- Published:
- Thursday 27 November 2025 at 4:41 pm
The Allan Labor Government is expanding training pathways for pharmacists – so more Victorians can access care, easier and closer to home.
Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas today announced a new postgraduate training pathway will be offered by Monash University, ensuring more pharmacists can participate in the Labor Government’s Chemist Care Now program.
Formerly known as the Community Pharmacist Program, more than 800 pharmacies already take part in Chemist Care Now – and as the program continues to grow, the Government is backing the workforce with more options to upskill.
The program allows pharmacists to provide treatment for common health conditions without needing a prescription including uncomplicated urinary tract infections, care for some skin conditions such as shingles, travel vaccines and other vaccines such as hepatitis A and B as well as the resupply of the contraceptive pill.
The program has already supported more than 64,000 Victorians at hundreds of chemists across Melbourne and regional Victoria.
Pharmacists who complete Monash University’s Graduate Certificate of Pharmacist Prescribing or other accredited postgraduate courses are eligible to join the Chemist Care Now program.
Enrolments are now open for this course, which is accredited by the Australian Pharmacy Council – the national body responsible for accrediting all professional pharmacy education programs in Australia
This course joins a number of graduate certificate courses that have full or conditional accreditation from the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC), including the courses developed by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia and other training organisations.
Module-based training is still available for pharmacists wanting to quickly upskill in conditions and treatments in the Chemist Care Now program without completing a postgraduate course.
The Labor Government will gradually add new health conditions and wellbeing services to Chemist Care Now over the next two years.
The Labor Government invested $18 million this year to expand the program and make it permanent.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas
“Chemist Care Now is giving Victorians faster access to the care they need, close to home – and these new training options will upskill the pharmacist workforce so they can provide even more care.”
“With this training, pharmacists will be able to confidently treat a range of everyday conditions, meaning you can get the help you need, even easier.”