Concerns over immigration
June 20, 2011
MORE than 600 students have
joined their voices to the chorus of
concern over the inclusion of
pharmacy on Australia’s Skilled
Occupations List (PD Tue), via an
online petition created by the
National Australian Pharmacy
Students’ Association.
The Skilled Occupations List
identifies which skilled occupations
people wishing to immigrate
to Australia can nominate under
the nation’s unsponsored or
independent General Skilled
Migration visa program.
“There is great concern amongst
our membership, most of it is
confusion as to how this decision
was made,” said National President
of NAPSA, Ashleigh Coome.
As a result, NAPSA is calling on
the Government to release the data
which it based the decision to put
pharmacy back on the list.
In addition Coome also called on
the Pharmacy Board of Australia to
provide the means to gather data
on Australian pharmacists.
“With national registration now in
effect, it is possible to gather data
on all Australian pharmacists of
where they work, what hours they
work, if they want more/less hours
etc, so we can work towards fixing
the unequal distribution in the
workforce,” Coome said.
“NAPSA looks forward to working
with the government and other
professional bodies with regards to
this topical issue,” she added.
During the Pharmacy Expo on the
weekend a number of visitors to
the Pharmacy Daily stand also
expressed concern about the
changes and the impact on job
prospects for local students.
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