With so much advancement and change across the country, I’d like to take this moment to pause and take stock – not only of where we’ve been, but where we’re going.
A bright future
The Guild has officially launched its new strategic plan, bringing to life months of work from all corners of our organisation. For all of us, Towards 2035 represents a shared path forward for stronger, more empowered community pharmacies.
To design a strategy that reflects our reality, we embarked on an eight-month consultation process with members, elected officials and Guild staff. This involved two nationwide surveys and face-to-face workshops in every State and Territory so that we could hear directly from our people and build a strategy that serves and uplifts them. With some 1,500 respondents engaged across every stage of the process, I could not be more grateful for the generosity, commitment and passion of all who contributed. The depth of the feedback helped us identify not only the top-priority risks and opportunities ahead, but also the best ways to meet and make the most of them.
By focusing distinctly on patients, members, partnerships and the broader community pharmacy network, we hope to bring the already enormously positive impact of accessible healthcare to the next level. Whether it’s through providing more affordable medicines, offering more treatments through a broader scope of practice or building our partnerships across the primary healthcare network, the potential for growth in all aspects of community pharmacy is unmatched. Our goal is to harness that potential, and we’re well on our way.
To everyone who took the time to share their insights with us – thank you. We look forward to bringing you towards 2035, and beyond, with us.
Stronger systems for all
The May Federal Election delivered victory to the Australian Labor Party – and with it, unprecedented investment in the Australian healthcare sector.
In the week before the election was called, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese addressed the industry at APP2025 to announce what thousands of Australians so desperately needed: a reduction in the PBS general co-payment, down from $31.60 to just $25 from 1 January 2026.
This historic achievement was a team effort through and through. With support from over 20 health and community groups, including the Australian Patients Association, Advanced Pharmacy Australia and the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, we are putting $689 million back in patients’ pockets over the next four years.
This was just one of many healthcare promises that gained support across Australia’s political spectrum, in an election campaign where healthcare was in constant focus. With the Hon Mark Butler reappointed to his role as Health Minister, and the Hon Anne Ruston as Shadow Health Minister, I look forward to continuing the Guild’s excellent collaboration with our peak government representatives. We were delighted to host Minister Butler at last month’s Guild Member Webinar where he shared insights into the new health agenda. The changes ahead prove not only the powerful impact we’re having but how much more we have to give.
Broader scope, better services
This potential is embodied in the Guild’s vision for a national scope of practice.
In the last few months, we’ve seen huge commitments to advancing scope across the country. With $18 million to make a successful pilot into permanent practice in Victoria, $5 million for training subsidies in Tasmania and $2.2 million to support training and implementation of expanded scope in South Australia.
More and more states are answering the call to bring bigger and better health services to more patients across the country.
This is an exciting time for community pharmacy, but it can be a daunting one too. With every announcement comes an imperative for pharmacies to reconsider, reevaluate, and even restructure their business.
These changes won’t always be easy, but the Guild will remain by your side on the journey. My hope is that we, as a profession, can take them as an opportunity to learn, grow, and come out stronger. My promise is that no matter where your pharmacy is – in a scope state or not, in the city or the country – you won’t be in it alone.
Professor Trent Twomey
President, Pharmacy Guild of Australia
