About SHPA

In the spirit of reconciliation SHPA acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past, present and emerging. View our 2023-24 Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan.

The Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA) is the national professional organisation for more than 5,200 pharmacists, pharmacist interns, students, technicians and associates working across Australia’s health system. SHPA is the only professional pharmacy organisation with a strong base of members practising in public and private hospitals and other health services.

About us
History
Member Statement and Strategic Plan
Annual Reports
Governance
Contact us

About us

SHPA supports pharmacists to meet medication and related service needs, so that both optimal health outcomes and economic objectives are achieved for individual Australians, for the community as a whole and for healthcare facilities.

For nearly 80 years, SHPA has represented and advocated for pharmacists working in hospitals and other healthcare settings. Hospital pharmacists operate at the highest levels of pharmacy and healthcare, and represent the greatest expertise in the design and development of professional pharmacy services to support positive patient outcomes.

SHPA members lead the Pharmacy Departments in all of Australia’s principal referral hospitals, as well as the vast majority of both Public Acute A and Public Acute B hospitals. 75% of all hospitals (public and private) have their pharmacy departments led by SHPA members. SHPA members are also employed in a range of innovative outreach and liaison services in community healthcare settings.

SHPA acknowledges the Wurundjeri, Woi-wurrung people of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Owners of the land on which we meet and work. We thank their Elders, past and present, and thank the Elders of the lands on which our members meet, work and live. We celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first pharmacists of Australia, bush medicine practitioners and doctors who practised on this land.

History

SHPA was established in 1941 following the pioneering efforts of 25 public hospital pharmacists from Victoria. From 1947 to 1964 other branches were established across Australia (South Australia and the Northern Territory share a branch). The inaugural meeting of the national council and first national conference were held in Adelaide in 1961. SHPA is governed by a Board of Directors which is supported by Branches and Specialty Practice Leadership Committees. Pharmacist Directors and Branch Committee member volunteers are elected by the membership.

Member Statement

We exist to promote and protect the well-being of all members. To achieve this objective, we will actively increase understanding by governments and the wider community of the range, complexity and value of the work of our members. We will keep our members informed of the advocacy and representation undertaken on their behalf.  

We will monitor the dynamics of the marketplace and we will design and implement skills development programs, training and peer support to protect and enhance the careers of our members. Where appropriate, we will form partnerships with other organisations and we will create opportunities for our members to design and implement our programs and projects. 

To guarantee the ongoing value of SHPA to members, we will develop effective, transparent business processes that support better management of the Society and enhance the quality of our work.  We will create value propositions to support a continual growth in membership.

Annual reports

Governance

Governance underpins SHPA’s capacity to achieve success on behalf of our members.  SHPA’s commitment to quality governance is the foundation for supporting an evolving, relevant future for hospital pharmacy.  It is core to contingency planning and developing organisational capacity to manage the political and market factors that increase or limit opportunities for members.

Our governance efforts provide support for members and directors to plan for a productive, successful future and for addressing issues and problems that arise from time to time. 

To establish a robust foundation for good governance, SHPA has developed the resources available below, and reports regularly on progress.  

Related Documents

In this Section

Board of Directors

Board of Directors

SHPA is governed by a Board comprising seven elected directors and three appointed directors, supported by seven state and territory branches, Specialty Practice streams and other reference and advisory groups.

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Reconciliation Action Plan

Reconciliation Action Plan

SHPA is an organisation that speaks up for: members, their peers, the broader profession and the patients in their care. We gather evidence, seek consensus and provide advice through written and spoken words. Our Reconciliation Action Plan is different; through its actions and intentions, we will listen.

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