Pharmacy Catalyst

🚨 Attention Pharmacists! 🚨 Struggling with Full Scope of Practice training? IPA's support program has got you covered! Navigating Full Scope of Practice (FSOP) training can be a challenge, but you're not alone! In this insightful sneak-peek clip from our upcoming Pharmacy Podcast episode, Keely Paul BPharm, National Professional Services Manager at Independent Pharmacies Australia (IPA), shares how IPA's FSOP Support Program is helping pharmacists tackle the toughest aspects of the training. The Support Program's recent face-to-face workshop, presented by the Professional Services Team, included: 💙Clinical Examination Skills 💙Case Study Reviews 💙Peer Networking  Check out the comments for some fun photos from the workshop! 👇 If you're embarking on your FSOP journey, don't do it alone! Speak to your Pharmacy Business Advisor about joining IPA's FSOP Support Group, and stay tuned for our next Pharmacy Podcast episode, where Keely reveals everything you need to know about FSOP!

Looking forward to seeing our Catalyst members at APP2025. Put the Plenary session in your calendars - this will be an event highlight, featuring Pharmacy Catalyst members Karen Carter and Lisa Gibson!

Independent Pharmacies Australia (IPA) is proud to partner with the Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI), PharmaPrograms and Praxhub to launch the Paediatric Sleep Program in our member pharmacies. The program, currently available to pharmacists who are IPA network members, will deliver accessible MCRI research-based advice to families and carers. IPA's specially trained community pharmacists can now provide advanced advice and support to families on some of the biggest child health topics in Australia, starting with childhood sleep problems. With one in three children struggling with sleep, this additional support from pharmacists will be a welcome relief to families nationwide. See us at #APP2025 stands 97 - 102 for more information on full scope of practice.

2024 has been a truly rewarding year for Independent Pharmacies Australia (IPA), as we’ve witnessed remarkable growth across our network of independent pharmacies.   With a 9.1% increase in like-for-like pharmacy sales year-on-year, our commitment to supporting our 1,000+ member pharmacies has never been more evident. This achievement reflects the hard work and collaboration with our Advantage Pharmacies, Alliance Pharmacies, Chemist Discount Centres, Pharmacy Catalyst members, and all the other independent pharmacies we support.   We’ve focused on navigating challenges like the 60DD impact and seizing opportunities through full scope of practice and the 8CPA strategy implementation. Our dedication to putting independent pharmacies at the forefront of healthcare has driven incredible results, including a 6.7% increase in retail sales and outperformance in both middle-of-shop and front-of-shop categories—beating the market by 3.1 percentage points.   2024’s major milestone was our rebrand from The Platform Alliance Group to IPA, reinforcing our commitment to the future of independent pharmacies. This refreshed strategy is already delivering results—our new marketing tools and pricing strategies have led to a 6.8% growth in the health category, well above the industry average.   Looking ahead to 2025, I’m incredibly excited for what’s to come. With demand for affordable and accessible healthcare continuing to rise, the role of independent pharmacies in delivering primary care has never been more important. I’m confident that the future holds even greater success for IPA and our pharmacy members and we’re looking forward to showcasing point-of-care solutions at APP2025. I hope you can join us for the Plenary Session on Thursday 20 March at 11.50am - 12.35pm and attend our information sessions at IPA stands 97 – 102 in the main exhibition hall. 

Congratulations to our Pharmacy Catalyst member, Judith Kopp, who won a Retail Excellence Award on Monday night: 🏆 Loyalty Champion Award: Judith Kopp, Life Pharmacy Group (Forbes) We couldn't be prouder!

Day 1 of IPA's Retail Excellence Conference set the tone for an exciting event ahead! We kicked off with a pre-conference lunch for our valued member delegates before diving into an afternoon filled with expert insights and industry discussions. Guided by our MC, James Reid, the sessions began with Steven Kastrinakis, our Managing Director sharing a pharmacy industry update from an owner’s perspective, followed by Lynne Gallucci providing insights on achieving Retail Excellence. A special thank you to our sponsors, Herbs of Gold and Australian Pharmaceutical Industries (API), for their engaging spotlight sessions! A highlight of the day was the panel session led by Brianne Shephard, featuring Lauren Marks, Amanda Parker-Perry, Bradley Miller, and Keely Paul BPharm, who shared winning strategies for retail success. We also had thought-provoking keynotes from Bri Williams on the behavioural science of influencing action and Darragh O Se on work streams and competing with confidence. The day concluded with Dennis Bastas, Chairman and CEO of DBG Health, and Steven Kastrinakis, our Managing Director, welcoming members, sponsors, and the IPA team to Transit Rooftop. With drinks in hand, delicious canapés, and lively discussions against the backdrop of the Melbourne skyline, it was the perfect way to unwind, exchange ideas, and strengthen connections. From expert insights to actionable strategies, Day 1 was packed with inspiration and practical takeaways - we can’t wait to see what the rest of the conference brings! #RetailExcellenceConference2025 #IndependentPharmaciesAustralia #CommunityPharmacy #SupportingIndependence #TogetherInHealth #IndependentPharmacies

Our first Pharmacy Podcast episode for 2025 has just been released! In this episode, host Melody Mugari chats with Vanessa Lontos —pharmacist, and Head of Member Capability at Independent Pharmacies Australia (IPA). Vanessa shares her journey to becoming a pharmacist, insights on the importance of communication in providing better patient care, and her tips for creating time for learning in today’s fast-paced pharmacy environment. This episode also delves into IPA's new learning management system, IPA Academy Online, which Vanessa and her team spearheaded to provide tailored learning opportunities for all pharmacy team members. 🎧 Listen to the full episode to learn how to easily transform your pharmacy team's training and development in just 22 minutes a week! Tune in now! Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gcCcbGur YouTube: https://lnkd.in/g8QGN56G #PharmacyTraining #LearningOnTheGo #PharmacyDevelopment #LMS #BlendedLearning #PharmacyPodcast #Womeninpharmacy #Pharmacyleadership #IPA #Independentpharmacy #communitypharmacy #pharmacytechnology

We've just announced James Reid as our MC for IPA's inaugural Retail Excellence Conference! James is IPA's Head of Apex Operations and a passionate pharmacist. As the owner of four successful pharmacies, James really understands what it takes to create a thriving pharmacy business. This event is designed to provide you and your team with the knowledge, connections, and skills to take your pharmacy's retail standards and patient engagement to the next level. With less than two weeks until the Retail Excellence Conference now is the time to register your team if you haven't already! Information and registration form here: https://lnkd.in/g6SgpA5w

Congratulations to all our members who have been named as finalists in the Retail Excellence Awards - an amazing achievement 🤩

An exciting new learning tool for our members! Register each team member now!