NEWS

Community pharmacists and industry professionals have embraced this year’s APP conference with more than 7,450 attendees experiencing four days of educational sessions and networking functions, making the conference it’s most successful in the 33-year history of the event.

From across the country, community pharmacy professionals heard from federal members of parliament, international guest speakers and inspirational leaders.

Highlights of the conference include the keynote speaker, the Hon. Mark Butler Federal Minister for Health and Aged Care who congratulated the profession on their commitment to Australia’s healthcare sector and continuing to provide accessible service and treatments in health to the many communities across the country.

Mark Burdon, UK pharmacist prescriber and Secretary General of World Pharmacy Council, presented to a packed auditorium, sharing his journey leading up to independent prescribing for patients.

Mark also spoke about the positive impact pharmacists practicing to their full scope has made to the overwhelmed National Health Service.

“We’ve seen the profession go from strength to strength and as of 2026, UK universities will incorporate scope of practice into graduate level certificates, which means we will have generations of pharmacists working to their full scope of practice,” says Mark.

Mark also commented on the significant progress made across many of the states and territories in Australia, most noteworthy, the milestones being made on the North Queensland Community Pharmacy Scope of Practice Pilot.

Conference Convenor, Kos Sclavos AM said the attendance numbers truly reflect the strength in the profession and the desire to continue learning about the clinical developments and changes happening across the sector.

“I couldn’t be more proud as a pharmacist seeing the profession turn up in record numbers. The opportunity to reconnect with industry peers and learn from world-class leaders is what APP is all about.

“I know all the delegates would come away from this year’s conference reinvigorated and inspired to deliver exceptional services to their patients. “A huge thanks to the delegates, exhibitors and sponsors for making this year’s conference a huge success. We are on the countdown for next year,” says Mr Sclavos.