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Category: Wesfarmers Health

Changes to the Sisterhood Foundation’s Board of Directors

Posted on by Lucy

The Sisterhood Foundation is excited to share an important update to our leadership.

We’re thrilled to welcome Maia Ambegaokar, Sarah Davies AM and Edwina Sharrock OAM to our Board of Directors. Each brings a wealth of expertise and a deep commitment to our mission to build capability in frontline charities that deliver programs and create positive health outcomes in the lives of Australian women and girls.

Ms Ambegaokar brings specialised expertise in impact measurement, helping to ensure the Foundation continues to drive meaningful outcomes, Ms Davies offers deep not-for-profit leadership experience and a strong understanding of the philanthropic sector, and Ms Sharrock, a maternity nurse and successful entrepreneur based in Tamworth, brings valuable lived experience and a vital rural, remote and regional perspective to the board.

We also wish to acknowledge and sincerely thank our outgoing Board members Peter Sanguinetti, Jennifer King, and Nicky Long, whose contributions have shaped the Sisterhood Foundation’s evolution over the years.

Peter Sanguinetti has served on the board for 11 years and brought corporate knowledge and governance expertise as both Company Secretary and legal advisor. Jennifer King made a significant impact through her financial acumen, and Nicky Long brought vital insights from her experience working with charitable organisations, ensuring community voices remained central to the Foundation’s work.

Foundation Chair and Managing Director of Wesfarmers Health, Emily Amos, said: “This transition marks a new chapter for the Sisterhood Foundation as we continue to hear, acknowledge and address the unique health issues impacting Australian women and girls. I look forward to working with the Board and our Charity Partners to create a healthier future for all women”.

Wesfarmers Health opens new Fulfilment Centre in Brisbane

Posted on by Natalie
Wesfarmers Health’s Brisbane Fulfilment Centre is opened officially by Hon Dr Jim Chalmers MP (L-R: Steve Cleaver, Rowan Holzberger, Kay Robinson, Jim Chalmers, Doug Swan).
From left: General Manager Supply Chain Steve Cleaver, Candidate for Forde Rowan Holzberger, Fulfilment Centre Manager Kay Robinson, Hon Dr Jim Chalmers MP, Executive General Manager, Wholesale & Pharmacy Services Doug Swan

Wesfarmers Health has celebrated its new state-of-the-art Fulfilment Centre in Brisbane, with Federal Treasurer and Member for Rankin Hon Dr Jim Chalmers MP officially opening the site in Berrinba on Tuesday.

The Brisbane Fulfilment Centre will process and distribute over one million units of PBS medicines and other items to community pharmacies in Queensland and beyond every week. Designed with efficiency and sustainability in mind, the site features cutting-edge warehouse technology and operates on 100% renewable energy.

Doug Swan, the Executive General Manager of Wesfarmers Health’s Wholesale and Pharmacy Services business, API, said the new Fulfilment Centre is a major investment to support more accessible and affordable health care for Australian patients.

“Access to medicines is unique in the Australian health system because those living in regional and remote areas receive exactly the same service, at the same price, as those in big cities.

“We’re proud to open this new facility that will ensure community pharmacies from Coffs Harbour to Weipa and inland to Mount Isa can provide their patients with the essential medicines they need within 24-hours of ordering them.

Surrounded by team members at the Berrinba facility, Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the Albanese Government was investing in cheaper medicines and continuity of supply for the benefit of patients across Australia.

“It’s centres like these that ensure vital medicines get where they’re needed quickly right across Queensland and the country.

“Ensuring Australians have access to cheaper medicines is one of the most important ways the Albanese Government is helping people with the cost of living.”

Hon Dr Jim Chalmers MP discusses the new facility with General Manager Supply Chain Steve Cleaver, and Executive General Manager, Wholesale & Pharmacy Services Doug Swan.

Help determine the future of the Sisterhood Foundation

Posted on by Lucy

Our Sisterhood Foundation is furthering its purpose to hear, acknowledge and address the unique health issues impacting Australian women and girls by partnering with Monash Public Health and Preventive Medicine.

Monash University is surveying women and girls (aged 16 years or older) to identify the health conditions and social issues preventing women and girls from living healthy lives in Australia. The insights gathered will help guide the Sisterhood Foundation in prioritising meaningful support and crafting initiatives that truly matter to the lives of Australians. 

We encourage all women/girls over the age of 16 to complete the short, anonymous survey. The survey takes around 15 minutes to complete and is available in English, Simplified Chinese, Arabic, Vietnamese and Punjabi. The survey will close on Friday 28 February 2025. 

Over the last 13 years, the Sisterhood Foundation (formerly known as the Priceline Sisterhood Foundation) has raised over $10 million and has supported a number of charities that help women and their families across Australia. 

The Sisterhood Foundation has eight strategically aligned charity partners that champion a range of health and wellbeing causes including Jean Hailes for Women’s Health, Smiling Mind, Her Heart, Share the Dignity, Fitted for Work, SisterWorks, Motherless Daughters and Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia (PANDA). 

NPSA reaches agreement with Government to secure the national PBS medicine supply chain

Posted on by Lucy

NPSA has welcomed a five-year agreement with the Commonwealth Government that will enable
ongoing timely and equitable distribution of PBS medicines to patients throughout Australia.

NPSA has welcomed a five-year agreement with the Commonwealth Government that will enable
ongoing timely and equitable distribution of PBS medicines to patients throughout Australia.

The first Pharmaceutical Wholesaler Agreement (1PWA) is an agreement between the government
and NPSA – the peak industry body representing full-line Community Service Obligation (CSO)
medicine wholesalers. It addresses significant erosion of supply chain funding and means that
Australians will continue to receive the uninterrupted medicine distribution service they have come to
rely on.

The partnership between the Commonwealth and the CSO medicine wholesaler industry was
established more than 20 years ago and underpins the ongoing reliability of the PBS, supporting the
Commonwealth’s promise of equity of access to all Australians set out in the National Medicines
Policy.

NPSA Chair Richard Vincent said, “We are extremely pleased to have finalised this five-year
agreement which secures medicine management and distribution and benefits all Australians. The
1PWA will enable available medicines, whether they be everyday tablets, high care specialised
therapies or cold chain products to be carefully managed and distributed reliably to patients, no matter
where they live.

“As climate-related disasters increase, our role is of heightened importance in reaching impacted
communities during emergencies such as cyclone, flood or bushfire.

“Through our commitment to the CSO, we are proud to provide 24-hour service to Australia’s 5900
community pharmacies, in the suburbs of our major cities and in rural and remote locations. With the
benefit of this agreement, we look forward to supporting government health initiatives and pharmacy’s
wider role in providing healthcare services to patients.”

Devoted to the healthcare sector, NPSA members API (Australian Pharmaceutical Industries), NPD
(National Pharmacies Distribution), Sigma Healthcare and Symbion employ more than 3,400 people
and operate a network of national distribution centres that safely distributes more than 316 million
units of prescription medicines into community pharmacies each year and more than 2 million units of
health-related products each day.

1PWA is a direct agreement between the government and NPSA and each CSO wholesaler will have
its own supporting agreement, reflecting the terms of the 1PWA. Previously, funding for medicine
distribution formed part of the Community Pharmacy Agreements with government.

1PWA represents a new level of collaboration with government to deliver for patients and the NPSA
sincerely thanks the Minister for Health and Aged Care, The Honourable Mark Butler, his team and
department for their work in finalising the agreement.

Wesfarmers Health launches pilot retail format – atomica

Posted on by Jade.Waters-Ginnane@wesfarmershealth.com.au

Wesfarmers Health has launched a new beauty and wellness pilot concept store atomica designed for beauty enthusiasts in Castle Towers, Sydney.

Wesfarmers Health Retail Director Richard Pearson said, “We saw a gap in the market for an affordable and accessible beauty-focused retail proposition that delivers an inspirational in-store experience featuring coveted international brands and locally-loved Australian brands. 

“At atomica our focus is on inspiring customers with affordable ways to invest in their beauty and wellness. atomica sits between high-end beauty specialist stores and a convenience grocery offer. Harnessing inclusivity is a core value of atomica and judging by initial feedback, we have started the journey of delivering a retail format that we know Australians will love,” said Richard. 

The inaugural store opened with fanfare featuring viral skincare sensation Bubble Skincare and Korean skincare brand INNISFREE sitting alongside established brands like The Ordinary, La Roche-Posay and CeraVe. Beauty enthusiasts were also excited to see brands including Pixi, Clinique, Conserving Beauty, Hairification, e.l.f and Milani gracing the shelves.  

atomica also has dedicated ‘Glow Advisors’ whose role is to assist customers with tailored beauty advice and in-store services, including a cutting-edge skin scanning service, makeup applications and lash applications.  

This atomica Castle Towers store was previously a Priceline, without a pharmacy offer. The conversion to atomica is the first step in a planned expansion to other parts of Australia in 2025. Australia’s largest health and beauty loyalty program – Sister Club – will be integrated in time where shoppers can earn perks and privileges from all three retail formats: atomica, Priceline and Priceline Pharmacy.

Statement from Emily Amos, Managing Director, Wesfarmers Health regarding Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) decision on Sigma / Chemist Warehouse merger

Posted on by Lucy

Wesfarmers Health notes today’s decision by the ACCC that it will not oppose the Chemist Warehouse / Sigma merger.

The Chemist Warehouse / Sigma merger represents a different operating model for retail pharmacy in Australia.

Through complex ownership structures and transactions, Chemist Warehouse has been able to navigate certain key aspects of pharmacy regulation to enable a level of corporatisation in the sector, which will only increase as a result of the merger.

The new, merged entity will have retail pharmacy sales which are three times those of its closest competitor. It is already a very substantial participant in the industry and over time, we expect that the merger is likely to bring change to the community pharmacy sector.

We know that community pharmacies are an important source of advice and healthcare for Australian patients.

API and Priceline Pharmacy remain committed to supporting community pharmacy and franchise partners to innovate and succeed in this different environment, and to make healthcare more accessible and affordable, for all Australians.

Priceline Pharmacy will continue to enhance its market-leading retail offer in support of its franchisees, helping them evolve and strengthen their businesses.