Kylie Birkinshaw has been a driving force in the Community Pharmacy Scope of Practice Pilot (the Pilot), helping to shape the training program, completing it herself, and supporting other pharmacists through it. In this follow-up to our first interview, Kylie shares her experience as both an educator and a student, offering practical study tips and reflections on how scope training has reshaped her practice and reinvigorated her passion for pharmacy.
What was it like being involved with designing the training for the Pilot?
It was really good! I’m really passionate about adult education, so being involved in this was really rewarding.
We worked hard to make the training fit for purpose. We knew we needed to make sure it was rigorous but also achievable, because it has to be possible for people to integrate with their lives. This wasn’t an undergraduate course; it was for trained pharmacists with adult responsibilities. They have businesses, families, full-time jobs, and hobbies. Life is busy.
And even though I was part of the teaching team, I learned so much from my colleagues. It was really nice to be able to get people together in a room and learn from each other. Outside of big events like APP or Pharmacy Connect, we don’t usually hear about what people outside of our pharmacy are doing. This was a unique opportunity to learn, network, and support each other.
You undertook Pilot training yourself. As a student, what did training look like and what was your experience of it?
"Pharmacists can be perfectionists--and for good reason. We’re the final check before medicine reaches the patient, so there’s no room for error. But that mindset can make studying tough. I spent hours trying to get everything perfect, but I had to reframe my approach. It’s not about perfection; it’s about understanding the concepts and layering them into what you already know.
"Once I hit the clinical subjects, I realised I could integrate what I was learning into my day-to-day practice. It changed how I interact with patients. I listen more deeply now, ask better questions, and think more broadly about how I can help. It’s made my practice more rewarding.
"In those early days of training, it felt a bit like being thrown into a new way of working. One of the pharmacists described it perfectly: it’s like you’ve been driving an automatic for years, and suddenly you’re asked to drive a manual. You know how to communicate, you’ve been doing it for ages, but now you’re reshaping how that communication looks and feels. It was a shift, and at first, everyone’s eyes said the same thing: “How is this going to work?” But as we moved through the training, you could see the confidence grow. By the time we came back for the second residential, people were sharing stories of how they’d started applying their new skills, connecting more deeply with patients, and really seeing the benefits. It’s been a powerful way to solidify those professional connections and build something new together."
Can you give an example of how the training changed your practice?
Before working to my full scope, if a patient came in with a cough, I might recommend a cough mix. Now, I have the skills to take them into the consult room, listen to their chest, and provide that extra level of service and reassurance. It’s a better use of everyone’s time and it means I can offer real health solutions on the spot.
What tips would you give to pharmacists currently undertaking the training?
Keep going. Try not to think of it as separate from your everyday work. If you learn a new skill, like using an otoscope, start using it in your practice. Let patients know you’re training—they’ll love being part of the journey, and it builds your confidence.
Do a little bit often. Map out non-negotiable study times—maybe after the kids are in bed or on a quiet Saturday afternoon. And don’t feel like you need to wait for a tutorial to practise your skills. Integrate them into your workday.
Also, find your tribe. The people who struggled most were often the ones who tried to do it alone. This journey is better together. Support each other, share your experiences, and celebrate the wins—big and small.
You’ve mentioned the importance of finding your “why.” Can you tell us more about that?
We all have our “why”—the reason we came into community pharmacy. Sometimes it gets lost in the day-to-day. This training gives you a chance to slow down and reconnect with that purpose. For me, it’s about communication and listening to help people find health solutions. The training gave me more options to do that. Everyone’s “why” is different, and everyone’s implementation journey is unique. But when you find your “why,” everything starts to click.
You can read more of Kylie’s reflections and insights on the Pilot, the challenges of implementation, and what the future holds for the pharmacy industry in her previous interview here: Pilot Stories: an interview with Kylie Birkinshaw