APP2021 looks to the future with conference line-up

Media Release

This week APP2021 will tackle issues facing all parts of Australian life, including our Covid-19 economic and health recovery, cyber technology and security, the future of community pharmacy, the vision of our political and public health leaders, and inspirational stories from extraordinary Australians.

The activities at the APP2021 conference have been accredited for a total of up to 22 hours of Group 1 CPD (or 22 CPD credits) suitable for inclusion in an individual pharmacist’s CPD plan, which can be converted to up to 22 hours of Group 2 CPD (or 44 CPD credits) upon successful completion of relevant assessment activities*.

Kos Sclavos AM, APP Convenor and former Guild National President, says the conference program was a unique opportunity for the entire industry to hear from experts across a range of different professions.

“We’ve got some fantastic speakers this year, including Gary Mortimer, who will speak on consumer behaviour in a post-Covid world and Craig James, The Chief Economist CommBank, who will be speaking on the new Australian economy,” says Mr Sclavos.

Mr Sclavos says two sessions featuring experts in cyber technology and the direction of pharmacy in the new economy would be taking place Friday morning.

“The first will be a session on ‘Responding to imminent cyber-attack featuring Adam Smallhorn, Cyber Security Outreach at the Commonwealth Bank and Andrew McManus, General Manager for Managed Services, Fred IT Group,” he says.

“Then we continue that theme with Economist Stephen Koukoulas in a session called ‘Economics and your pharmacy.”

Advocate for doctors with disabilities and Queensland State Recipient of Australian of the Year 2021, Dr Dinesh Palipana OAM, will share the inspiring story of how he became Queensland’s first medical graduate and medical intern following a severe spinal injury in a car crash.

“Despite facing numerous and challenging barriers, he is now a senior resident at Gold Coast University Hospital in Queensland and a doctor for the Gold Coast Titans physical disability rugby league team,” says Mr Sclavos.

Mr Sclavos also said that the organisers of APP2021 had gone the extra mile to ensure international experts had been included in this year’s program.

“Because of travel restraints due to Covid-19, we’ve had to get creative to ensure attendees get the chance to hear from international experts this year.

“Though the majority of speakers are face-to-face on the Gold Coast, we have several sessions where we will have speakers from overseas joining us online via Zoom, including our colleagues from The Pharmacy Guild of New Zealand.

“There will be something for everyone at APP2021, and there’s still time to register to make sure you get to hear from these amazing speakers. See you at APP on the Gold Coast.”

Don’t miss out – book your registration today at appconference.com.

Text by: The Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Queensland Branch