The National Alliance for Pharmacy Education (NAPE) has identified the development and recognition of Advanced Practice for Australian pharmacists as key to the professions future.

What is Advanced Practice?

Advanced Practice has been defined by the Advanced Pharmacy Practice Framework Steering Committee (APPFSC) as

“…practice that is so significantly different from that achieved at initial registration that it warrants recognition by professional peers and the public of the expertise of the practitioner and the education, training and experience from which that capability was derived”

This definition has been agreed upon by all pharmacy organisations participating in the development of the National Competency Standards Framework for Pharmacists in Australia (2010).

Advanced Pharmacy Practice Framework Steering Committee (APPFSC)

The consultation process regarding Advanced Practice commenced in 2010 with the release of a discussion paper by APPFSC. NAPE’s response highlighted a number of areas for consideration. Soon afterwards the National Competency Standards Framework for Pharmacists in Australia 2010 were published, containing important details relating to professional practice in focus, including how Advanced Practice might be developed and recognised in Australia.

Further work by APPFSC resulted in the release of a profession wide consultation paper in 2012. You can read NAPE’s comprehensive response.

NAPE supports advanced practice

NAPE is extremely supportive of the development and recognition of Advanced Practice in Australia. Formed to provide leadership in both undergraduate and postgraduate education, the alliance views high quality, research-informed education as essential to supporting the advancement and future positioning of the profession in healthcare.

In line with this NAPE sees a crucial role for universities in providing high quality, rigorous education to assist pharmacists in their journey to become Advanced Practitioners.

NAPE anticipates a future landscape for pharmacists which includes such areas as demonstration of competencies, credentialing, prescribing, and new advanced models of practice. NAPE believes that ready access to cutting edge university postgraduate award courses, including intern training programs, is crucial for pharmacists if they are to contribute effectively to health care delivery in Australia.