Queensland
The Queensland Community Pharmacy Scope of Practice Pilot had been going for just under a year when Queensland Minister for Health, Tim Nicholls announced at APP2025 that it would become a permanent fixture in community pharmacies across the state.
As of this July, Queenslanders can access treatment for 16 everyday health conditions simply by going to their local pharmacy. The successful pilot led the way in expanding Australian pharmacists’ role as trusted healthcare professionals and strengthened the primary care network by easing pressure on GPs and diverting patients from hospitals and emergency clinics.
Tasmania
In May, the Tasmanian Government committed $5 million towards supporting scope expansion for pharmacists, with new treatments expected to become available to patients next year.
The funding will go towards subsidising the necessary training for pharmacists to treat new conditions, as well as a trial program for pharmacists to prescribe medication to aged care residents in collaboration with their GPs.
The training subsidy is expected to drive early uptake for interested pharmacists, and enable Tasmanians to access more health benefits at their most accessible frontline healthcare destinations: community pharmacies.
Victoria
With a 97% satisfaction rate among patients, Victoria’s Community Pharmacist Statewide Pilot was a resounding endorsement of bringing more services to pharmacies. This was reflected by the Victorian Government’s incredible $18 million investment in making the pilot permanent, with treatment for 22 health conditions soon to be available through community pharmacies. With subsidised services, Victoria also becomes the first and only state to offer expanded services at no cost to patients.
At a time when cost of living pressures have led many Australians to sacrifice their health, bringing treatment for a raft of everyday conditions to community pharmacies makes healthcare more accessible than ever.
South Australia
In South Australia, community pharmacy is headed for a $2.2 million promise to develop and implement expanded scope in the state with subsidised training for up to 120 pharmacists over three years and funding to support new clinical guidelines and upgraded software.
The commitment comes after reforms enabled South Australian women to receive advice and treatment for uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) and resupply of the oral contraceptive pill.
The announcement came as South Australia opened its fourth ever 24-hour pharmacy, making healthcare more accessible than ever. In just one year of operating, the three existing after-hours pharmacies helped over 270,000 visitors, dispensed more than 105,000 scripts, and greatly eased pressure on hospital emergency rooms.
Scope of practice — Current state of play*
Community pharmacies have an important role to play in the provision of accessible healthcare. Pharmacists are well trusted by Australian patients. And community pharmacy is the most accessible healthcare destination, located across Australian cities and into the furthest reaches of regional, rural and remote communities. Not only are pharmacists highly qualified healthcare professionals, but many community pharmacies are open after hours and on weekends making them an important resource in the broader healthcare system.
The services identified in scope of practice pilots are those which are:
- most frequently seen in hospital emergency rooms
- preventable should patients have had timely access to a healthcare practitioner.
The legislation that governs which conditions can be included in pharmacists’ scope of practice is managed by State & Territory governments. The Guild is asking for this legislation to be harmonised across the country so that it provides access to the same care for Australian patients, no matter where they live.
The map shows the progress of the scope of practice rollout around Australia.
*As at 23 May 2025.
