Pharmacy training vital
August 16, 2013
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia
has urged an urgent review of a
decision by the Government to
further cut training incentives.
The Government’s Economic
Statement released earlier this
month - which also revealed the
accelerated price disclosure threat
to pharmacy - means the end to
completion incentive payments
for pharmacies who undertake
training of existing pharmacy and
dispensary assistants.
“This is the second cut to
commencement and completion
payments in less than twelve
months,” community pharmacy
owner and National Director of the
Guild Pharmacy Academy, Anthony
Tassone, said.
“Pharmacy staff are the ‘face’
and front-line of the community
pharmacy and need to be skilled in
addressing the community’s need
for up-to-date and accurate health
care advice and information,” Mr
Tassone added.
The Guild is a Registered Training
Organisation and is the primary
provider of training in every state
and territory and without the
incentive support, skill levels and
health outcomes are threatened.
Tassone said that while the Guild
accepts the government’s focus
on training newly employed staff,
there is still a significant need to
train existing employees.
“Without these incentive
payments pharmacy and dispensary
assistants will struggle to access
good quality, relevant training”.
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