In this engaging episode of the Pharmacy View Podcast’s Rx to Riches stream, international host Michael Alexander, a Pharmacist, entrepreneur, digital health enthusiast, Co-Founder of Audirie, and the Regional Vice-President of Health Plans at Omada Health, hosts Erin Fawcett, the Executive Director of Education and Professional Development at NAPSA, and Sebastian Harper, the National President of NAPSA. Together, they delve into the transformative roles of education, leadership, and advocacy in shaping the future of the Pharmacy profession. With personal insights, professional experiences, and a shared passion for advancing the Pharmacy industry, this episode offers an inspiring and thought-provoking conversation.
Erin and Sebastian discuss the significant impact of NAPSA (National Australian Pharmacy Students’ Association) on Pharmacy students’ professional growth. Erin highlights how NAPSA acts as the peak advocacy body for students, offering unparalleled networking opportunities that build professional relationships and enhance knowledge for future success. Sebastian underscores the importance of NAPSA’s national advocacy efforts, ensuring student concerns are heard by government bodies and stakeholders. Michael reflects on his own career, encouraging students to prioritise networking to unlock new opportunities and further their professional development.
A key focus of the episode is NAPSA’s efforts to combat “placement poverty,” a pressing issue for students facing financial burdens during mandatory placements. Erin and Sebastian outline their campaign for government support similar to that provided to nursing students, aiming to make university more accessible amidst the rising cost-of-living pressures. Their advocacy reflects a broader mission to support Pharmacy students by improving accessibility and fostering an inclusive educational environment that enables future professionals to thrive.
The discussion also explores the challenges and rewards of balancing leadership responsibilities at NAPSA with full-time studies and work commitments. Erin shares how teamwork and a shared vision for advancing the Pharmacy profession fuel their dedication to student advocacy, while Sebastian highlights the role of collaboration among NAPSA committees in managing the workload effectively. Both emphasise the lasting impact of their initiatives on the Pharmacy community, illustrating how passion and teamwork drive meaningful progress.
Erin and Sebastian conclude with an inspiring vision for the future of Pharmacy, imagining a shift towards greater accessibility and a service-based model. They envision Pharmacies becoming integral hubs in Australia’s healthcare system, leveraging Pharmacists’ expertise to ease pressures on the system and enhance patient care.
This is only the beginning of their insightful discussion, with Part Two of this engaging conversation set to be released next week. Stay tuned!
Topics Covered
- The role of NAPSA in Pharmacy education and advocacy
- Addressing placement poverty and financial challenges for students
- Balancing NAPSA leadership, studies, and work
- Visions for the future of Pharmacy and evolving healthcare roles
- The transformative impact of education, leadership, and advocacy
- Networking and professional growth in the Pharmacy sector
Key Quotes (Time Stamps)
- “The main reason I got involved in NAPSA stems back to why I started Pharmacy. So, when I was younger, around 15 or 16, I had quite a few friends who actually passed away from drug overdose. And it really made me interested in how drugs work. I was learning about all the drug terms— bioavailability, clearance—long before I even started in a Pharmacy or a sort of scientific degree. And since then, it made me an advocate as well, for a lot of people, people I view as vulnerable and marginalised. And when I started my Pharmacy degree because of that, it then made me want to get into advocacy work both within and outside our industry.” (5:15 – 5:50) – Sebastian Harper
- “Famous last words. I fell in love with the industry and got involved at my local branch to start with. So, as you mentioned, I was the President of the South Australian branch of NAPSA and I kind of saw there just the collaboration within the industry at a local level, and it really inspired me to get involved at a national level. And I always have wholeheartedly believed that education is the key to change, and being able to influence this change is so important because we are like we are studying to be healthcare professionals and the decisions that we make will influence people’s lives. And that’s it’s really important to be well educated and well informed, to advocate for our patients. (6:46 – 7:26) – Erin Fawcett
- “NAPSA is the peak advocacy body for students in Australia, and we are one of the only and I think we were the first National Student Association. And what this means is that really one of the biggest benefits is the networks that you build.” (8:04 – 8:18) – Erin Fawcett
- “We talk to government, whether it’s state territory, whatever jurisdiction. We talk to stakeholders like the Pharmaceutical Society, the Pharmacy Guild, pretty much every Pharmacy organisation in the country, we have, at least some kind of relationship with, if not a really fantastic working relationship with. And we get to advocate directly for students when they tell us the issues that they’re facing at university or just generally in life. We get to take that to ministers of the crown and they listen to us and it’s a lot easier to get that done when you’re a national body with one national leadership representing thousands rather than hundreds of little local student associations at each university.” (9:50 – 10:31) – Sebastian Harper
- “Healthcare is struggling and Pharmacists can fill the gaps. So, I don’t know the specifics of where we’re going to go, but I think in ten years, Pharmacy will look completely different in terms of the services that we’re providing. We will be a massive service model for our patients who will not have to go to a GP for their minor ailments. We will be able to work together really closely with allied health professionals who are also working to the top of their scope at the moment. Can’t do that. And I think overall the health care system is just going to look very different and it’s going to be much better for every single Australian under the universal health care system.” (22:07 – 22:45) – Sebastian Harper
Important Time Stamps
- Turning Challenges into Advocacy: NAPSA’s Role in Shaping Tomorrow’s Pharmacists (2:07 – 7:26)
- Advocacy, Networking, and Growth: Unlocking NAPSA’s Benefits (7:27 – 12:00)
- Placement Poverty: The Fight for Fairer Support for Pharmacy Students (12:01 – 16:02)
- Juggling Studies, Work, and Advocacy – Lessons from Erin & Sebastian (16:26 – 20:06)
- From Dispensing to Diagnosing: The Expanding Role of Pharmacists (20:07 – 24:14)
