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NEWS EVENTS 23 PHARMACY CONNECT EARLY BIRD REGISTRATIONS NOW OPEN Registrations are now open for this year’s Pharmacy Connect, which will be held on 2-4 September 2021 at the Hilton Sydney. Pharmacy Connect, a ‘Covid safe’ event, is an annual conference hosted by the Pharmacy Guild’s NSW Branch. This year’s conference will feature a two-and-a-half-day education program, trade exhibition, Welcome Reception and Cocktail Party. The conference’s key features will include strategic advice and expert knowledge to help attendees optimise CPA-funded professional services and industry launches, updates and trends, and discussions surrounding Covid-19 impacts and trends relevant to the industry. Early bird registrations close on 30 June. Visit: pharmacy-connect.com.au PHARMACISTS ENCOURAGED TO NOMINATE PAS FOR PATY Nominations are starting to roll in for the Pharmacy Guild of Australia/ Maxigesic Pharmacy Assistant of the Year Award (PATY), which opened on 15 March. PATY is the premier award for Australian pharmacy assistants, recognising and celebrating the ‘best of the best’ in community pharmacy. While nominees can self-nominate or be nominated by a third party, pharmacists across Australia are being encouraged to nominate those PAs who have demonstrated excellence during 2020. “The PATY award is one of the best ways we as pharmacists can encourage pharmacist assistants and say thank you for all their hard work in the community and within the industry,” Guild National President Trent Twomey said. After being nominated or nominating, applicants must complete a response to selection criteria. Up to 10 PAs per state will then be short-listed to participate in a virtual state/territory workshop where winners from each state and territory will be selected. State/territory winners then go on to participate in a national judging workshop held in Brisbane in October, before the national winner is announced at the Pharmacy Assistant National Conference, a ‘Covid safe’ event to be held at the Sofitel Brisbane Central on 22-23 October. The national winner receives more than $10,000 worth of prizes including a trophy, a cash prize of $5000, a customised training package, and return flights, accommodation and registration to the Australian Pharmacy Professional Conference (APP) and the Pharmacy Assistant National Conference in 2022. Anyone interested in nominating an outstanding pharmacy assistant is encouraged to visit: pharmacyassistants.com/paty. Third party nominations close 2 July. BOOK WITH CONFIDENCE AS THE INDUSTRY GEARS UP FOR APP21 This month, we’ll see Australia’s largest pharmacy conference and trade show, the Australian Pharmacy Professional Conference (APP) taking place at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre. The first major pharmacy event to take place in a face-to-face format after APP went online in 2020, APP21 (20-23 May) comes at a perfect time for the industry as we reflect on the year that was and look forward to future opportunities and possible expansion of pharmacist- delivered public health services. The key component of APP has always been networking, and after a year of limited face-to-face contact with industry colleagues, this year won’t disappoint, says the Pharmacy Guild, whose National President, Professor Trent Twomey, is looking forward to reconnecting with his pharmacy industry colleagues on the Gold Coast. “It’s been a busy year for all of us, and I encourage pharmacists and pharmacy staff to take some time out to reconnect at what will be an exciting, but ‘Covid safe’, event,” he said. “I look forward to being in the same room as my colleagues during APP, where I’ll be providing updates on the 7CPA, the state of the industry, our expanding scope of practice as pharmacists, and the Covid-19 vaccine rollout.” In addition to Professor Twomey’s updates, the program will provide insights into understanding what community pharmacy can expect moving through the next phase of vaccinations and into the post- Covid period. Attendees will hear in person from some of the leaders responsible for the federal government’s response to Covid, including Health and Aged Care Minister Greg Hunt, who will address delegates in the opening plenary. Shadow Health and Aged Care Minister Mark Butler will also address delegates on the Thursday morning, and Queensland’s Chief Health Officer, Dr Jeannette Young, will be presenting in a panel session on ‘How to successfully execute an effective vaccine rollout in your pharmacy’. APP attendees can confidently book their attendance, with a full refund being provided if border control measures or government restrictions prevent delegates from attending the event. In these circumstances, delegates will also have the option to access sessions online while receiving a 50 per cent refund on registration or transferring their registration to another delegate at no cost. While tickets will be available up to and during the event, attendees are encouraged to register as early as possible to ensure compliance with ‘Covid safe’ requirements. For further details about the APP program, trade exhibition, networking opportunities and ‘Covid safe’ measures, visit: appconference.com RETAIL PHARMACY • MAY 2021