🌟 Welcome to 2025! 🌟

What a way to kick off 2025!

We're diving straight into the biggest healthcare moments of 2024, from game-changing PBS updates to the ongoing Ozempic saga.

Plus, we've got an essential guide for pharmacy interns starting their professional journey this year.

📍 Quick Headlines:

• Major Medicare changes hitting this January

• More PBS medicines going to 60-day scripts

• $2.6B boost for aged care worker pay

• Latest on the Ozempic shortage

• Complete survival guide for pharmacy interns

🎯 Must-Read:

Our deep dive into pharmacy internship success strategies. Whether you're a fresh intern or mentoring one, you won't want to miss these practical tips for navigating the 2025 pharmacy landscape.

⚡ Don't have time to read it all now?

Bookmark this email or forward it to your work address - you'll want to reference these resources throughout the year!

Let’s get started!

Happy New Year!

I hope you've had a chance to recharge over the holiday break.

Today, I want to focus on our newest pharmacy professionals – the interns starting their journey in 2025.

Whether you're an intern yourself, a preceptor, or a pharmacy owner, these insights will help set up our next generation of pharmacists for success.

Hit the Ground Running: Essential Tips for Pharmacy Interns

First things first – congratulations on reaching this milestone!

You've completed your pharmacy degree, and now you're stepping into the exciting (and yes, sometimes daunting) world of community pharmacy.

Here's how to make the most of your internship year:

Master Your Time Management Early ⏰

The internship year is intense – you're juggling daily pharmacy work, exam preparation, and competency assessments.

Start by creating a structured study schedule in January. Block out specific times for exam prep, and stick to them.

Remember, consistency beats cramming every time.

Build Your Support Network 🤝

Your preceptor is your primary guide, but don't stop there.

Connect with other interns in your area, join pharmacy intern Facebook groups, and engage with professional organisations like the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) and the Pharmacy Guild.

Many offer specific intern support programs and resources.

Also we over at PharmacyDownUnder, we will be launching our own EXCLUSIVE pharmacy intern community so KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED!

Focus on Patient Communication 📢

Technical knowledge is crucial, but exceptional patient care requires strong communication skills.

Practice explaining complex medical concepts in simple terms.

Watch how experienced pharmacists handle challenging situations.

Take notes on phrases and approaches that work well with different patient groups.

Embrace the Digital Evolution 🤖

Australian pharmacy is rapidly evolving, with digital health initiatives becoming increasingly important.

Familiarise yourself with:

• MyHealthRecord

• Electronic prescriptions

• Pharmacy management software

• Telehealth services

• Digital medication management systems

The more comfortable you are with these tools, the more valuable you'll be to your pharmacy.

Professional Development Tips 🚀

Track Your Progress Start a professional portfolio from day one.

Document:

• Interesting cases you encounter

• Clinical interventions you make

• Continuing professional development (CPD) activities

• Patient counselling experiences

• Service delivery participation (vaccinations, medication reviews, etc.)

This documentation isn't just for your assessments – it's valuable evidence of your growing expertise.

Expand Your Clinical Knowledge 💹

Stay current with Australian pharmaceutical updates through:

• The Australian Medicines Handbook (AMH)

• Therapeutic Guidelines

• Australian Pharmaceutical Formulary (APF)

• National Prescribing Service (NPS) MedicineWise resources

Making the Most of Learning Opportunities 📚

Every day in pharmacy brings new learning opportunities.

Here's how to maximise them:

1. Ask Questions

   1. Don't be afraid to ask "why?"

   2. Understanding the reasoning behind clinical decisions and pharmacy processes is crucial for your development.

2. Seek Feedback

   1. Regular feedback sessions with your preceptor are essential.

   2. Request specific feedback on your counselling techniques, clinical knowledge, and professional development.

3. Learn from Mistakes

   1. Mistakes will happen – they're part of learning.

   2. What matters is how you handle them.

   3. Document errors, reflect on what went wrong, and implement strategies to prevent recurrence.

Looking Ahead 🏆

The pharmacy landscape is changing rapidly. Position yourself for future success by:

• Understanding the expanding role of pharmacists in primary healthcare

• Keeping up with new professional service opportunities

• Building your vaccination certification early

• Developing your mental health first aid skills

• Learning about emerging areas like genomics and personalised medicine

Remember, your internship year is more than just a stepping stone to registration – it's your foundation for a rewarding career in pharmacy.

Need More Support?🤗

I offer personalised mentoring sessions for interns and run regular workshops on pharmacy service implementation.

Feel free to reach out if you'd like to discuss how we can support your professional journey.

Here's to a successful 2025!

Share the love! 📱

Know someone starting their intern year or mentoring a new intern?

Forward this email to help them kick-start their pharmacy career.

With major changes coming to pharmacy practice in 2025, including exciting new professional service opportunities and expanded scope of practice, we're all in this together!

Next month, I'll be exclusively announcing several new training programs and mentorship opportunities.

Make sure your pharmacy colleagues are subscribed so they don't miss out – there will be limited spots available!

Quick ways to share:

• Forward this email to your pharmacy network

• Share our newsletter link on your LinkedIn

• Tag a colleague in our social media posts

Stay connected and keep an eye on your inbox – we've got some game-changing announcements coming that you won't want to miss!

Until next week

Gus 👏

P.S. Got questions or topics you'd like covered?

Reply to this email – I read every response!