Pharmacy Guild of Australia National President, Trent Twomey (pictured), says he is still “really excited that 20 years ago I made the decision to be a community pharmacist”. Speaking as the opening presenter at today’s inaugural Pharmacy Careers Summit, Twomey noted the ongoing evolution of the sector, which has “really stepped up” over the last few years during COVID-19. The pandemic has seen Australians rely on their local community pharmacy more than ever, he said. “We remained open when many other areas of Australia’s primary health care system shut down. “Australians could not get an appointment with their GP, so instead they asked their pharmacist,” he said, noting similar issues with hospital emergency department access because of a whole raft of pressures that the hospital system is under. “And in 2023, Australians can ask their pharmacist for more things than they have ever been able to before,” Twomey added, noting increasing scope for vaccinations meaning pharmacists are protecting Australian families from not just influenza and COVID-19 but whooping cough and a whole range of other conditions. The Guild President also highlighted pharmacy’s recent expanded involvement in the treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infections, saying pharmacists are helping women manage this “easily treatable condition” without waiting for a GP appointment or emergency department access. “Australia’s 6,000 community pharmacies are continuing to do what they’ve always done, and that is to provide quality, frontline preventive health advice, and providing advice for people to manage a whole raft of chronic diseases and help improve the quality use of medicines,” he said. On top of that the expanded prominence of pharmacy is seeing the sector “continuing to change to be the backbone of Australia’s healthcare system,” Twomey added. Wrapping up, Twomey noted that his wife and fellow pharmacist Georgina also shares the same level of enthusiasm. “All those years ago when we were pharmacy students and considering what path we should take in our careers, I can tell you two decades on that we made the right decision,” Twomey said. “And we are more excited about the next 20 years,” he concluded. The free Pharmacy Careers Summit is on all day today, with presenters from right across the sector also including hospital pharmacy, academia, franchise groups, suppliers and more – see pharmacycareerssummit.com.au