Page 12 - Retail Pharmacy Assistants - October 2020

10 INDUSTRY UPDATES OLYMPIC LEGEND TO BRING GOLD STANDARD TO APP2021 Six-time Olympic cycling medallist Anna Meares will tell Australia’s top community pharmacists what it takes to be the world’s best, when she speaks at the Australian Pharmacy Professional Conference and Trade Exhibition (APP2021). Ms Meares, a double Olympic track cycling champion, will be a headline speaker at the four-day conference (20–23 May 2021). The annual conference draws thousands of influential figures from the pharmacy world together to discuss the major issues of the day. It will likely be dominated by the pharmacy industry’s collective response to the challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic. “Anna Meares is one of the finest and toughest Olympic athletes Australia has seen, and we’re delighted she’ll be speaking to us about what success looks like and how professionals can overcome adversity in pursuit of their goals,” APP Convenor Kos Sclavos said. Ms Meares retired from professional competition in late 2016, after a glittering career. In addition to her six Olympic medals, she won 18 world championship medals (including 11 world titles) and eight Commonwealth Games medals, including five gold. At the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympics she became the first Australian athlete to win four individual medals at four consecutive Olympic Games. On top of the gold medals, Ms Meares is also one of Australia’s toughest ever athletes and has the ultimate comeback story to prove it. In January 2008, just seven months before the Beijing Olympics, she broke her neck in a horrific track accident at the World Cup in Los Angeles. The injuries would have ended most careers, let alone a shot at Olympic glory, but Ms Meares was back in the saddle 10 days later to start training for Beijing, where she won a silver medal. Ms Meares’ name will always be synonymous with the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, with the venue’s velodrome being named after the champion cyclist in recognition of her contribution to the globalisation of the sport. In February 2020, Ms Meares gave birth to daughter Evelyn, marking a new chapter in her life. Readers are encouraged to join Ms Meares as she shares the inspirational story of how she became the most decorated and successful female track cyclist. Online registration for APP2021 opens in mid-October. For registration fees and other details, visit: appconference.com. CREATING HEALTHIER WORKPLACES ACROSS QUEENSLAND The success of a business relies on the health and wellbeing of its employees. You can’t run a productive workplace if your staff are unwell. Now, thanks to an Ignite Ideas Fund grant from the Queensland government, Cairns-based Sophus Nutrition is rolling out a new app and corporate program targeted at businesses in the state supporting the health of their employees during Covid-19. Through the Sophus Nutrition app, Queensland businesses will be able to access a free corporate program that combines evidence-based nutrition facts with behavioural insights, psychology and adult-learning theory. “After working with organisations and their employees for almost 20 years, we realised there was a need for personalised, 24/7 nutrition support, responsive to each individual’s needs, regardless of their health, personal circumstances or location,” accredited practising dietitian Tara Diversi said. Allowing users to set goals, track their progress, access tips and “healthy recipes” and receive support from qualified dietitians, the app, according to Ms Diversi, is “like having your own personal dietitian in your pocket”. “We know that nutrition can help with physical, mental and social aspects of health, and this is a great way for businesses to support their staff while they’re dealing with the impacts of Covid-19,” she said. The Advance Queensland Ignite Ideas Fund is aimed at creating the jobs of the future and opening new markets for small to medium businesses. “We’re committed to investing in innovative local companies that employ and support Queenslanders,” Minister for Innovation Kate Jones said. “It’s wonderful to be able to help Sophus scale up and deliver this app. I’m excited about its potential to created healthier workplaces across Queensland.” To sign up for the free corporate program, visit: sophus.com.au/qldbusiness. RETAIL PHARMACY ASSISTANTS • OCT 2020