Community pharmacies across Australia are set to play an increasingly central role in the nation’s primary healthcare system, following the release of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia’s new 10-year strategic plan, Towards 2035¹.

Unveiled at the Guild’s Parliamentary Dinner earlier this month, the plan sets a clear vision for the future of community pharmacy. It calls for a “pharmacy-first” approach, positioning community pharmacists as essential, accessible healthcare providers embedded within their local communities². With demand for primary care services rising and general practice under pressure, the Guild’s roadmap aims to ensure pharmacies are fully recognised and utilised as a core part of the health system.

The Towards 2035 strategy outlines four focus areas: a strong, united pharmacy profession; a sustainable and equitable health system; a future-ready workforce; and resilient, innovative pharmacy businesses. It represents the culmination of 12 months of national consultation with Guild members, industry stakeholders and consumers, building on the achievements of the previous Community Pharmacy 2025 plan¹.

At its heart, the plan is about empowering community pharmacies to expand their scope of practice and deliver more services that improve health outcomes. This includes supporting pharmacists to operate at full scope, improving clinical governance and embedding pharmacy services in local health networks². The Guild has emphasised that realising this vision will require sustained collaboration with government, other health professions and the wider community. The Guild’s National President, Professor Trent Twomey, said the plan sets out a path for how pharmacies can “step forward to meet Australia’s changing health needs”². He stressed the importance of long-term policy stability and investment, particularly as community pharmacies continue to demonstrate their value through initiatives like vaccinations, chronic disease management and medication adherence programs.

Importantly, the strategy also recognises the need to support the pharmacy workforce with ongoing training, digital integration and a workplace culture that fosters career development and wellbeing. These elements will be vital in ensuring that community pharmacies remain not only clinically capable, but also commercially viable and resilient.