Richard's Round Up Christmas Message
Welcome to our final newsletter for 2023. I’m probably not alone in thinking this year has simply flown by, but along the way PSWA has taken great strides forward.
The year commenced with the Board undertaking a comprehensive review of the JM O’Hara Research Fund (JMOHRF), which has been providing research funding grants to members for pharmacy projects since 1976. The review encompassed it’s functions, processes and the supporting structure.
As a result the Board was very pleased to release a new JMOHRF Governance Framework that details the overarching governance, application criteria and assessment processes. The document also details the establishment of a realigned JMOHRF Advisory Committee. The streamlined application and assessment processes together with the improved transparency will ensure the fund continues to achieve our vision of being the major facilitator of pharmacy practice development in WA through innovative research well into the future.
In 2023 we were able to celebrate some great successes from our members. In a highly competitive field our 2023 Innovation Night was won by Glenn Angel for software application “Compify- Opening communication with compounding pharmacies”. You can check out Glen’s wining software and his other innovative software products at his website, Pharmacy Halo.
At our end of year PSWA Pharmacy Celebration event, Dr Petra Czarniak was awarded PSWA’s highest honour, the Erik Kirk Memorial Award. The award acknowledges outstanding contribution to the development of professional practice in WA and recognised Petra’s dedication and commitment as a community pharmacist and passionate pharmacy educator. With her family there to share her pride in receiving the award, Petra’s story was engaging and inspiring and confirmed she was a worthy recipient of the award.
December marked the end of the 10 year lease held by PSA at our premises at 21 Hamilton Street and, after much collaboration and discussion on the future needs of both organisations, it was agreed that PSA would not continue to lease the building. This provided an opportunity for PSWA to consider commercial leasing of the premises to develop a new income stream.
While PSA have moved to premises in Nedlands, PSWA are still considering the future needs and benefits of maintaining a dedicated footprint. In the interim PSWA are benefitting from flexible working arrangements that allow our Executive Officer and Board to manage the Societies affairs remotely.
The 2023 PSWA AGM and Pharmacy celebration were the last official functions scheduled for 21 Hamilton Street for the foreseeable future. All our regular functions and get-togethers will continue to be rolled out in 2024 using a range of new venues. While our phone and email remain unchanged our new postal address is included below. We trust everyone will still have a treasured memory to take with them from 21 Hamilton Street.
There is more detail on all of these subjects and the recognition of the outstanding work of the Board and the many volunteers who assisted during the year in our 2023 Annual Report.
Finally, on behalf of the Board, I thank our members, sponsors, benefactors, especially the Pharmacy 100 Club members, and our volunteers for their support through the year. I wish you, your families and loved ones, a Merry Christmas, a relaxing holiday season and a safe and prosperous New Year.
Richard