Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and extended lockdowns in New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT, the Pharmacy Guild of Australia has announced that this year’s Pharmacy Assistant National Conference (PA Conference) is being postponed until 28-29 October 2022.
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Queensland Branch’s Acting President, Mr Chris Owen, says that while the decision to postpone this year’s PA Conference, which was due to take place in Brisbane on 22-23 October 2021, was difficult to make it is the right one to protect attendee health and safety.
“With New South Wales, Victoria, ACT and parts of the NT in lockdown, and with pharmacy assistants from other states unable to enter Queensland, the conference could not be run as a national event,” says Mr Owen.
“We are saddened this is the second year in a row that Covid-19 has prevented pharmacy assistants from being able to meet safely at the PA Conference but look forward to hosting an even bigger and better PA Conference in 2022.”
Mr Owen adds that the “vital frontline roles” of pharmacy assistants in supporting their communities and in “supporting pharmacist immunisers with the Covid-19 vaccinations”, take “precedence in community pharmacy at the moment”.
“We thank all pharmacy assistants for their hard work,” says Mr Owen.
While this is disappointing news, Mr Owen says that pharmacy assistants who are looking for other education and networking opportunities should consider attending APP2022, which will be held on 24-27 March on the Gold Coast.
“APP provides some amazing opportunities for pharmacy assistants, including free access to more than 200 suppliers at Australia’s largest pharmacy trade exhibition,” says Mr Owen.
According to a statement released by The Pharmacy Guild of Australia, pharmacy assistants already registered to attend this year’s PA Conference will now receive a full refund and will be contacted by Guild events.
For any questions, pharmacy assistants are encouraged to email events@qldguild.org.au or phone 07 3831 3788.
