2019 & 2020 - Launched the Urinary Tract Infection Pharmacy Pilot
Following on from Recommendation Two in the 2018 Parliamentary Inquiry into Community Pharmacy, Queensland Health opened a tender for providers to develop and implement a pilot for trained community pharmacists to provide immediate treatment for uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections (UTI). The Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Queensland Branch, won the tender as part of a consortium led by the Queensland University of Technology. In 2020 the ground-breaking Urinary Tract Infection Pharmacy Pilot – Queensland (UTIPP-Q) will launch widening the scope of clinical practice for participating community pharmacies.
2016 - Partnered with Queensland Government to create the Corporate Vaccination Program
After a successful immunisation pilot, the Guild’s Queensland Branch launched the Corporate Vaccination Program which utilises member pharmacies to administer influenza vaccinations both Government and private organisation employees. In 2020 alone the program vaccinated over 19,500* employees and remunerated Guild member pharmacies with almost $430,000* for their skills and expertise. The Program also promotes repeat business and increases customer engagement.
2014 – Pharmacy Under Threat Petition
Over 1.2 million Australians expressed support for their local community pharmacy through the largest petition ever tabled in the House of Representatives. This would not have been possible without the hard work and commitment of thousands of pharmacists, pharmacy staff, interns and students.
The petition had the largest number of signatures ever presented to the Australian House of Representatives and was formally tabled by the Member for Ryan, Jane Prentice MP.
2014 – Queensland Pharmacist Immunisation Pilot (QPIP) Phase 1 / Administer Flu Vaccines
The Queensland Pharmacist Immunisation Pilot (QPIP) Phase 1 operated from 1 April 2014 to 30 September 2014 in 80 pharmacies and saw 10,889 influenza vaccines delivered, demonstrating that community pharmacy is well placed to improve vaccination rates. Almost one in five people vaccinated in the QPIP Phase 1 trial had indicated that they would not otherwise have been vaccinated and one in seven said it was the first time they had been vaccinated for influenza. The QPIP Phase 2 trial operated from March 2015 to April 2016 and was expanded to include measles and pertussis in 200 pharmacies.
2008 - The dawn of a new era: Pharmacy’s hi-tech future
Advancing technology supported community pharmacies to offer even better service and care. MedsIndex was one of the first the medicines compliance tools to offer patients benchmarks to assess their compliance rate. MedsIndex gave them both means and incentives for personal health improvement. Other tools were launched for electronic scripts to assist the management of chronic conditions.
2007 – Award Winning Project STOP
An innovative online recording system developed by the Pharmacy Guild of Australia to combat the manufacture of illegal drugs was honoured at the National Drug and Alcohol Awards. Project STOP won the ‘Excellence in Law Enforcement’ award for making a significant contribution to reducing harmful alcohol or drug use. Project STOP is an online recording system that makes it extremely difficult for “pseudo runners” to travel from pharmacy to pharmacy accumulating enough pseudoephedrine-based products to manufacture a significant quantity of methamphetamines, such as ‘speed’ and ‘ice’. A pilot of Project STOP was launched in Queensland in November 2005 and since it’s inception, Project STOP has contributed to a 23% decrease in the number of clandestine drug laboratories and has assisted in more than 30 arrests. Project STOP was included under the Australian National Precursor Strategy in 2007 (Ministerial Council on Drug Strategy 2008) and introduced nationally in 2008.
1998 – Quality Care Standards Program Launched
Australia became the first country in the world to implement nationwide pharmacy standards, known as the Quality Care Standards Program. The program was launched at APP by then National Vice-President Kos Sclavos and demonstrated the pharmacy industry’s commitment to continuous quality improvement.
1980 – The First Community Pharmacy Agreement Achieved
Following intense negotiations with the Federal Government, the first community pharmacy agreement was signed. The agreements are five-year terms that set out pharmacist remuneration for dispensing PBS medicines. Over time, agreements have increased in scope to provide for professional pharmacy programs and services. Without the Guild’s valuable work on these agreements, community pharmacy would be at greater risk from several government initiatives including the movement of supermarket chains into the pharmacy industry.
1976 - Guild Enables Independent Remuneration Arbitrator
The Federal Government agreed to transfer the power of determining pharmacists’ rate of remuneration for National Health Scheme dispensing to an independent arbitrator. This arbitrator was also the chairman of the Joint Committee of Pharmaceutical Benefits Pricing Arrangements. The government also agreed to an interim adjustment of pharmacists’ NHS fees by an extra 6 cents per script from 1 July 1975, plus an additional 5 cents the year after.
1948 - Introduction of the PBS
The PBS was introduced by the Federal Government, led by Prime Minister Ben Chifley, as part of wider plans to create a British style National Health Service. While several other proposed initiatives were discontinued for being ‘unconstitutional’, the PBS was implemented that year.
* As at 15 May 2020
To ensure that community pharmacy remains viable and protected, we are working closely with Local, State and Federal Governments, suppliers and other stakeholders. Learn more about the Guild's industry presence and hear what your fellow members have to say.
As a Guild member, you have exclusive access to a range of business support services, industry experts, tools and resources. Learn more about the business support services available to you and hear what your fellow members have to say.
To become a Full Guild Member, please complete and return one of the following application forms (depending on the ownership structure of the pharmacy) and return by email, post or fax. Applications can be witnessed by a fellow pharmacist that is not listed on the form - you do not need an official Justice of the Peace to witness your application.
Upon receipt of your application, the Queensland Branch will issue you with a subscription invoice and Guild Membership number / Guild ID (usually same day!). Your membership will also be ratified at the next meeting of the Queensland Branch Committee.
Application Form for Company Ownership Structures
Application Form for Partnership Ownership Structures
Application Form for Sole Proprietor Ownership Structures
Guild membership is valid and renewable each financial year. Full Guild Membership is $2,805.00 including GST, per financial year, per premises owned (regardless of the number of proprietors). Pro-rata subscription rates are available for applications submitted after 1 August e.g. if you were to join in November, a pro-rata subscription rate of $1,870.00 including GST would apply. Monthly payment options are also available (Direct Debit) with no set-up or ongoing fees at $233.75 per month!
In terms of access to member benefits, this fee covers the premises, all proprietors of the pharmacy and, in some cases, pharmacy staff e.g. discounts to Guild events.
The majority of member benefits apply to your business and therefore, to ensure fairness of every paying member, you are required (per our constitution) to join all pharmacies in which you hold an interest. This rule applies to all proprietors of the pharmacy and their related pharmacies.