On the 15th December of 2003, the updated and amended "Competency Standards for Pharmacists in Australia 2003" was launched by Professor Lloyd Sansom. The publication of this document is the result of a great deal of work from a project entitled 'Enhancing the value of the pharmacists through augmented competency standards and targeted professional practice standards.'

This project was funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing as part of the Third Community Pharmacy Agreement Research and Development Program. (1)

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia is the custodian of this document on behalf of the pharmacy profession and any comments about the document should be sent to PSA. The document will undergo a formal review process every five years which will involve extensive stakeholder consultation.

This updated document is considerably larger than the previous version and has been expanded to include a much larger scope of practice of pharmacy.
It is intended that the document will be used by industry, government, pharmacy schools, registering authorities and related organisations when constructing procedures and standards of practice and assessment that involve the practice of pharmacy in Australia.
The following organisation have formally endorsed the document and will be utilizing the material in their organisations- Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA), Council of Pharmacy Registering Authorities Inc. (COPRA), Australian Association of Consultant Pharmacy (AACP), Australian College of Pharmacy Practice (ACPP), Association of Professional Engineer, Scientists and Managers Australia (APESMA), Committee of Heads of Pharmacy Schools in Australia and New Zealand (CHPSANZ), Australian Institute of Pharmacy Management (AIPM), Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA).

Section 1.2 of this document outlines the inter-relationship potential of the Competency Standards and the professional standards and the main messages are " Competency can be described as skills, attitudes and other attributes (including values and beliefs) attained by an individual based on knowledge (gained through study at bachelor's degrees level at least at university) and experience (gained through subsequent practice) which together are considered sufficient to enable the individual to practice as a pharmacist.
On the other hand, professional standards relate to the systems, procedures and information used by individuals to achieve a level of conformity and uniformity for a given practice.
The attainment of a professional qualification versus the practice of pharmacy to a set of professional standards highlights the difference between the two types of standards." (1)

The application of these two different types of standards is clearly demonstrated in the material that has been developed by the professional organisations in relation to Emergency Hormonal Contraception. To ensure all pharmacists are competent in their knowledge and understanding of the pharmacology and physiology of contraception, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia produced an array of excellent material.
This included the Essential CPE booklet entitled "Contraception", an article in the "I must see the Pharmacist" section of the December Australian Pharmacist entitled "Emergency Contraception", a more comprehensive article in the January Australian Pharmacist entitled " Emergency Contraception-issues of deregulation" .
PSA also produced a laminated copy of a supply protocol for pharmacists to follow when asked to supply emergency hormonal contraception and issued a position statement for Pharmacists entitled "Ethical Issues in declining supply" to give guidance to the members of the profession who face ethical dilemmas with supplying this medication.
Whilst these are not professional standards they are professional guidelines and position statements of the professional body that represents all pharmacists in Australia.

PSA also developed a comprehensive training package for all of its branches to use to deliver training to both PSA members and non-members to ensure that all pharmacists were able to update and enhance their knowledge in the area of contraception.
Knowledge is one part of ensuring competency and hopefully by participating in the workshops and discussion groups planned by the branches members will be able to gain experience in counseling customers requesting information on contraception issues.
Whilst it is impossible for all members to access these workshops and discussion groups, many branches are providing telecasts to regional areas as well as a video version of the metropolitan workshops to enable members who cannot attend to conduct their own workshops with their staff and peers

The Pharmacy Guild of Australia adopted onto its website for members the excellent material produced by a conjoint working party of the Family Planning Association of Western Australia and the Pharmaceutical Council of WA.

The move from S4 to S3 of levonorgestrol and many other drugs over the coming months will mean that the profession will have to prove to its allied health colleagues e.g. Doctors, that we have the systems in place to ensure we practice as competent and knowledgeable health professionals.
It is a time to stand up and make these health professionals aware that we are not just retailers and shop keepers and our staff are not 'shop girls' or 'checkout chicks'.
This is a time to give our profession a fantastic boost in the professional ability stakes in the health arena and I hope that the pessimists and doomsday brigade take a long hard look at what you are saying as you are shooting pharmacy in the foot once again!!

References:
1. "Competency Standards for Pharmacists in Australia 2003"-Pharmaceutical Society of Australia- 01 November 2003