Training requirements

To provide Community Pharmacy Expanded Scope of Practice services in South Australia, pharmacists are required to have successfully completed an SA Health-approved postgraduate qualification.

This page will be updated regularly and outlines important information on  SA Health approved training courses, and  government training subsidies for eligible community pharmacists.

Approved training courses

The following postgraduate training courses have been approved by SA Health:

• Adelaide University - Graduate Certificate in Pharmacist Prescribing
• James Cook University - Graduate Certificate of Advanced Practice and Prescribing for Pharmacists
• Monash University - Graduate Certificate of Pharmacist Prescribing
• University of Western Australia - Graduate Certificate in Quality Use of Medicines and Prescribing
  (5 units of study, including PHCY5153 Enhanced Access Community Pharmacy Pilot: Clinical Skills

Other postgraduate training courses are being reviewed and will be added to this webpage upon approval by SA Health

South Australian Government Community Pharmacist Training Subsidy

The South Australian Government is offering a training subsidy to support community pharmacists to complete the required training to provide Community Pharmacy Expanded Scope of Practice services in South Australia. The subsidy offsets enrolment fees for an SA Health-approved training course and is available for up to 120 pharmacists over three years.

Download for FAQ for pharmacists  - Training & Subsidy

The subsidy amount is based on your primary practice location, with higher subsidies available to support community pharmacists working in rural and remote areas.

You can check the Modified Monash Model category of your practice location or contact the Business Support team at the SA Branch for assistance.

Eligibility criteria

To be considered for the South Australian Government training subsidy, pharmacists must demonstrate that they:

• hold unconditional general registration with the Pharmacy Board of Australia
• are currently employed as a pharmacist by a community pharmacy in South Australia, with a minimum of six months’ employment
• currently reside in South Australia
• have a demonstrated commitment from their employer to enable service provision
• have not previously completed the course(s)
• are not accessing a course under a Commonwealth Supported Place (e.g. University of Western Australia - Graduate Certificate in Quality Use of Medicines and Prescribing)
• have not already paid for the course.

Application process

Round 1 of the expression-of-interest process for subsidised training has now closed. Applicants have been notified of the outcome via the email address provided at the time of application. Further opportunities will be announced as they become available, with another round planned for mid-2026. If you have already submitted an application in a previous round, you do not need to reapply unless your circumstances have changed, such as the pharmacy you work in.

Hardship subsidy

Pharmacy owners in rural and regional areas who employ pharmacists who have received a community pharmacist training subsidy may be eligible for an additional subsidy. Eligibility will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

This subsidy is intended to support the ongoing provision of pharmacy services in rural and regional communities by assisting with costs such as engaging a locum pharmacist. It aims to ensure that pharmacies can continue operating while pharmacists attend mandatory face-to-face training sessions.

Requests for the South Australian Government hardship subsidy should outline the impact of supporting pharmacists to attend training sessions and should be submitted via email to the Health.CommunityPharmacyInitiatives@sa.gov.au.