- Accredited training begins for first group of 40 pharmacists
- These pharmacists will take on an expanded healthcare role as part of the Cook Government's Enhanced Access Community Pharmacy Pilot
- Around 30 per cent of participants based in regional WA
- The initiative will make it easier for Western Australians to access care for everyday health conditions
The first cohort for the Cook Government's Enhanced Access Community Pharmacy Pilot (EACPP) has officially begun training - marking a key step in expanding community-based health care across WA.
Forty community pharmacists, subsidised by the Cook Government, have started their accredited Graduate Certificate training through James Cook University, in partnership with Curtin University.
This first group includes pharmacists from across WA, with those working in regional areas - including Albany, Carnarvon, Derby, and Port Hedland receiving higher training subsidies of up to $12,000. This ensures strong representation from regional communities in the pilot's rollout.
The EACPP will enable trained pharmacists to treat a range of conditions - improving access to timely care closer to home.
The Department of Health will launch a public consultation in the coming months on proposed regulatory amendments to support the pilot.
The EACPP is on track for trained pharmacists to start providing care to the community by late next year, subject to training completion.
More information on the pilot program and future training cohorts is available at: Enhanced Access Community Pharmacy Pilot
As stated by Health Minister Meredith Hammat:
"This is a major step forward in our commitment to improving healthcare access for all Western Australians - especially those in regional and remote areas.
"We are giving community pharmacists more clinical skills so they can treat simple conditions safely and locally - helping to ease the load on GPs.
"The pilot reflects our commitment to making the most of our highly trained pharmacy workforce and strengthening care in the community.
"This is just the first group of pharmacists to begin their training, and I look forward to even more pharmacists joining them in the coming months so the pilot can benefit more communities across Western Australia.
"This initiative is a testament to the innovation and dedication of our pharmacy workforce, and I look forward to seeing its impact as the pilot progresses."
