groups relevant to your practice
• Targeted information about events and education opportunities
• Connect with leaders and peers around the country via SPG discussions
• Share resources and tips
• Reduce professional isolation
• Eligibility to vote for Leadership Committees

Start your journey and join Specialty Practice Groups:

Look for the link to Communities in your AdPha Dashboard, select Explore Communities, and select the SPGs you want to join.

For assistance, please contact specialtypractice@adpha.au.

Verified Members

Verified Members of an SPG (previously known as Practice Group members) are accomplished and invested in the specialty and want to work with AdPha and SPG Leadership Committees on projects and to promote and develop pharmacy practice in the specialty – and maybe join the Leadership Committee.

Develop and share your expertise and show your commitment to leading specialty pharmacy practice by applying to become a Verified Member.  Applications are accepted year-round.

Please note, to be eligible to become a Verified Member you must hold and maintain Full Pharmacist, Technician or Former/Retired AdPha membership (Student and Provisional Pharmacist members are NOT eligible to become Verified Members). NZHPA Affiliate members are eligible to apply to be a Verified Member.

Becoming verified requires you to complete a form outlining your expertise and include a copy of your CV.

Key benefits and information

• Join AdPha's pool of member expertise
• Contribute to publications, CPD, policy and submissions, and more 
• Collaborate with fellow members on AdPha projects 
• Network to support expertise development and guide early-career pharmacists 
• Dedicated portal for the Leadership Committee to liaise with the Verified Members 
• Eligibility to nominate for election to Leadership Committees

Apply to become a Verified Member
 

Leadership Committees

Leadership Committees are a dynamic group of elected SPG members with deeper involvement and expertise in their specialty who drive activities for the benefit of all members.

Key benefits and information

• Inform policy and education initiatives 
• Advocate for change at a senior level 
• Influence pharmacy practice through key AdPha publications, incl. Standards of Practice and position statements 
• Contribute directly to the national discourse through key AdPha promotional activities including media releases and public statements 
• Contribute to publications and other key resources 
• Receive recognition as a leader in your specialty, including use of the Leadership Committee badge and email signature device 
• Network with other experts, influencers and key stakeholders 
• Resources including online discussion forums 
• Support from Verified Members and AdPha Secretariat 
• Only Verified Members can nominate to be elected to Leadership Committees 

Leadership Committee members

Specialty Practice Groups

Useful resources

• FAQs
• Five Years of Specialty Practice report (2022)
• Communities Discussions Terms of Use
• Specialty Practice Terms and Conditions
• Specialty Practice Governance
• CPD Guide
• Chair, Leadership Committee – position description
• Member, Leadership Committee – position description
• Guidelines for SPG Discussions Moderators
• Verified Member Assessments by Leadership Committee
• MedsScan Editor - position description
• MedsScan - guidelines for contributors  

Please direct enquiries about Specialty Practice to specialtypractice@adpha.au.