Specialty Practice

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Open the Specialty Practice portal

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Enhance your knowledge and advance your career at every stage

Specialty Practice is a valued SHPA member benefit, wrapping pharmacists and technicians in networks of expertise and support, while enabling specialist hospital pharmacy expertise to shape the profession and national health policy.  

Specialty Practice provides three levels of engagement across 30+ specialties. 

Joining Specialty Practice is your gateway to a nationwide network of professionals and peer learning opportunities, and a wide range of resources including CPD, research, advocacy and policy, as well as discussion forums.

• Self-enrolling in an Interest Group →
• Applying to join a Practice Group →
• Nominating for election from a Practice Group to a Leadership Committee →

Benefits of Specialty Practice for members

• Improve patient care and clinical decisions 
• Develop pharmacy services, protocols and procedures 
• Educate and train staff, and inform SHPA's national education program  
• Identify drug use trends 
• Apply new research to practice 
• Lead and influence your field by assisting with the development of Standards of Practice, education offerings and through advocacy 
• Fulfil your CPD requirements and accruing Group 1, 2 and 3 CPD credits 
• Consult and share information with members, key stakeholders and government 
• And much more! 

Find out more about Specialty Practice in our Five Years of Specialty Practice report (August 2022).

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Interest Groups 

Start your Specialty Practice journey by sharing your expertise, developing your knowledge, and supporting the growth of fellow members.

Key benefits and information

• Open to all members: students, interns, technicians, pharmacists 
• Join all Interest Groups relevant to your practice
• Targeted information about events and education opportunities
• Connect with leaders and peers around the country via discussion forums
• Share resources and tips
• Reduce professional isolation
• Eligibility to vote for Leadership Committees

Start your journey and self-enrol in Interest Groups:

Enrol in Interest Groups

To self-enrol, please enter the username and password for your Online CPD account. If you have recently joined SHPA, please allow one working day to receive access details for a 'member eligible' account. For assistance with your account details please contact specialtypractice@shpa.org.au. 

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Practice Groups

Practice Groups recognise SHPA member expertise, comprising members who are accomplished and invested in the specialty who want to work with SHPA and Leadership Committees on projects and to promote and develop pharmacy practice in the specialty – and maybe join the Leadership Committee.

Develop and share your expertise and show your commitment to leading specialty pharmacy practice by applying to join.  Practice Group applications are accepted year-round.

Please note, to be eligible to join a Practice Group you must hold and maintain Full Pharmacist, Technician or Former/Retired SHPA member (Student and Provisional Pharmacist members are NOT eligible to join Practice Groups). 

Apply to join a Practice Group

Key benefits and information

• Join SHPA's pool of member expertise
• Contribute to publications, CPD, policy and submissions, and more 
• Collaborate with fellow members on SHPA projects 
• Network to support expertise development and guide early-career pharmacists 
• Dedicated portal for the Leadership Committee to liaise with the Practice Group 
• Eligibility to nominate for election to Leadership Committees 

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Leadership Committees

A dynamic group of elected members with deeper involvement and expertise in their specialty who drive activities for the benefit of all members. Leadership Committee elections will next be held late 2023.

Key benefits and information

• Inform policy and education initiatives 
• Advocate for change at a senior level 
• Influence pharmacy practice through key SHPA publications, incl. Standards of Practice and position statements 
• Contribute directly to the national discourse through key SHPA promotional activities including media releases and public statements 
• Contribute to publications and other key resources 
• Receive recognition as a leader in your specialty, including use of the Leadership Committee badge and email signature device 
• Network with other experts, influencers and key stakeholders 
• Resources including online discussion forums 
• Support from Practice Groups and SHPA Secretariat 
• Only Practice Group members can nominate to be elected to Leadership Committees 

Leadership Committee members

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Specialty Practice Streams

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Aid and Volunteering *Interest Group Only* Cardiology Clinical Trials Compounding Services Critical Care Dispensing and Distribution Education and Educational Visiting Electronic Medication Management Emergency Medicine General Medicine Geriatric Medicine Infectious Diseases Leadership and Management Medical Specialties *Interest Group Only* Medication Safety

Medicines Information Mental Health Nephrology Neurology *Interest Group Only* Oncology and Haematology Paediatrics and Neonatology Pain Management Palliative Care Research Respiratory *Interest Group Only* Rural and Remote Surgery and Perioperative Medicine Technicians and Assistants Transitions of Care and Primary Care Women's and Newborn Health

Useful resources

• FAQs
• Five Years of Specialty Practice report - August 2022
• Specialty Practice Hashtags
• Specialty Practice Governance
• Discussion Forum User Guide
• CPD Guide
• Chair, Leadership Committee – position description
• Member, Leadership Committee – position description
• GRIT Liaison, Leadership Committee - Position description
• Discussion Forum Moderator - Leadership Committee roles and responsibilities
• Practice Group Assessments by Leadership Committee
• Practice in Focus - template
• Specialty Practice Portal (Online CPD system)  
• Terms and Conditions

Please direct enquiries about Specialty Practice to specialtypractice@shpa.org.au.