The average pharmacist salary in Australia is $107,470 per year, so the voluntary scheme for community pharmacies to work in aged care and for residential aged care homes to employ pharmacists directly, and be paid up to $138,282 annually, looks likely to be a winner.
Aged care on-site pharmacists, came into being on 1 July 2024, with the Australian Government providing $333.7 million for the scheme, with the maximum allowed to be paid to a pharmacist $138,282.
Community pharmacies have been able to access the funding from 1 July 2024 but for residential aged care homes, reimbursement of funding will begin from 1 October 2024, when the payment administration system is established.
Residential aged care homes can only employ pharmacists directly when community pharmacies are unable to provide a pharmacist or choose not to, or the residential aged care home and the pharmacy "can't come to a suitable" agreement, according to the Department's website.
Funding is for one aged care on-site pharmacist per 250 beds in a residential aged care home, with funding blocked into 50-bed increments, equivalent to an aged care on-site pharmacist working one day per week - enabling pharmacists "to build a regular presence on site, even in smaller residential aged care homes", says the Department.
The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety recommended improvements to medication management in residential aged care including through greater use of pharmacists.
Information about the scheme is available here.
