Medicines & Pharmacy
Effective medicine use and integrating culturally informed practices
What we do
NACCHO oversees and manages various projects and programs focused on medicines and pharmacy, providing national leadership in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander medicines policy.
Our dedicated medicines team also curates a comprehensive collection of resources, serving as a central hub of information for health workers involved in prescribing and supplying medicines within Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) and other communities.
This platform offers valuable resources for Aboriginal Health Workers, Aboriginal Health Practitioners, nurses, prescribers, and pharmacists working in these settings. Visitors will find links to essential policies, guidelines, prescribing and procurement tools, online learning modules, and consumer resources.
Health workers are encouraged to refer to additional guidelines and policies specific to their individual sites as needed.
Our approach
NACCHO is committed to aligning with the National Agreement on Closing the Gap in all aspects of its work. Key efforts focus on strengthening the community-controlled sector by integrating pharmacists into ACCHOs and advocating for better access to medicines data to drive policy recommendations and assess program effectiveness.
NACCHO emphasises co-design in the development of medicines programs and policies, ensuring that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives are central to these initiatives. By partnering with peak bodies and the Australian Government, NACCHO supports medicines priorities and policies that align with the Agreement’s Priority Reforms.
Collaboration with stakeholders is a key element of NACCHO’s strategy to improve medicines access and use for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Additionally, NACCHO leverages relevant research to inform policy development and program design.
Our initiatives
NACCHO Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pharmacist Scholarship
The scholarship program aims to build the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander pharmacist workforce and to raise the profile of the beneficial role that pharmacy and pharmacists can play in supporting appropriate and culturally safe care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It provides subsidy and support for full-time equivalent prospective or current Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander pharmacy students.
Insights
ACCHO locations
NACCHO oversees a network of 146 members, each running Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) across urban, regional, and remote Australia. These ACCHOs range from large facilities with multiple healthcare professionals providing comprehensive services to smaller centres focused on preventive care and health education, primarily delivered by Aboriginal Health Workers and nurses.
Contact
For any inquiries or further information about the Medicines and Pharmacy team at: medicines@naccho.org.au.
