Aged care on-site pharmacist program

pharmacist in aged care

The Aged Care On-site Pharmacist (ACOP) initiative was introduced on July 1, 2024. As a key recommendation of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, the initiative aims to improve the safety and quality of medication management in residential aged care homes. Ongoing funding is available for aged care homes to have a pharmacist as part of their clinical care team, engaged either through a local community pharmacy (Tier 1) or directly employed by the home (Tier 2).

Benefits of an on-site pharmacist

  • Improve medication use and safety, including the safe use of high-risk medications
  • Provide continuity in medication management with day-to-day reviews and prompt issue resolution
  • Offer easy access to pharmacist advice for residents and staff
  • Integrate pharmacists with the healthcare team, including local GPs, nurses, and community pharmacies.
  • Increase understanding and response to individual resident needs.

How the funding is structured

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).

RACH bed numbersFull-time equivalent (FTE) rate per eligible RACHMaximum onsite days per week (1 day = 7.6hrs)
1-500.21
51-1000.42
101-1500.63
151-2000.84
201-2501.05

Residential aged care home eligibility information

Residential aged care homes are eligible if they either:

Participating residential aged care homes must either:

Residential aged care homes that provide only respite care are not eligible.

Difference between ACOP and the RMMR/ QUM programs

The ACOP program is a best practice alternative to the Residential Medication Management Review (RMMR) and Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) programs. Where an ACOP is engaged to work in a RACH, that RACH cannot also receive RMMR or QUM services.

FeatureOn-site pharmacistRMMR/QUM pharmacist
Integrated member of the RACH care team✅◐ Varies by arrangement
Follows up with residents between formal reviews✅ No limit◐ Limited to claiming rules and visit frequency
Leads or participates in Medication Advisory Committee (MAC) meetings ✅◐ Varies by arrangement
Supports medication transitions (e.g. post-hospital discharge) ✅◐ Often limited to review cycle
Leads/supports Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) and quality indicator improvement ✅ Broad scope, can undertake audits, stewardship✅Primarily via education and targeted QUM visits
Completes comprehensive medication reviews ✅✅

Credentialling information for pharmacists

To participate, on-site pharmacists must either:

From 1 July 2026 all pharmacists participating in the measure must have completed an APC-accredited aged care on-site pharmacist training program.

Resources

Information and support

Murray PHN can support residential aged care homes to:

  • identify appropriately credentialed pharmacists in the catchment
  • support connection
  • provide guidance and support for program implementation.

If you are a pharmacist or community pharmacy with interest and capacity in the ACOP role, we want to hear from you.

Connect with our Aged Care Onsite Pharmacist program consultant: Liz Welch by emailing liz.welch@murrayphn.org.au or agedcare@murrayphn.org.au or calling 02 6041 0012.

Last Update: September 3rd, 2025

Murray PHN acknowledges its catchment crosses over many unceded First Nations Countries, following the Dhelkunya Yaluk (Healing River).

We pay our respects and give thanks to the Ancestors, Elders and Young people for their nurturing, protection and caregiving of these sacred lands and waterways, acknowledging their continuing cultural, spiritual and educational practices.

We are grateful for the sharing of Country and the renewal that Country gives us. We acknowledge and express our sorrow that this sharing has come at a personal, spiritual and cultural cost to the wellbeing of First Nations peoples. We commit to addressing the injustices of colonisation across our catchment, and to listening to the wisdom of First Nations communities who hold the knowledge to enable healing. We extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.