PSA sponsors OS students
October 2, 2013
THE Pharmaceutical Society of
Australia has resolved the impasse
facing current international
pharmacy students after the
removal of pharmacy from the
skilled occupations list (PD 04 Jun).
Under a new arrangement
announced yesterday the PSA
will “nominate and sponsor
international pharmacy students
who are PSA members and who are
seeking to continue and complete
their studies in Australia in 2014
and 2015,” under the Subclass 402
Visa (occupational trainee stream).
PSA National President, Grant
Kardachi, said the move means that
the overseas students now have
options to complete their training
and register as pharmacists.
“They can then return to their
country of origin to use these skills
to pursue their careers,” he said.
Kardachi said that the removal
of pharmacists from the Skilled
Occupations List meant that
international students were no
longer able to access a Subclass
485 visa which enabled them to
complete their studies and register
as pharmacists in Australia.
“There are more than 600
international pharmacy students
affected by this change,” he said.
Peak pharmacy group The
Australian Pharmacy Liaison Forum
has also previously expressed
concern about the “lack of natural
justice” for the current students
due to the decision (PD 30 Aug).
Kardachi said that the PSA move
was a further example of the
society’s commitment to members
and to the profession, highlighting
the organisation’s leadership role
in helping to further career of PSA
member pharmacy students.
The Pharmaceutical Society of
Australia has been approved as
a Training and Research sponsor
with the federal Department of
Immigration and Citizenship, which
will facilitate the move to support
the international students.
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