Aged Care On-site Pharmacist: Education, Implementation and Governance

The Aged Care On-site Pharmacist: Education, Implementation and Governance symposium highlights key national initiatives advancing pharmacist integration in residential aged care. The presentations share findings from large scale national research studies funded by the 2022 Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) under the Quality, Safety and Effectiveness of Medicine Use and Medicine Intervention by Pharmacists initiative. The symposium will also explore the broader implications of these findings for practice, policy, and both current and future research.
The first presentation shares preliminary insights from the OPTIMISER3 study, which investigates the real-world application of the Aged Care On-site Pharmacist (ACOP) model across diverse Australian regions and contexts. It emphasises the importance of local adaptation, interprofessional collaboration, and flexible delivery modes to ensure sustainable pharmacist roles in aged care settings.

The second presentation addresses the training needs of pharmacists through the PROMPT-RC study, which is co-designing and piloting Australia’s first aged care-specific Foundation Pharmacy Residency Program to equip pharmacists with the competencies required in this emerging field.

The third presentation focuses on clinical governance, detailing how pharmacists can lead or contribute to Medication Advisory Committees (MACs) to enhance medication safety. Findings from the MEGA-MAC study will showcase system-level strategies using data-driven quality improvement initiatives, aligned with national medication management guidelines.

Together, these presentations underscore the dynamic interplay between clinical practice and research, illustrating how each informs and strengthens the other in a continuous, iterative cycle to advance the role of pharmacists in aged care through education, implementation, and governance.