The AJP Podcast

Hosted by Australian Journal of Pharmacy

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Episodes

155

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN-AU

About the show

The podcast by pharmacists, for pharmacists, brought to you by the AJP. Each episode, join a diverse panel of pharmacists from all settings and experience levels discussing topics that affect pharmacists in day to day practice – such as ability & gender diversity in pharmacy, and medicinal cannabis.

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60 recent

August 12, 202635 min

Tackling perceptions

Australia’s first Indigenous pharmacist, Professor Faye McMillan, speaks with AJP Podcast host Carlene McMaugh about her journey in pharmacy, the profession’s role in Closing the Gap, racism and more Wiradjuri woman, Faye McMillan, tells the AJP Podcast that she was inspired to pursue a career as a pharmacist after working at a dispensing assistant in her local pharmacy in Trangie, NSW. “[I] saw the contribution that the pharmacist made to the community, and the community held him in such high regard, in the sense of relationally regarded,” she said. “It really gave me a sense of ‘in service’, and what it meant to be in service with your community… that’s why I wanted to do it – I wanted to be in service, I wanted to – at the time – go back home after studying and be the local pharmacists, which didn’t happen.” Reflecting on becoming the first pharmacist of Aboriginal heritage, McMillan said “when somebody gets to say that they were the first, there’s a lot of things that we don’t fully appreciate until the distance of time”. “So, to experience being the first, there was no safety net in the sense of who can I go to ask questions? What’s been the experience? How do we navigate this? Why aren’t we learning so more about indigenous peoples? Why aren’t we understanding the pharmacology of indigenous plants? Why aren’t we doing all these things? “It was so Western and biomedical that it was a struggle, but in hindsight, one that I think certainly crafted who I am, the relationship I have to the profession, and also the relationship I have to my family.” McMillan told the AJP Podcast that after completing her training she faced challenges in finding opportunities where she could be both an Indigenous person and a pharmacist. “There were doors that were open if I just wanted to be Aboriginal, or there were doors that opened if I just wanted to be pharmacist, but very few doors that opened that allowed me to be both, that allowed me to be who I was,” she said. An opportunity to embrace both side of her identity came when Australian Pharmacy Council (APC) chief executive, Bronwyn Clark, invited McMillan to work with the APC. “It was I think that moment of acceptance that I could be both an Aboriginal woman as well as a pharmacist, and I bring knowledge of both of those systems. “And so it started a relationship with APC that continues to this day.” While McMillan said she has found opportunities to be here authentic self, she noted that racism remains an issue in Australia. “You can’t be an Indigenous business owner and be successful because that doesn’t fit the stereotype of what being a business owner should look,” she said. “Or you only get to a position because you’re Black or because they pull the race card and we have quotas that organisations want to fill. “It’s not like I have done a master’s; I have done a doctoral qualification; I have postdoctoral qualifications. I am qualified to do the job as well as bringing that other unique set of diverse lens. “I think the challenge for us is understanding why we’re so afraid of difference and why we want to have conforming ideas.” Other key topics include: Perceptions of pharmacies being retailers are holding the profession back from playing a greater role in Closing the Gap for Indigenous patients (21 minutes 35) New guidelines for supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with medicines management (24:58) Cultural safety in pharmacy (28:11) Attracting more First Nations people to pursue careers in pharmacy (30:23) You can access the full transcript of this podcast here . While we endeavour to ensure all important words and phrases are correct, please note there may be some minor inaccuracies in the transcription. ACCESS PODCAST TRANSCRIPT Go here for the full list of active AJP podcasts . These can also be accessed via Apple Podcasts and Spotify Carlene McMaugh

July 30, 2026

Be Risk Ready – a PDL Podcast: You’ve received an Ahpra notification, now what?

This PDL podcast seeks to demystify a stressful subject: what can pharmacists do when they receive a regulatory notification? Ahpra acting executive director of Health Regulation, Monica Lambley; PDL lead pharmacist education and professional development and host of the Be Risk Ready Podcast Amy Minion; and PDL Professional Officer and chair of the Victorian Local Advisory Committee Naomi Lim discuss how important it is to understand the notification process. Minion says that “in this episode, we’ll break down what a regulatory notification is and what it isn’t,” as well as some common reasons why notifications are made – and tips for navigating the process. And does a notification always mean that a pharmacist has made an error, or something has gone wrong? PDL takes an in-depth look… Highlights include: 02:36 – What is a notification? 03:29 – Statistics on notifications 04:24 – “The first struggle is almost always emotional.” 06:36 – What a notification doesn’t mean 07:26 – What regulators are looking for in their assessment of a notification 08:52 – “This is a learning.” 10:39 – When a pharmacist reaches out to PDL 12:35 – How do practitioners show accountability and insight? 13:49 – Looking after your own wellbeing 16:24 – Why notifications do not define a practitioner 18:12 – “A really high proportion of the information that we receive relates to a miscommunication or a misunderstanding.” 20:09 – Staying ahead of risk 22:47 – The importance of seeking information You can access the full transcript of this podcast here . While we endeavour to ensure all important words and phrases are correct, please note there may be some minor inaccuracies in the transcription. ACCESS PODCAST TRANSCRIPT Go here for the full list of active AJP podcasts . These can also be accessed via Apple Podcasts and Spotify

July 29, 202631 min

AJP Podcast: ‘Obviously there is some trepidation out there’

What’s going to change with the replacement of QCPP with QSPP? The AJP Podcast asks the questions AJP Podcast host Carlene McMaugh chats with Natalie Willis, senior vice president of the Pharmacy Guild in WA, national councillor and chair of the Guild’s clinical governance committee, about the new Quality and Safety in Pharmacy Program (QSPP) framework. There’s two major themes, says Willis: what’s changing, and how. “What we’ve changed is around clinical governance and patient engagement,” she says. “The how is around the way that we’ll be assessing the program going forward.” Highlights include: 01:00 – What’s actually changing? 03:47 – How can pharmacists prepare for the change? 05:11 – “The biggest challenges in making it happen were just going through the process in a different way.” 07:23 – What feedback has the Guild received? 08:34 – “Obviously there is some trepidation out there.” 09:01 – The most frequently asked questions 10:38 – A lower administrative burden 12:44 – A goal of reducing anxiety 15:01 – “Everything is still evolving and it’s designed not to be a static process.” 16:11 – Are dedicated compliance staff needed? 18:40 – What happens to pharmacies which aren’t ready? 21:18 – What the outcome should look like 23:23 – What does the community pharmacy of 2030 look like? 25:46 – What to do now 28:31 – How to know a QSPP assessment is coming You can access the full transcript of this podcast here . While we endeavour to ensure all important words and phrases are correct, please note there may be some minor inaccuracies in the transcription. ACCESS PODCAST TRANSCRIPT Go here for the full list of active AJP podcasts . These can also be accessed via Apple Podcasts and Spotify Carlene McMaugh

July 15, 202650 min

A focus on the future at APC

CEO of the Australian Pharmacy Council Bronwyn Clark sits down with AJP Podcast host Carlene McMaugh to talk about full scope, training, interprofessional collaboration and more “Full scope is obviously super, super important and very exciting time for us here in Australia,” Clark says. “So our role at the APC is to be the national accreditation and standard setting body for education and training for pharmacists. “And so when we are looking at how we can support full scope, it’s really top of mind for us and we’re putting a lot of work and effort into collaborating with people to do this work. “I think the key thing around the challenges with these programs has been around making sure that we have graduates who have the right level of competence and capability to be able to deliver full scope and prescribing regardless of where they are.” Highlights include 01:40 – The biggest challenges in creating agile standards 04:50 – Will accreditation be applied nationally? 06:05 – “It will be a bit like optometry.” 11:10 – Harmonising the standards 15:46 – Could the traditional four-year plus internship model be replaced? 20:46 – Ensuring potential new programs are rigorous 23:21 – A new set of learning models for preceptors and supervisors 26:17 – Changes to the intern written exam 28:22 – “You’re actually assessing someone’s competence as opposed to their ability to remember.” 30:19 – The colloquium and its focus on respectful, inclusive conversations 34:41 – Changes to accreditation for CPD activities 37:35 – Does this shift create uncertainty? 39:19 – “The APC is very committed to this strategy of embedding cultural safety” 42:37 – The APC is nominated as a finalist in the leading tech awards in Australia 45:08 – The workforce crisis You can access the full transcript of this podcast here . While we endeavour to ensure all important words and phrases are correct, please note there may be some minor inaccuracies in the transcription. ACCESS PODCAST TRANSCRIPT Go here for the full list of active AJP podcasts . These can also be accessed via Apple Podcasts and Spotify Carlene McMaugh

July 1, 202625 min

‘It’s important to invest in your pharmacists’

In this episode of the AJP Podcast, Sally Cairnduff explains what it’s like to work for a not-for-profit pharmacy servicing a rural community – and her lessons for the profession As the general manager of not-for-profit Wonthaggi Miners’ Pharmacy in regional Victoria, Sally Cairnduff runs her pharmacy a little bit differently. “Profit is not the goal in itself,” she tells AJP Podcast host Carlene McMaugh. “Instead, we’re more interested in supporting our community and improving their health and wellbeing. So it’s a little bit different to other pharmacy models where all funds are either reinvested into the pharmacy to improve access and quality of care or donated to community initiatives.” Cairnduff tells McMaugh how else the pharmacy supports locals and how she manages staff shortages in a regional community. Other highlights include: 3.15 – How the pharmacist gives back to the community. 5.45 – Helping patients who are ‘missed’ in the traditional healthcare system. 7.02 – Contributing to the community in other ways, such as supporting the arts scene. 8.12 – The pharmacy’s membership model. 14.22 – How the community reacted to automated dispensing. 20.26 – Investing in pharmacists. You can access the full transcript of this podcast here . While we endeavour to ensure all important words and phrases are correct, please note there may be some minor inaccuracies in the transcription. ACCESS PODCAST TRANSCRIPT Go here for the full list of active AJP podcasts . These can also be accessed via Apple Podcasts and Spotify Carlene McMaugh

June 3, 202641 min

A president’s journey

Former PSA national president, Associate Professor Fei Sim, reflects on the society’s evolution during her term, and looks to the future on the latest episode of our podcast AJP Podcast host Carlene McMaugh sits down with the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia’s immediate past president, Associate Professor Fei Sim, to discuss her time at the helm, and what the future holds for the organisation. Having broken through the glass ceiling to become the PSA’s first female leader, Sim led the society through a transformative period, securing a heads of agreement for the First Pharmacy Practice Agreement, and the acquisition of the Australasian College of Pharmacy. Highlights include: 1min 28 – A presidency was based on teamwork 2.20 – Succession – Professor Mark Naunton is “the prefect leader… to take the PSA into the next chapter” 4.18 – Predecessors, Dr Chris Freeman and Dr Shane Jackson woke the giant that is the PSA 7.52 – Growing the PSA’s membership 8.54 – The acquisition of the Australasian College of Pharmacy 11.22 – The PSA needs to keep the momentum going to deliver on its strategic priorities 12.33 – Growing pains in the pharmacist/GP relationship 16.24 – Health professions need to support each other to work to the top of their scope of practice 19.56 – Translating leader diversity into better outcomes 22.56 – The First Pharmacy Practice Agreement 29.54 – Breaking the glass ceiling to become the first female president of the PSA 34.11 – Looking to the future in a new role with the AMH 38.32 – Addressing unfinished business. You can access the full transcript of this podcast here . While we endeavour to ensure all important words and phrases are correct, please note there may be some minor inaccuracies in the transcription. ACCESS PODCAST TRANSCRIPT Go here for the full list of active AJP podcasts . These can also be accessed via Apple Podcasts and Spotify Carlene McMaugh

May 20, 202637 min

‘They become more and more sophisticated over time’

AJP Podcast host Carlene McMaugh discusses cybersecurity in 2026 – including why pharmacists need to consider themselves data stewards She sits down with PSA’s digital health lead and pharmacist Jarrod McMaugh to discuss everything from why criminals target small businesses, how to tell the difference between a legitimate communication from a GP or wholesaler and a data theft attempt, and pharmacists’ obligations to their patients when it comes to privacy. The two discuss why the greater amount of data now collected and shared could leave a “back door” open to cyber threats – and why you should never pay a ransom if you’ve been targeted. Highlights include 01:03 – Why is community pharmacy a high-value target for cybercriminals? 02:52 – Protection and prevention 06:25 – The common weak links in pharmacy digital infrastructure 07:58 – Spot the difference: legitimate requests and data theft attempts 10:31 – Pharmacies’ responsibilities under the Australian Privacy Principle 11 13:28 – Legal and professional obligations if a breach occurs 20:34 – “Every health service in the country must have a policy around their access to My Health Records.” 23:33 – Privacy considerations around the Pharmacists Shared Medicines List 27:01 – The top three non-negotiable digital hygiene habits 28:53 – The role of software vendors 31:49 – How do shared records raise privacy and cyber threat concerns? 33:42 – The role of professional indemnity insurers 36:21 – The role of the PSA You can access the full transcript of this podcast here . While we endeavour to ensure all important words and phrases are correct, please note there may be some minor inaccuracies in the transcription. ACCESS PODCAST TRANSCRIPT Go here for the full list of active AJP podcasts. These can also be accessed via Apple Podcasts and Spotify Carlene McMaugh

May 6, 202629 min

Frontline workers critical to AI use in healthcare

Decisions around the adoption of AI in healthcare need input from those who will be using it, hospital pharmacist Ella Shearing says AJP Podcast host Carlene McMaugh sits down with clinical pharmacist Ella Shearing, of Locumate, to discuss the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in pharmacy. A survey conducted by Shearing at a Sydney hospital found pharmacists were receptive to using the new technology (2 minutes 30), but understanding of AI was mixed (3:26). Shearing noted that while AI is already being used by pharmacists and other health practitioners for administrative tasks (7:03), decisions regarding how it is implemented need to take the views of frontline workers into account (16:13). “Just because we can adopt AI tools doesn’t mean we should,” Shearing told McMaugh (17:12). Highlights include: 3:35 – Environmental costs of AI not well understood 9:25 – Barriers to taking AI into the clinical space 10:41 – Lack of transparency around AI software fuels hesitancy among some pharmacists 13:16 – High costs mean AI is unlikely to replace existing drug interaction software 14:25 – Integrating AI into electronic medical record systems (EMRs) “could be quite useful” 21:15 – AI could be used to generate medication charts for patients to take home and for providing information about Webster pack changes with patients’ community pharmacies 22:15 – The best way to learn about AI is to use it 25:12: Development of guidelines and policies will be key to ensuring the safe and ethical use of AI in healthcare settings 26:14 – Pharmacists currently using AI are conservative about how they use it. You can access the full transcript of this podcast here . While we endeavour to ensure all important words and phrases are correct, please note there may be some minor inaccuracies in the transcription. ACCESS PODCAST TRANSCRIPT Go here for the full list of active AJP podcasts . These can also be accessed via Apple Podcasts and Spotify Carlene McMaugh

April 22, 202634 min

‘Step fully into your role as a prevention leader’

Vaccination will always be the “inaugural proof point for full scope,” says “the Vaccination Pharmacist” In this episode of the AJP Podcast, host Carlene McMaugh sits down with Anna Theophilos, who takes listeners through her journey into an educator on social media – and how to cut through misinformation about vaccines. Discussing the importance of communicating about the risks of influenza, especially for people aged over 50, and RSV, Theophilos says that the public already know and trust pharmacists as vaccinators. “What needs to shift is not necessarily public perception, but it’s the system’s willingness to formally recognise what pharmacists already are, which we are immunisation leaders,” she says – noting that this also means appropriate remuneration and a new look at vaccinating outside community pharmacies. Highlights include 01:23 – Theophilos’ mission 02:10 – From a “very sad Facebook page” to effective social media communication 04:30 – Where Theophilos gets ideas for content 05:45 – “I actually think the public is already ahead of the system on this one.” 09:04 – How she plans to work with the PSA to advocate for legislative change to support pharmacist immunisers 10:10 – System and funding barriers 12:55 – Work in aged care 14:30 – How can a busy community pharmacy integrate high volume vaccination programs without compromising safety or staff wellbeing? 16:49 – Ensuring financial viability 19:38 – High-level discussions 21:40 – Collaborating with local GPs 26:07 – “Vaccination will always be the inaugural proof point for full scope.” 28:19 – Advice for ECPs 30:51 – The most common vaccine myth Theophilos debunks 32:32 – “I’d make every vaccine funded.” 33:27 – A call to action You can access the full transcript of this podcast here . While we endeavour to ensure all important words and phrases are correct, please note there may be some minor inaccuracies in the transcription. ACCESS PODCAST TRANSCRIPT Go here for the full list of active AJP podcasts. These can also be accessed via Apple Podcasts and Spotify Carlene McMaugh

April 8, 202632 min

‘How do you approach those conversations?’

Do pharmacists have a bigger role to play recognising and supporting patients with mental health concerns? The AJP Podcast discusses the matter with Claire O’Reilly Australia’s pharmacists have a frontline role in triaging patients who are struggling, but more training is needed across the profession, the AJP Podcast has heard. Pharmacist and Associate Professor at the University of Sydney School of Pharmacy, Claire O’Reilly, has been a researching the evolving role of pharmacists in the mental health space for some time. She has become an advocate for further education and training. “I think we do need to really work at improving the communication skills to make people feel comfortable,” she told Carlene McMaugh. “If someone does say that they’re not okay, then what? That’s the critical next step.” Other highlights include: 4.01: A distressing incident that highlighted the need for further education. 5.58: The importance of mental health training. 10.03: Signs or cues someone may be struggling. 15.00: Creating a safe, non-judgmental space. 19.19: Medications management. 21.32: Essential steps pharmacists can take. 23.02: Referral services. 26.00: How pharmacists can manage their own mental health and burnout. Pharmacists can contact the Pharmacists’ Support Service (PSS) on 1300 244 910 for peer support related to the demands of being a pharmacist in Australia. Lifeline is available on 13 11 14. Members can call PDL on 1300 854 838 for support from a professional officer. For urgent assistance or in an emergency please do not hesitate to contact emergency services on 000. You can access the full transcript of this podcast here . While we endeavour to ensure all important words and phrases are correct, please note there may be some minor inaccuracies in the transcription. ACCESS PODCAST TRANSCRIPT Go here for the full list of active AJP podcasts. These can also be accessed via Apple Podcasts and Spotify Carlene McMaugh