Technician Director and NZ membership as SHPA signals inclusive new era
The Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA) members have voted overwhelmingly in favour of adding an elected Technician Member to the Board of Directors, as President Tom Simpson FANZCAP (Lead&Mgmt) today confirmed the adoption of a new SHPA Constitution, while jointly announcing a new membership pathway for New Zealanders in partnership with the New Zealand Hospital Pharmacy Association (NZHPA).
The announcements represent two of the final pillars of the organisation’s Transformation 2024 agenda, after the successful launch of the Australian and New Zealand College of Advanced Pharmacy (ANZCAP) in September 2023.
SHPA President Tom Simpson FANZCAP (Lead&Mgmt) says inclusion is a cornerstone of the organisation’s evolving identity.
‘As we have done for eight decades our organisation will continue to drive specialty practice forward as Australia’s leading voice of hospital pharmacy expertise, but this is not confined to the practice of pharmacists.
‘We have a proud history of inclusion and leadership in the technician space going back 25 years, and we will continue to champion clinical initiatives that harness technician expertise to enable expanded practice scope.
‘Enabling a Technician Board Director is another step toward SHPA embracing the entire profession across its membership as a truly representative peak body for advanced pharmacy practice in Australia.
‘This inclusion will soon extend across the Tasman, and we look forward to welcoming members from New Zealand via the new Affiliate Membership of SHPA.’
NZHPA President Clare Greasley FANZCAP (Lead&Mgmt) says the SHPA pathway will be available to all renewing NZHPA members from 1 June 2024.
‘We are pleased to offer New Zealanders membership of SHPA as an optional, additional subscription.
‘The offering will include discounted access to all SHPA pharmacy education and Medicines Management, Australia’s largest scientific pharmacy conference.
‘This is the second of two core benefits unveiled under our ongoing MoU, with NZHPA members to enjoy free access to ANZCAP in perpetuity.’
Mr Simpson says the delivery of Transformation 2024 is only the beginning of big changes that will take SHPA into a new era.
‘Over the last few years, through all levels of our organisation, we have heard members’ ideas for how we can provide the programs, supports and advocacy to establish our vision of the future of our profession within reality.
‘Transformation 2024 put that into action, through unprecedented investment in ANZCAP, specialty pharmacy and digital infrastructure, and we look forward to more exciting announcements when our digital platforms go live this winter.
‘The connections between these initiatives – and between all of us who practice pharmacy – are the patients whose lives we seek to improve, wherever they receive care.’