Pharmacy
Programs and services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples - Fact Sheet
Fact Sheet on the programs and services available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples under the Fourth Community Pharmacy Agreement.
The Fourth Community Pharmacy Agreement (Fourth Agreement) provides funding of up to $27 million for professional programs and services relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. These programs are being funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing and managed by the Pharmacy Guild of Australia.
The programs and services include:
- Section 100 Pharmacy Support Allowance;
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pharmacy Scholarship Scheme;
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pharmacy Assistant Traineeship Scheme; and
- Quality Use of Medicines Maximised for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (QUMAX) Program.
The programs aim to improve access to community pharmacy services by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people by taking account of cultural issues in meeting their health needs.
The priorities for these programs include:
- recognition of the cultural preferences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in community pharmacy health care delivery;
- provision of ongoing funding through the community pharmacy Section 100 support allowances to improve Quality Use of Medicines by clients of eligible remote area Aboriginal Health Services; and
- improved quality use of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medicines for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through the community pharmacy network in rural and urban Australia.
Section 100 Pharmacy Support Allowance
The Section 100 Pharmacy Support Allowance aims to improve Quality Use of Medicines by clients of remote Aboriginal Health Services, and is an identified priority under the Fourth Agreement.The Section 100 Pharmacy Support Allowance provides funding to Eligible Applicants that provide a range of Quality Use of Medicines and Medication Management support services, including education and training, to Aboriginal Health Services providing PBS medicines to clients via the special arrangements under Section 100 of the National Health Act 1953.
Up to $13.4 million is available for the life of the Fourth Agreement running through to June 2010, with Eligible Applicants able to receive an allowance of between $6000 and $10,500 (GST exclusive) per annum and if applicable, a travel loading, for the provision of these support services. Eligible Applicants will provide support services to the Aboriginal Health Service through the use of structured workplans agreed to by both parties.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pharmacy Scholarship Scheme
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pharmacy Scholarship Scheme aims to encourage and support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to undertake both undergraduate and post-graduate studies which will lead to a registrable qualification in pharmacy, at an Australian university.The Pharmacy Scholarship Scheme was implemented under the Third Community Pharmacy Agreement as part of the Rural and Remote Pharmacy Workforce Development Program.
Key changes to the program under the Fourth Agreement include the following:
- offering the scholarships to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, with preference given to students from rural and remote areas enrolling in entry-level Australian pharmacy courses;
- improving awareness of the scheme in both secondary school students and mature age students who may already be working in other health roles;
- potential broadening the scope of the program to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander graduates undertaking graduate-entry or post-basic pharmacy course; and
- examining alternate career pathways into pharmacy.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pharmacy Assistant Traineeship Scheme
The aim of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pharmacy Assistant Traineeship Scheme is to encourage and support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who want to become trained as pharmacy assistants and pharmacy technicians. It is envisaged that the program will establish an alternative pathway for Indigenous students to enter into pharmacy, particularly in rural and remote areas.This is a new Program receiving funding under the Fourth Agreement and is managed and administered by the Pharmacy Guild of Australia in close collaboration with the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation. Up to $480,000 is available for the Program, which will run until 30 June 2010. Information and an application kit can be found on the Pharmacy Guild of Australia’s website.
Community Pharmacists eligible for the allowance will receive up to $10,000 (GST exclusive), to employ and support an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Pharmacy Assistant to complete a nationally accredited pharmacy assistant/technician training course. Pharmacy Assistants have a maximum of two years to complete each course that is supported by this incentive.
Quality Use of Medicines Maximised for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples Program
The primary aim of the QUMAX Program is to improve the health outcomes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples that attend participating Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services in rural and urban Australia.QUMAX is a new program receiving funding under the Fourth Agreement. The Program will provide structured support for Quality Use of Medicines in Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services via community pharmacy, through the implementation of service-level QUM work plans. The Program will commence in eligible Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services from April 2008 and will run until to June 2010.
This Program is managed by the Pharmacy Guild of Australia in close collaboration with the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation.
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