About the Guild
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia is a national employers’ organisation registered under the federal Fair Work Act 2009, with over 90 years of experience in representing and promoting the value of community pharmacy in the Australian health care system. Community pharmacies are a vital part of our national health system with the potential to make an even bigger contribution to the health of all Australians.
Membership
Through the collective power of membership you will receive unparalleled support and services, based on four points of excellence that ensure your community pharmacy realises its full potential.
Advocacy
When you support The Guild, you lend your voice to a powerful group of advocates with a single focus: to maintain and promote the interests of Community Pharmacy in Australia.
Careers
Whatever stage of your career, the Guild offers rewarding and challenging opportunities in a variety of roles.
Guild Publications
Various publications of the Guild including Fact Sheets, Newsletters and Annual Reports
Commitment to Social Responsibility
Social Responsibility means conducting our business so that we meet financial, social and environmental responsibilities in an aligned way.
Policies & Position Statements
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia’s policies and position statements on a range of issues affecting Pharmacies
Establishment
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia was established in 1928 as the Federated Pharmaceutical Services Guild of Australia and was registered under the Federal Industrial Relations Act as an employers’ organisation for the owners of community pharmacies. It was set up to serve the interests of its members. More than 90 years later, it continues to serve its members and the Australian public who value their local pharmacy.
Aims and Objectives
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia is the national peak body representing community pharmacy. It seeks to serve the interests of its members and to support community pharmacy in its role delivering quality health outcomes for all Australians.
The Guild is committed to supporting and maintaining the community pharmacy model as the most appropriate and efficient system of delivering medicines, medication management and related services to the Australian public.
Over 5700 community pharmacies across Australia dispense over 300 million prescriptions annually.
A major Guild activity at all levels is close liaison and negotiation with governments, manufacturers, wholesalers and other organisations in the health care delivery system.The Guild seeks to maintain community pharmacies as the most appropriate primary providers of health care to the community through optimum therapeutic use of drugs, drug management and related services.
As a member organisation, the Guild strives to provide compelling member value. It will achieve this through:
- Ensuring community pharmacy sustainability
- Provision of innovative business solutions and support to members
- Effective communication to create conversation with members
- Effective communication to support the community’s understanding of the value of community pharmacy, especially in its role in underpinning the timely and equitable supply of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme medicines for all Australians
Vision, Mission and Values
Our vision is to be respected and influential as the peak body representing our members and advancing community pharmacy in Australia.
Our mission is to enable and sustain community pharmacy as a key element of Australia’s primary health infrastructure through ongoing advocacy, continuous innovation and enduring business solutions.
We have five core values and behaviours:
- Respect – respect our role as an advocate for community pharmacy; communicate constructively and respectfully
- Integrity – be honest and ethical in our dealings, using Guild resources appropriately and effectively
- Compassion and Community – genuinely care for the wellbeing of others, and participate in the Guild’s workplace community
- Equity and Fairness – encourage diverse ideas, opinions and work styles, and share information and knowledge openly
- Reliability – take personal responsibility for our actions; focus on solutions and be willing to take on challenges
Structure
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia is a single legal entity with branches in each state and territory to serve members and assist the National Council and National Executive in carrying out its aims and objectives.
Branch activities centre on the day-to-day servicing of members in such fields as industrial relations, marketing, staff training, and product and economic information.
The National Council is the supreme governing body. It lays down all Guild policies, decides major issues and has the power to amend the Constitution, subject to referendum where required. Supporting National Council in the development of policies is a number of national committees that undertake research, examine strategies, provide advice and recommend policy approaches.
The Executive Director is entrusted with implementing the policies and decisions of National Council through the National Secretariat, a small, flexible organisation with salaried, professional and administrative staff, and consultants engaged as required. The Secretariat is located in the Parliamentary Zone in Canberra, close to Parliament House. The National President works closely with the Executive Director and the Secretariat, and is the main spokesperson for the Guild. While always a pharmacist proprietor, the role of National President is effectively full-time.
National Secretariat operations focus on the following areas: Pharmacy Viability; Pharmacy Transformation; Engagement and Advocacy; and Corporate Governance and Services.
Pharmacy Guild of Australia Corporate Structure
(PDF, 200.97 KB)
Contact the Guild
For membership enquiries: Contact our local branch membership managers in your state/territory.
For all other enquiries: Contact the Pharmacy Guild in the National Secretariat or your state/territory branch office.
Page last updated on: 22 April 2020