Wed 5 August 2026

Policy and Advocacy Impact - July 2026

July was another active month for AdPha’s policy and advocacy program, with a strong focus on workforce sustainability, digital health, medicines policy and advancing pharmacists' contribution to patient care.

AdPha provided feedback on Ahpra and the Pharmacy Board of Australia’s proposed changes to the Recency of Practice (ROP) and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) registration standards. AdPha broadly supported the proposed reforms, including the introduction of a minimum five hours of interactive CPD annually, while advocating for greater clarity about eligible interactive learning activities and flexibility for pharmacists working in diverse practice settings, particularly rural and remote areas. We also highlighted the need for practical guidance to support pharmacists transitioning into new areas of practice.

AdPha also responded to the Online Prescribing Services: Sharing medicines-related information to My Health Record by Default consultation. Our submission emphasised that successful implementation will depend on interoperability across all care settings, clinician-centred design, robust governance arrangements and continued progress towards a comprehensive National Medicines Record to support safer, more coordinated care.

Workforce advocacy remained a key focus throughout July. AdPha welcomed the expansion of the Commonwealth Prac Payment to pharmacy students, recognising its potential to reduce financial barriers to clinical placements and support the future pharmacy workforce. We also renewed our strategic partnership with the National Australian Pharmacy Students' Association (NAPSA), reinforcing our shared commitment to building a sustainable pipeline of future hospital pharmacists and supporting the next generation of pharmacy leaders.

AdPha continued to advocate for reforms that improve patient access to care, including supporting renewed calls to remove Commonwealth restrictions preventing the use of telehealth in voluntary assisted dying (VAD) services. Removing these barriers would help improve equity of access, particularly for patients in rural, regional and remote communities.

Throughout July, AdPha continued engagement with members, regulators, governments and sector stakeholders on pharmacist prescribing reforms. Discussions focused on ensuring prescribing pathways are practical, nationally consistent and fit for purpose across all care settings, while also informing AdPha’s response to the Australian Pharmacy Council’s Review of the Accreditation Standards for Pharmacist Prescriber Education Programs. These engagements continue to reinforce the importance of hospital pharmacy perspectives in shaping the future prescribing workforce and supporting safe, team-based models of care.