Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pharmacy Practice (ATSIPP).
Purpose
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pharmacy Practice CSI (ATSIPP CSI) is a collaboration between NACCHO and the PSA.
At all times, the group will respect the right to self-determination and aim to support development of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workforce.
As the peak body for pharmacists, PSA’s CSIs are the facilitated forum for developing policy, strategies, and translational tools, which will propel the profession into the future.
The CSIs are to provide an opportunity for PSA members, in a dedicated leadership and group setting, to discuss and advise the PSA of current and emerging practice needs and specialty interests of pharmacists.
The principle focus of the CSIs is to provide a pharmacist’s perspective in a defined practice area and support the vision and mission of the PSA relating to that practice.
This CSI will combine the general PSA CSI roles with an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health sector and ACCHO perspective.
In supporting the development of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workforce and encouraging their participation in the CSI, it aims to increase the ability for the CSI to incorporate the perspective of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The leadership and perspectives from this CSI will aim to support the respective visions, missions, and strategic goals of the PSA and NACCHO.
Responsibilities
The general responsibilities of the CSIs are to:
- Provide ongoing forums for focussed and sustained discussion with members.
- Develop an understanding of environmental trends and seek input about the issues that are important to pharmacists regardless of place of practice.
- Serve as a source of specialized and innovative ideas on the local, state, and federal levels for the engagement opportunities with various stakeholders.
- Provide suggested direction for implementation of initiatives, member services, events, education and training, and policy and advocacy.
- Suggest and provide guidance regarding priorities of current and emerging opportunities.
- Advocate for the use of appropriate standards for pharmacy practice, develop local implementations of standards and develop new standards where necessary.
- Share information, provide practice insights, suggestions, and guidance with the PSA and NACCHO.
- Improve pharmacists’ research knowledge and evidence-based clinical practice skills.
This CSI will accommodate these responsibilities, and:
- Develop an understanding of environmental trends and seek input about the issues that are important to the ACCHO and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health sector .
- Advocate for culturally safe, professional, and appropriate practice in all health care settings.
- Assist in the development of local, jurisdictional, and national implementation of policy where necessary.
- Support the development of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander pharmacy and medicines workforce.
Our Chair
Chastina Heck - BPharm
Chastina Heck is a Nywaigi Mamu woman with custodial ties to the Bidjara people. She is currently working as the Pharmacy Manager at Gove District Hospital, NT whilst on secondment from Logan Hospital in Queensland, including her Associate Lecturer position at the UQ School of Pharmacy. Chastina completed her Bachelor of Pharmacy in 2005 at the University of Queensland making her only the second Indigenous woman to graduate from the degree in the University’s 97 year history.
Chastina has maintained an interest in varied aspects of pharmacy to ensure a strong foundation in her clinical practice. She has also been mindful to engage with organisations and services external to the hospital environment so to bring expertise and knowledge of the wider pharmacy and health care industry to ensure service delivery is current, relevant and innovative.
Chastina’s practice is one driven by the desire to continually improve upon current practice whether it be operational or clinical in nature to ensure optimal consumer outcomes. Her expertise and knowledge in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health in relation to the aspect of pharmacy and healthcare integration has been drawn upon by both government and non-government organisations at a national level. She is currently a member of the Australian Pharmacy Council's Indigenous Health Expert Advisory Group, a valued member of Indigenous Allied Health Australia, Society of Hospital Pharmacists Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Specialty Leadership Group member, and member of Leaders in Indigenous Pharmacy Profession Education Education (LIPPE) Network.