Women in Tasmania will be among the first in the country able to access hormonal contraception initiation through community pharmacies, thanks to a transformative announcement by the Rockliff Government.
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia (PGA) has praised the news that within 100 days, trained pharmacists working in community pharmacies will be able to initiate and supply hormonal contraception.
The reform was announced to coincide with World Pharmacists Day.
PGA’s Tasmanian Branch President Joe O’Malley said the reform positioned Tasmania as a leader in women’s health care access and emphasised the game-changing difference for women across the state.
It will soon be an expectation from Australian women that they can visit a community pharmacy to initiate their hormonal contraception regime, without the burden of consulting a GP.
PGA National President Prof Trent Twomey
“Being able to visit a local community pharmacy to start hormonal contraception will remove unnecessary barriers, particularly for women in rural and regional areas, where accessing a GP can be very difficult,” Mr O’Malley said.
“On World Pharmacists Day, this is a powerful acknowledgment of the trust patients place in their Tasmanian pharmacies and the Government’s commitment to making healthcare more accessible.”
The Government will also progress its commitment to providing post-graduate training scholarships to allow pharmacists to receive full scope of practice credentials.
Following completion of the training, pharmacists will be able to provide further treatment for everyday health conditions by treating common health conditions such as ear infections, reflux, rhinitis, and skin conditions such as shingles, eczema, and wound care.
PGA’s National President Professor Trent Twomey congratulated Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff and Health Minister Bridget Archer for their leadership and commitment to improving the health outcomes of all Tasmanians, particularly women.
“Tasmania, along with Queensland and the Northern Territory, has set the standard for other states and territories,” Prof Twomey said
“It will soon be an expectation from Australian women that they can visit a community pharmacy to initiate their hormonal contraception regime, without the burden of consulting a GP.
“Across the board, Tasmania is showing how expanding pharmacists’ roles in the delivery of everyday primary healthcare services can deliver real benefits for patients.”
This is a defining moment for community pharmacy in Tasmania and indeed our nation. By improving access to contraception and other frontline services, Tasmanian pharmacies are being empowered to deliver faster, more convenient care for their patients.
PGA Tasmanian Branch President Joe O’Malley
The announcement comes as a new study found that while 82 percent of Australians visit a pharmacy regularly and 84 percent trust the medical advice they receive, nearly half are unaware pharmacists can provide prescription medicines, medical certificates for short-term illness, and treatment for common conditions such as urinary tract infections (UTIs)*.
Data shows four in 10 Australians face unacceptable GP wait times, with one in 10 waiting more than three weeks.
In regional areas, the problem is worse, with nearly half of patients facing unacceptable delays to see a GP, and one in five waiting more than three weeks¹.
Mr O’Malley said the PGA looked forward to working closely with the Tasmanian Government to implement these measures, particularly the initiation of hormonal contraception.
“This is a defining moment for community pharmacy in Tasmania and indeed our nation. By improving access to contraception and other frontline services, Tasmanian pharmacies are being empowered to deliver faster, more convenient care for their patients,” he said.
To be ready to meet demand for hormonal contraception initiation, Tasmanian community pharmacists are encouraged to register an expression of interest for the requisite training with the Australasian College of Pharmacy https://bit.ly/46E98lp.
To be eligible to benefit from the state government’s training scholarships, pharmacists should register their interest in completing their prescribing qualifications as soon as possible after the expression of interest process opens.
*Research by YouGov, September 2025, sample size 1,030 adults. Figures weighted to be representative of all Australian adults (18+).
¹Research by Insightfully, April 2024, sample size 3,453, including strong sub-samples across regional and metropolitan areas.
