A year into the Federal Government’s $334 million on-site pharmacist program, fewer than 300 aged care homes have signed on.
The program, which was launched by then-Aged Care Minister Anika Wells and commenced on 1 July 2024, saw 15% take up rates in NSW, NT, QLD and SA. The number of on-site pharmacists funded under the program was highest in NSW.
Participation was between 10% and 20% across all sized homes, and was highest in MM1 (metro) and MM3 (large rural towns) at 15%.
A requirement of the program is for providers to employ Electronic National Residential Medication Chart (eNRMC) technology. In 2022, the Federal Government allocated $31 million in grant funding to help providers adopt of the technology. About 80% of aged care homes received the grant, but Round 3 of the grant program was cancelled after higher-than-expected levels of interest saw total funding exhausted in Rounds 1 and 2.
What is the Aged Care On-site Pharmacist Measure?
The Federal Government provides funding to employ one full-time pharmacist for every 250 beds in residential aged care. The funding is provided in 50-bed blocks, for example, an aged care home with 61 beds would be funded for two full days per week.
A full-time pharmacist working in aged care is funded up to nearly $138,000 per annum by the Federal Government – see main table.
The program came out of Aged Care Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety Recommendation 38, which called for allied health to be funded in residential aged care. The aim of the program is:
- to fund pharmacists to conduct reviews,
- to improve medication management, and
- to provide easy access to pharmacist advice for both residents and staff.
Under the program, Government grants flow to community pharmacies that employ the on-site pharmacists. Aged care providers only receive the funding if they are unable to source the service through a local pharmacy. Since May 2025, Primary Health Networks have been tasked with helping homes secure pharmacists – a role they will keep in 2025–26, the program’s second year.
Medication management regularly rates among the most complained about issues in residential aged care.