THE Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) has launched a pharmacist workforce survey this week, with support from The University of Queensland.
The Pharmacy in Australia: measuring employment, labour decisions and activity (PAMELA) survey aims to capture current and future dynamics of the Australian pharmacy workforce, including trends in job history, income, career plan, professional commitment, and job satisfaction to help foster a better understanding of workforce decisions by pharmacists.
In launching the survey, PSA National President Dr Fei Sim encourages all pharmacists, at all career stages and across practice areas, to complete the pharmacist workforce survey.
"Decisions around work patterns are complex, and take into account pay and conditions, but also family and personal circumstances, location and professional roles," Sim commented.
The results of the PAMELA project will help the sector better understand what is motivating pharmacists to make their work decisions, and how policy change can enhance job satisfaction and promote work-life balance across the profession, Sim explained.
"The PSA consistently advocates for a national approach to health workforce planning, including measuring trends and the impact of the pharmacist workforce on health outcomes, to support workforce capacity into the future.
"Ensuring that we can continue to meet the future healthcare needs of our ageing population requires understanding our workforce now so that we appropriately plan for the future," Sim said.
Prof Lisa Nissen (pictured), part of the University of Queensland's research team supporting the PAMELA project, added that pharmacy schools are also supporting the survey by alerting alumni to the survey.
"Anyone with a pharmacy degree, even if they are not registered or practising, is invited to participate so that we can better understand why some people choose to leave the profession," Prof Nissen said.
"It is just as essential to know why people leave the profession for other opportunities or careers, as why they stay," she remarked.
Pharmacy schools are training the pharmacists of the future, "we need to better understand workforce trends in order to adapt our curriculum to be relevant to the changing practice of pharmacy". JG
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