The Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia has announced that applications are now open for pharmacy sites across Australia to become part of the inaugural SHPA Residency Program.
The scheme aims to establish a structured, formalised, supported and accredited national two-year residency program for pharmacists in their "foundation years".
The push to establish the SHPA Residency Program will align Australian arrangements with other jurisdictions such as the USA which has had similar programs in operation for more than 50 years.
Applications for provisional accreditation as an SHPA residency program site are now open, with hospital pharmacy departments considering taking on residents for the 2017/18 program invited to make submissions which will be considered on merit, based on selection criteria and the Accreditation Standards.
"The SHPA Residency Program is flexible to suit a range of sites and settings, not just metropolitan hospitals," according to SHPA ceo Kristin Michaels.
SHPA is particularly encouraging applications from private hospital pharmacy departments and rural/regional hospitals.
"The SHPA Residency Program will have a positive effect on the future of the profession and will provide a foundation for a variety of exciting career pathways for pharmacists," Michaels said.
She said the opening of applications shows robust progress in the development of the scheme, which offers "meaningful value propositions for Australia's hospitals and hospital pharmacists".
Michaels said the Residency Program would facilitate transfer of skills across practice sites, utilise consistent resources and promote reliable, quality evaluation across a range of training situations.
Locations wanting to find out more or make an application can go to shpa.org.au.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 15 Sep 16
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