National Competency Standards Framework for Pharmacists in ...

Section 1 – The Competency Standards Framework
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1.1 Introduction
Pharmacists are health professionals who possess a
unique and complex body of knowledge and skills which
they apply on behalf of other members of the community
to optimise health outcomes from medicines. This
commitment to act in the service of others carries with
it an obligation to do so in accordance with expected
behaviours as set down in professional codes of conduct/
ethics. It also carries with it a fundamental ethical
obligation to maintain professional competence and to
practise within these limits.
The concept of competence is not new but has gained
more prominence in recent years through initiatives
such as competency-based training, credentialing
and professional registration. Past efforts to articulate
competency standards for pharmacists in Australia
have focussed on showing the scope of professional
practice possible. The 2003 version relied heavily on
the format adopted in the Australian National Training
Authority Training Package guideline. This approach
describes professional practice by breaking down
complex professional functions into a series of related
tasks. Although such an approach is useful for supporting
the description and measurement of practice it also
tends to understate the inherent integration of tasks
and the complex conceptual, analytical and behavioural
functions that underpin professional service delivery.
This 2010 version of the competency standards
builds on past efforts but includes modifications to
improve useability and to take account of national and
international developments.
The value of competency standards rests with their
capacity to support and facilitate professional practice
and growth, in the interests of public safety. As
professional practice changes and evolves, so too do
the competencies for pharmacists. These competency
standards are dynamic and subject to review at regular
intervals as Australian health care and society changes.
uniformity in their practice. They allow pharmacists to
reflect on and measure their professional practice against
quality indicators. That is, they serve as a self-assessment
quality audit tool for members of the profession to improve
the quality of the professional services they provide.
There is an inherent assumption that pharmacists using
the professional practice standards are competent.
Personal competence and the adoption of quality
standards are both required to ensure professional
services deliver optimal health outcomes for consumers.
1.3 Key Influences
In this and all previous reviews of the competency
standards the content of the standards has been guided
by two key resources. The first of these is a key statement
on the practice of pharmacy (updated) below:
Pharmacists use their expertise in medicines
to optimise health outcomes and minimise
medication misadventure. They apply their
knowledge of poisons to promote their safe
use and avoid harm to users and others in
the community.
The practice of pharmacy includes the custody,
preparation, dispensing and provision of
medicines, together with systems and information
to assure quality of use.
As readily accessible health professionals,
pharmacists provide primary health care
including education and advice to promote good
health and to reduce the incidence of illness.
A sound pharmaceutical knowledge base,
effective problem-solving, organisational,
communication and interpersonal skills, together
with an ethical and professional attitude, are
essential to the practice of pharmacy.
The Competency Standards Framework
1.2 Competency and Quality
Standards for the Practice
of Pharmacy
Competency Standards describe the skills, attitudes and
other attributes (including values and beliefs) attained by
an individual based on knowledge (gained through study
at university) and experience (gained through subsequent
practice) which together enable the individual to practise
effectively as a pharmacist.
In contrast, professional practice standards relate
to the systems, procedures and information used
by pharmacists to achieve a level of conformity and
The other key resource is the National Medicines Policy
the aim of which is to “meet medication and related
service needs, so that both optimal health outcomes and
economic objectives are achieved for Australians”.
One of the four arms of the Policy is the Quality Use
of Medicines (QUM), which means: 1
• selecting management options wisely;
• choosing suitable medicines if a medicine is
considered necessary; and
• using medicines safely and effectively.
1 National Medicines Policy: Quality Use of Medicines. Summary
information available at: www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/
Content/nmp-quality.htm
National Competency Standards Framework for Pharmacists in Australia 2010 3