Membership of the The Illawarra Pharmacists Association (IPA) is open to all pharmacists and pharmacy students living or working in the Illawarra and Southern Highlands area of New South Wales.
Members include pharmacists working in the community and hospital pharmacy, retired pharmacists, pharmacists working in government or administrative areas and pharmacy educators.
Pharmacy students and pharmacy interns are also welcome as members.
Membership may be obtained by submitting an online Registration Form and payment for annual fee to the Treasurer.
Financial members are entitled to stand for office and vote at IPA meetings. Members will also receive notification of meetings and events, as well as access to members only area of website.
The Association aims to provide a forum where members can make contact with fellow pharmacists in the local area, exchange ideas and information, and promote fellowship among colleagues.
The IPA endeavors to provide and promote continuing education of pharmacists at a local level, and also acts as a conduit for educational events provided by other professional organisations.
The IPA has close contact with the both the Illawarra Division of General Practice (IDGP) and The National Prescribing Service (NPS). Both organisations involved in providing education to Pharmacists and Medical Practitioners. The IPA provides representation on the Primary Health Network (PHN).
The IPA acts as a point of contact for both the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, and the Pharmacy Guild of Australia (NSW Branch).
The IPA acts as a point of contact for local media, local government and community groups, including local health interest and support groups, (Asthma, Arthritis groups etc.).
The IPA welcomes enquiries from other health related groups in the Illawarra who seek contact or input from pharmacists.
The Association seeks to represent the profession to local State and Federal Members of Parliament, and to candidates at elections. Through such contact we try to demonstrate the effects of Government policy at the ‘grass roots’ and also build a working relationship with local parliamentary representatives.
The current IPA committee are also working to establish a contact network for Illawarra Pharmacists to provide services including employment, locums and emergency staffing.
The Committee’s vision is that this website will become the hub of the IPA where members can make contact, locate locums and staff, update on current activities and exchange ideas.