• The role of pharmacists in NSW is expanding, and Charles Sturt University offers a new postgraduate course to upskill them to better deliver patient care
• As of March 2026, there were 42,941 registered pharmacists in Australia, of which nearly 12,000 (28 per cent) are in NSW

Community pharmacists in NSW are taking on a much larger role in frontline healthcare, with new responsibilities that were once handled only by doctors and general practitioners (GPs).

This shift is driven by statewide reforms that allow trained pharmacists to assess symptoms, make clinical decisions and supply certain prescription-only medicines for common conditions.

Approximately seven million people reside in rural and remote Australia, and by 2027, without intervention, it was estimated there will be as few as 52 pharmacists per 100,000 people in regional and remote areas, compared to 113 pharmacists per 100,000 people in major cities.

NSW Health confirms that eligible pharmacists can now manage uncomplicated urinary tract infections, continue certain forms of hormonal contraception, and treat minor skin conditions, such as atopic dermatitis, shingles, impetigo and psoriasis.

These services require pharmacists to complete condition-specific training, conduct private consultations, keep detailed clinical records and share information with a patient’s usual GP when appropriate.

Associate Professor in Pharmacy Mohmad Farooq Shaikh in the Charles Sturt School of Dentistry and Medical Sciences said full-scope pharmacist prescribing is not about replacing GPs; rather, it strengthens the primary healthcare system by creating an additional clinical link between patients and GPs.

“Pharmacists work collaboratively with GPs, providing timely assessment, management of minor and chronic conditions within their scope, medication optimisation, and appropriate referral when needed,” he said.

“This improves access to care, reduces pressure on general practice, and enhances continuity of care while ensuring patients remain connected to their GP for comprehensive diagnosis and ongoing management.”

Professor Shaikh said this expanded scope is particularly important in regional communities, where GP shortages, long wait times and travel distances make timely care difficult.

“Pharmacists are often the most accessible health professionals in rural and regional communities and are increasingly recognised as part of the solution to improving healthcare access,” he said.

“The NSW Government’s reforms mean pharmacists are moving from a traditional dispensing role to becoming accessible primary care clinicians — assessing symptoms, making diagnoses within defined limits, and supplying appropriate medicines.

“This shift requires advanced training in clinical assessment, diagnostic reasoning and prescribing decision making to ensure safe, high quality care for NSW communities.”

To help manage the changing roles of pharmacists, the Charles Sturt School of Dentistry and Medical Sciences has developed postgraduate training and qualifications with the new Graduate Certificate in Advanced Pharmacy Practice and Prescribing, commencing in November 2026 with applications now open.

In September 2024, the NSW Government announced plans to expand pharmacists’ scope of practice in 2026 to include:

• Ear infections 
• Minor wound management 
• Acute nausea and vomiting 
• Gastro-oesophageal reflux and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD)
• Mild to moderate acne 
• Mild, acute musculoskeletal pain

Charles Sturt alumnus Mr Tim Denham, a registered pharmacist in North Orange in the NSW Central West, is already doing this work.

“The expansion of scope for pharmacists aims to alleviate pressure on GPs and improve access to healthcare across the state by providing suitably trained professionals to provide services for a limited range of acute conditions,” Mr Denham said.

“Without this initiative, it would continue to put extra strain on the emergency or after-hours access for common daily presentations in our NSW communities and pharmacies.”

The University offers a $7,000 scholarship for rural and remote pharmacists who enrol in the Graduate Certificate in Advanced Pharmacy Practice and Prescribing.

The University also offers government-subsidised Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) for this postgraduate Advanced Pharmacy Practice and Prescribing course, which provides significant savings ─ up to 72 per cent ─ to future students.

Charles Sturt also offers a new online Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) starting in 2027.