ePlacebo - March/April 2024

Principal Sponsors

President’s Report

Dearfriends,

Itiswithgreatpleasurethatwepresent thisissueoftheePlacebo!

NAPSA’sannualCharityCupiswell underwayandourbranchesarehead-to -headcompetingtoraisethemostfunds andawarenessforQENDO,apeak organisationforthoseaffectedby endometriosis,adenomyosis,PCOS,infertility, orpelvicpain.

PRESIDENT

Bano Serhan

Manyindividualswithendometriosissufferforyearsbeforereceivinga properdiagnosis,therefore,increasedawarenesscanhelpindividuals recognisesymptomsearlierandseekappropriatemedicalcare Increased awarenesscanalsodriveresearch,funding,andinnovationinthediagnosis andtreatmentofendometriosis Byhighlightingtheimportanceof addressingthiscondition,wecanencourageinvestmentinresearchthat mayleadtobettertherapiesandimprovedoutcomesforthoseaffected.

Overall,endometriosisawarenessisessentialforimprovingearlydetection, accesstocare,andsupportforindividualslivingwiththischroniccondition Byraisingawareness,wecanworktowardsafuturewhereallindividuals withendometriosisreceivetimelyandeffectivetreatment,andnoone suffersinsilence.IfyouwouldliketobeinvolvedinNAPSA’sCharityCup, pleasereachouttoyourlocalNAPSAbranch!

ThePharmacyGuildofAustralia'sannualconference,theAustralian PharmacyProfessionalConferenceandTradeExhibition(APP),washeldat theGoldCoastConventionandExhibitionCentreinMarch.Iwouldliketo thankthePharmacyGuildofAustraliaforinvitingtheNAPSAExecutive DirectorsandItoattendAPP2024,andforhostingsuchanengagingand inspiringeventfortheprofession.

NAPSAofferedtwoall-inclusivescholarshipstoAPPforpharmacystudents whohavedemonstratedanoutstandingcommitmenttoandhavestrong aspirationsforworkingincommunitypharmacy.AlishaRodrigo(2ndYear UWAMPS)andFawaazMalek(1stYearVPSA)werethewinnersofthe scholarship,andbothspenttheirtimeimmersingthemselvesinallofthe activitiesandworkshopsAPPhadtooffer.WealsoheldourannualNAPSA AlumniNetworkingeventatAPP!Aspecialthankstoouralumnichair,Xavier Vasquez,fororganisingastunnerofanevent!

Inotherexcitingnews,TheAustralianandNewZealandCollegeof AdvancedPharmacy(ANZCAP)hasopenedsubmissionstopharmacy studentsacrossAustraliaforitsinauguralPharmacyStudentoftheYear Award.Thewinner,tobeannouncedinSeptember,willreceiveflights, accommodation,andregistrationtoattendMedicinesManagement2024, Australia’slargestannualscientificpharmacyconference,happeningin AdelaideinNovember.ItisagreatopportunityforNAPSAmemberstogain formalrecognitionthroughpost-nominalsandcertificationandan excellentwaytodemonstratetheirexperienceandexpertise!

Untilnexttime,

BanoSerhan

NAPSANationalPresident2023/2024 president@napsa.org.au

All About the APSJ

AJournalcreatedbystudents,forstudents.

Howcanyouelevateyourstudentjourney andbecomeanauthor?

RESEARCH DIRECTOR

Annabelle

Gov

TheAustralianPharmacyStudents’Journal (APSJ)isaNAPSAinitiative,createdfor pharmacystudentstopublishoriginal research,featurearticles,opinionpieces, andmore!TheAPSJisthefirstpharmacy students'Journalintheworld Itisa peer-reviewed,open-accessjournalthat reviewsarticlesinadouble-blindfashion. TheAPSJispublishedbiannually,withtheSummerIssueattheendof February,andtheWinterIssueattheendofJuly.

ThetargetaudienceoftheJournalispharmacystudentsandinterns acrossAustralia,aswellasoverseas Manystudentscompleteresearchas partoftheirdegreeandtheAPSJistheretoprovidetheopportunityto publishinanacademicJournal.Itisanamazingplatformtoshareyour work,andimproveyourcommunicationabilities,criticalanalysis,and problem-solvingskillswithinateamenvironment.Theseskillscanbethen appliedinallareasofthepharmacyworkforce,regardlessofthechosen field TheJournalaimstostrengthenthequalityofstudent-ledresearch aroundtheworldandpromoteitsimportanceandvalueinthepharmacy industry.

Notaresearchstudent?TheAPSJhaslotstooffer!

Youcanstillpublishfeaturearticlesandlettersonanypharmacytopicyou want.TheAPSJalsoholdsitsbiannualopinionpiececompetition,opento allpharmacystudentsandinternsaroundtheworld.Thisisanopportunity foryoutowriteanopinionpiecebasedonyourindividualexperiencesand aspirations Youcanalsobecomeastudentreviewerandparticipateinthe publicationprocess

TheAPSJSummerIssue2024“TheFutureisBright”isoutnowandweare delightedtoshareitwithyou.Thefutureholdsgreatpotentialforstudents, astheyareintheperfectplacetowitnesswherethepharmacyprofession isheaded.Thisisthemessagewewanttoconveyinthisissue:thefutureof pharmacyhasneverlookedbrighter,andweinviteyoutopartakeinthis journey StaytunedforourWinterIssuecomingsoon!

Anyquestions?

WewillbeholdingoursecondAPSJInfoNightonFriday17thofMay6:30pm AEST,anestimated1hourQ&Asessiontargetedatstudentsinterestedin publishingtheirworkandwantingtoknowmoreabouttheJournalandthe processesinvolvedinpublishing Thiswillbeanopportunityforstudentsto hearfrompastauthors,academics,andCo-Editors-in-Chief.Allquestions canbedirectedtoAnnabelleGovat<research@napsa.org.au>.

AnnabelleGov

NAPSAResearchDirector2023/2024 research@napsa.org.au

Charity Cup

CharityCupisanannualNAPSAevent inwhicheachUniversityStudent Associationcompetestoraisethemost moneyforachosencharity Thisyear, NAPSAvotedonQENDOtobethecharity for2024 QENDOisanot-for-profit organisationthataimstoraiseawareness andsupportwomen’shealth–particularlyconditionssuchas endometriosisandPCOS.Pharmacyis typicallyafemale-dominatedprofession, andforme,itwasveryexcitingtobe supportingQENDOandshowingoursupport.

AWARENESS CHAIR

Chloe Kappel

Sofar,weareabouthalfwaythroughCharityCup,andeachuniversityhas beenholdingsomeamazingfundraisersandeventstotryandwinthat trophy!Seeingeveryone’sideasandenthusiasmhasbeensuchahighlight forme,andIamexcitedtoseemore–andtoseewhotakeshomethewin

NotlongafterCharityCupcomestoacloseonMay17th,wewillbegin preparationsforVampireCup–towhichJCUarethereigningchamps. Thisyear,we’veaddedanotherexcitingcomponent,wherewehave partneredwiththeBoneMarrowDonorRegistrytosupporttheirinitiative andtryandgetasmanydonorsontheregistryaswecan!Contactyour localbranchaboutgettinginvolved!

ChloeKappel

NAPSAPharmacyAwarenessChair2023/2024 pharmacy.awareness@napsa.org.au

PHARMACY

Branch Update

SouthAustralianPharmacyStudents’Association(SAPSA)

AsSAPSAreflectsonanotheryear,wecelebrateourwinsandrecognise whatwemayneedtoworkongoingandgrowingforwardasthepeak pharmacystudentbodyinSA

InJuly2023,SAPSAmarkedasignificantmilestonewiththecelebrationof our100thBirthday,withtheannualGalaBall!Representativesfromour proudandesteemedsponsors:ThePharmacyGuildofAustraliaSABranch, PricelinePharmacy,NationalPharmacies,ChemistWarehouse,TheHealthy Collective,andPharmaceuticalDefenceLimited,alongwithstudents, alumni,andstaffattendedtheeventatthestunningPlant4Bowdenlocation And,servedasacelebrationandreflectionofSAPSA’srichhistoryand transformativeimpactonpharmacyeducationwithinSouthAustralia.

2024kickedoffwiththereturnofourhighlyrequested‘PharmacyProfession AwarenessDay’(PPAD),whichproceededtobeoneofthebiggestevents SAPSAhasrunpost-COVID,atestamenttoourdedicationtoconnecting ourmemberswiththepharmacyindustry With21industrycompanies represented,spanningacrosshospitalpharmacy,pharmaceuticalsciences, communitypharmacy,andmore,SAPSAsaw300studentsattend throughouttheday.Thefeedbackfrombothsponsorsandstudentswas overwhelminglypositive,andhassetthetoneforwhattoexpectduringthe restoftheyear

FollowingthesuccessfulcampaigningforseparatePSOTYfinalistsfrom bothSAandNT,UniSAandPSAfacilitatedSA’sPSOTYfinalsforthefirsttime in8years,and,afteralast-minutenomination,Iamproudtoannounce thatCalumnGunnwillberepresentingSouthAustraliaatthenational PSOTYfinalsinAugust2024!

SAPSA’s2024objectiveisincreasingourreachwithinthestudentspaces, andplanningforadynamicfuturewithinthenew“AdelaideUniversity”, whichbecomesoperationalinjustover18months.Withfivecommittee positionsbeingfilledbycurrentfirst-yearpharmacystudents,wecannot waittoseewhatthisnewageofSAPSAwillachieve.

Currently,SAPSA’ssocialresponsibilityisinfocuswithourparticipationin NAPSA’s2024CharityCup,raisingawarenessandfundsforQENDOandthe women ’shealthepidemic Ourannualtrivianight(supportedbyThe HealthyCollective)andafreeeducationsessiondeliveredby6incredible women ’shealthexpertsarebothhappeninginearlyMay!

AsSAPSApreparestohostdelegatesfromacrossthecountryforNAPSA’s 2024AGMinJuly,weareexcitedtoshowcaseourbeautifulcity,butalsoto haveanationalpresenceinourstate,highlightingtheimportanceof collectiveactiontoacareerinpharmacy-andtheroleofNAPSAinthat.

XoxoSAPSALove

ErinFawcett

SAPSAPresident2023/2024

Branch Update

CanberraStudentPharmacyAssociation(CaSPA)

Heyeveryone,

Itrustyou'reallhanginginthereaswenavigatethroughtheintensestretch ofthesemesterwithassignmentsandexamsloomingahead

CaSPAhasbeenbustlingthispastsemester,despitebeingoneofthe smallerbranchesofNAPSA,wearealwaystryingtoshowourlarger counterpartsthatwecankeepup.

OneofourstandoutmomentsthisyearwasourannualPharmacy Ball/AwardsNight.Itwasachanceforustounwindwithourpeersand industryprofessionals,celebratingacademicachievements.Thisyear markedthe20thanniversaryofCaSPA,makingthenightevenmorespecial. Wewereveryluckythatoneofourown,afourth-yearstudent,wowedthe audiencewithaheartfeltviolinperformance,whichfurtheraddedtothe memorableatmosphereofthenight Wewerealsodelightedtowelcome manyCaSPAalumni,makingtheeventtrulywholesomebyshowcasingthe fullspectrumofthepharmacyindustry.

Followingthismilestoneevent,wehostedtwoeducationalsessionsforour members.ThefirstwasasessionbyAGenderAgenda,offeringinsightsinto Trans,GenderDiverse,andIntersexcommunities Thesecondsession,which waspresentedbySmithandNephew,focusedonWoundCareTraining, sheddinglightontheimportanceofmoistwound-carehealingin communitypharmacy.

Wewerealsothrilledtolaunchalimited-editionmerchandiselineof jumpers,featuringastylishdesignwith'sideeffectsmayvary'emblazoned acrosstheback.Theresponsefrombothalumniandstudentswas overwhelminglypositive.

NAPSACongresswasyetanotherhighlightoftheyear,withasizable delegationfromCaSPAheadingdowntoHobartforaweekofengaging socialeventsandeducationalsessions TheCongressstrengthenedourties withotherNAPSAbranches,fosteringnewrelationshipsandignitingour passionforgreaterinvolvementintheprofession(ShoutouttoSUPA, JCUPSA,QUTSPA,UoNAPS!).

We'vealsoseenasurgeininterestfromfirst-yearstudentseagerto supportCaSPA It'sclearthatthefutureholdsmuchsuccessforourbranch

Weappreciateyoursupportaswecontinueourjourneyinpharmacy. Lookingahead,we'reexcitedtoshareourachievementsandcamaraderie withyouinthepharmacycommunity.

Bestregards, XavierVasquez

CaSPAPresident

More than ever

Itwasclearinourconversationsthis yearthatthereisanincreasing awarenessandappreciationforthe roleofpharmacists,particularlyaspart oftheprimaryandtertiarycareteam.

A

Prof Fei Sim PSA NATIONAL PRESIDENT

Itcomesasnosurprisethatthelast fewmonths,andinfactthelastyear, havebeensomeofourbusiestyet. Despitethesechallenges,PSAonce againcelebratedThankYourPharmacist Day,akeydateonourcalendarthat acknowledgestheoftenthanklesscontributionofAustralianpharmacists.

AspartofourThankYourPharmacistDaycampaigneachyear,wespeak toawiderangeofstakeholders,politicians,andhealthsectorleadersto drawattentiontothecriticalroleofourprofessionacrossahugerangeof roles Whetheritwasbefore,duringorafterthepandemic,pharmacists’ commitmenthasbeenconsistent

Itwasclearinourconversationsthisyearthatthereisanincreasing awarenessandappreciationfortheroleofpharmacists,particularlyaspart oftheprimaryandtertiarycareteam.

Whilethereisstillalongwaytogo,it’simportantthatweacknowledgethe sustainedjourneythathasledtothisacknowledgement.Yearsofstrong advocacyhasledtotheexpansionofpharmacist-administered vaccinations,theinitiationofprescribingprogramstotreatuncomplicated UTIs,skinconditionsandwomen’shealthconditions,andtheemergenceof innovativepracticeareasandroles

Throughallourwork,PSAcontinuestoadvocateforpharmaciststoplaya greaterroleinalllevelsofhealthcare,promotingqualityuseofmedicines andmedicinesafety,improvingaccesstocareinthemanagementofa rangeofcommonailmentsandchronichealthconditions.

Weknowthatthroughthesetimesofchange,everypharmacistneeds someoneintheircorner–thisiskeytowhatwedoatPSA Ourteamare workingdayinanddayouttoensurethatAustralia’spharmacistshave accesstothenationleadingeducation,criticalresources,andpractice supportthatyouneedtosucceed.Whilsttherearestilluncertainties,one thingIcanreassureyouisthatPSAwillalwaysbeheretosupport pharmaciststhroughouttheevolutionofpharmacistpractice.

AssociateProfessorFeiSim

PSANationalPresident

PSA Upcoming Events

FormoreinformationonanyofthePSA’sUpcomingEvents,checkout theirwebsite-https://wwwpsaorgau/networking-events/all-events/

May2024

Tuesday14thMay-TravelHealthServicesintheStatewideCommunity PharmacyPilot-LiveWebinar

Tuesday28thMay-AninterdisciplinaryapproachtopalliativecareinSW Sydney-LiveWebinar

Friday31stMay-VIC/TASAnnualTherapeuticUpdate2024-Hobart,TAS

June2024

Wednesday5thJune-PersistentPain:OptimisePatientFunction-Live Webinar

EditedbyMiaAvram NAPSAPublicationsChair2023/2024 Email:publications@napsaorgau