In Tasmania
In late October, the PGA’s Tasmanian branch celebrated the latest milestone for pharmacy-delivered UTI services, with the local government saying 10,000 pharmacy consultations for UTI services had now occurred in the state.
Helen O’Byrne, senior vice president of the Tasmanian branch, joined the Tasmanian Premier the Hon Jeremy Rockliff MP and the Minister for Health the Hon Bridget Archer MP to make the announcement — saying it was exciting to see expanded sc ope services delivering much-needed care for patients.
“We are proud to have delivered 10,000 UTI services through Tasmanian community pharmacies since 2024,” Ms O’Byrne said. “This service is just the beginning and shows exactly how expanding pharmacists’ scope of practice can make a real difference in our healthcare system.”
In Canberra
In Australia’s national capital, PGA’s ACT branch welcomed an announcement by the ACT Minister for Health, Rachel Stephen- Smith, confirming the ACT Government is expanding the scope of services pharmacists can offer — including new initiatives to protect younger patients.
As part of the changes, the Pharmacist Vaccination Standards will be amended ahead of the 2026 influenza season, allowing pharmacists and intern pharmacists to administer flu vaccines to children from two years of age, down from the current minimum of five.
Ms Stephen-Smith highlighted the vital role pharmacists play in the health and wellbeing of Canberrans. “Pharmacists contribute significantly to the health and wellbeing of Canberrans through the many services they offer, including administering influenza vaccines,” she said.
In South Australia
From early next year, women in South Australia will be able to access hormonal contraception initiation directly from a community pharmacy, putting the state on par with Queensland, Tasmania, and the Northern Territory.
The PGA has welcomed the news, noting South Australia will, from 2026, take a national lead in women’s health services and community pharmacy care.
The president of the PGA’s South Australia branch, Matthew Gillespie, said the announcement was a milestone for both community pharmacies and patients.
