Pharmacies that send staff to the Pharmacy Assistant National Conference (PA2018) will be better equipped to succeed in the evolving industry by taking advantage of the updated training and knowledge staff will obtain, according to the Pharmacy Guild.
The Guild says pharmacy assistants will learn from a variety of topics to help gain a competitive advantage and maximise pharmacy performance, including QCPP refresher training, how to better engage with local communities, companion selling, dealing with difficult customers and incorporating professional services.
Conference convenor and pharmacy owner Kos Sclavos says investing in staff education is as important as investing in your business.
“Your front line determines your bottom line,” he said. “Investing in staff education is the most valuable investment as the ROI is continuous.”
PA2018 has been designed to benefit both pharmacy assistants and their pharmacies, to allow greater outcomes for both, Mr Sclavos says. For pharmacies, this includes improved loyalty, retention and morale from staff in addition to updated industry and product knowledge.
“Pharmacists can utilise staff who attend PA2018 as a point of difference in their pharmacies and incorporate them into sales strategies and professional service models,” he said.
“Maximise the returns from sending your staff to PA2018 by discussing your expectations, browse the program and choose sessions that suit both you and your staff, create a plan of how to bring learnings back into the pharmacy, get your staff to take notes during the conference and reflect with staff on what they’ve learnt and what could be incorporated back into the pharmacy.”
As an incentive to foster a learning culture, pharmacies that register two or more pharmacy assistants will receive a free registration to APP2019, valued at $940.
PA2018, to be held on October 25-27 on the Gold Coast, is promoted as providing a forum for pharmacy assistants to gain product knowledge, professional and personal development, and management skills.
To download the full program and to register your staff, visit www.pharmacyassistants.com.
