Pharmacy Daily | NAPSA makes the best of opportunity

WITH the NAPSA Congress 2023 just ending, a key message to all delegates present (pictured right) was to make the most of every opportunity and invest in their own career and community.

"Bite off more than you can chew, then chew like mad!", were the words of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia's National President Dr Fei Sim (pictured below), and to "keep calm and say yes!"

And that's exactly what got the team at Queensland Pharmacy Students' Association (QPSA) to win the NAPSA Best Branch of 2023 Award, given out last Fri at the gala night at the National Arboretum in Canberra.

QPSA President 2023 Jessica Heald (pictured right) said: "It truly was an honour to be bestowed this award in front of all my peers.

"It was a privilege to lead our team throughout a week where we learned about the future of pharmacy, study techniques, diversity in careers, how to better support our gender-diverse patients, advocacy in pharmacy, and other fantastic topics.

"We also had a multitude of networking opportunities, and we all made many new connections - both with other students, and industry professionals.

"Now, we return to Brisbane ready to strive for excellence.

"Thank you to my QPSA team, all the delegates from across Australia and New Zealand, and the NAPSA team for a sensational week.

"The biggest thank you is to the Congress Organising Committee from the Canberra Student Pharmacy Association (CaSPA) for the extraordinary efforts to develop this event for us all," Heald said.

The Tasmanian Association for Pharmacy Students (TAPS) won the Charity Cup Competition, an annual fundraising competition between the pharmacy schools.

TAPS won for raising funds for Myeloma Australia last year.

James Cook University Pharmacy Student Association won the Vampire Cup, an annual blood donation competition between the pharmacy schools.

Ingrid Stroud, the CaSPA President, won the NAPSA Wildcard PSA Pharmacy Student of the Year and will travel to Sydney to the PSA23 to compete in the national finals later in the year.

NAPSA also presented Kay Dunkley from Pharmacists' Support Services with a cheque for $2,594, which was raised by the students at Congress throughout last week.

Finally, the NAPSA Congress 2024 will be hosted by TAPS in Tasmania.

Pictured below: National Pharmacy Student Advisory Council.