Aged care on-site pharmacist program

The Aged Care On-site Pharmacist Measure (ACOP) started on July 1 2024, with the aim of improving medication management and safety in residential aged care homes. Funding is available for community pharmacies and aged care providers to employ on-site pharmacists.

The role of on-site pharmacists is to regularly review medications to reduce medication-related harm and work closely with GPs and aged care staff to optimise the use of medicines.

The initiative aims to:

  • 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.

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).

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 onsite pharmacist will continue accessing external QUM and RMMR support as usual.

Aged care homes are being encouraged to explore this opportunity to engage an on-site pharmacist to enhance medication safety and improve resident outcomes.

To participate, on-site pharmacists must either: 

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

Information and support

For further information, visit the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing website, or contact Murray PHN at agedcare@murrayphn.org.au

Published: May 27th, 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.