The Pharmacy Guild of Australia has announced that the date of next year's Australian Pharmacy Professional Conference (APP) will be changed from March to 20-23 May 2021. The date change is to allow for more time for COVID-19 restrictions to be further lifted.
APP Chairman Kos Sclavos AM said that the organising committee is currently developing a COVIDSafe Plan in conjunction with the conference venues, suppliers and the Queensland Government to guarantee the safety of attendees and to ensure that the event can be run at its optimum in the new COVID environment.
"While social distancing and other government restrictions will entail some changes to the traditional format of APP, our number one priority is the safety and well-being of our delegates, speakers, sponsors and exhibitors," Kos said.
After hosting a livestreamed education program due to government restrictions on mass gatherings in March, the Guild postponed this year's APP until later in 2020.
However, the ongoing uncertainty of border restrictions, venue availability, when restrictions on gatherings the size of APP will be eased, flight availability and higher airfare pricing, and the lead time required by sponsors, exhibitors and delegates have not made this possible.
"Given the uncertainty in the COVID-19 environment and after consultation with key stakeholders, the Guild has decided that unfortunately there will be no further APP events in 2020," Kos said.
"We appreciate the difficulties, sacrifice, and financial impact faced by all those involved with APP2020,"
Kos said.
"We are now looking forward to APP2021 in May, when as an industry we can come together to reflect on the last 12-18 months and build strategies and solutions to help the pharmacy industry recover and build resilience for the future".
People can sign-up for exclusive updates, including first access to early bird tickets at www.appconference.com. Further APP2021 information will be available at www.appconference.com in the coming months.
