Aged Care On-Site Pharmacist (ACOP) program

Improving Medication Safety in Aged Care: On-Site Pharmacists Now Funded

Central and Eastern Sydney PHN (CESPHN) is committed to supporting safer, more effective medication management in residential aged care homes (RACHs). From 1 July 2024, The Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care is funding the Aged Care On-Site Pharmacist (ACOP) program for aged care homes to employ pharmacists, bringing expert medication advice and oversight into the heart of aged care services.

Why have an on-site pharmacist?

Having a pharmacist based within a RACH can:

• minimise the risk of medication-related harm
• ensure safer use of high-risk and complex medications
• provide consistent medication oversight for residents
• offer real-time support and advice to staff and residents
• strengthen teamwork between nursing staff, GPs, and local pharmacies.

Program details

Aged care homes can employ a pharmacist by partnering with a community pharmacy, or engage a pharmacist directly where necessary. Funding is structured to support one full-time pharmacist per 250 residents, with coverage scaled based on 50-bed increments (approximately one day a week for every 50 beds).

It’s important to note:

Homes that engage an on-site pharmacist will no longer be able to engage Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) or Residential Medication Management Review (RMMR) services from external pharmacists. Those without an on-site pharmacist will continue accessing external QUM and RMMR support as usual.

Pharmacists

To participate, on-site pharmacists must either: 

• have completed an Australian Pharmacy Council (APC)-accredited aged care on-site pharmacist training program
• have an existing Medication Management Review credential and commit to completing by 30 June 2025 either:
  • an APC-accredited aged care on-site pharmacist training program, or
  • an APC-accredited aged care on-site pharmacist recognition of prior learning process.

From 1 July 2025 all pharmacists participating in the measure must have completed an APC-accredited aged care on-site pharmacist training program.

Interested in taking part?

CESPHN encourages all residential aged care homes to consider the benefits of this initiative and take steps to enhance the safety and quality of medication use for their residents.

For further information, visit the Department of Health and Aged Care website, or contact Central and Eastern Sydney PHN at agedcare@cesphn.com.au.