Workshop 6 (sub-theme 1.2)
Tracks
Track 1
| Thursday, July 10, 2025 |
| 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM |
| Rose Bay Room, PARKROYAL Darling Harbour |
Speaker
Dr Hayley Croft
Senior Lecturer
University of Newcastle
Empowering pharmacists: The key role of entrustable professional activities
11:00 AM - 12:30 PMAbstract
Introduction: Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) are essential tasks that individuals can be entrusted to perform independently once they demonstrate the necessary competence. Entrustment decision making is a determination of the level of autonomy a learner is ready for when performing these tasks, providing a basis for safe and socially accountable practice. These decisions are future-focused and assess a learner’s readiness for increased autonomy in subsequent tasks. This workshop aims to empower pharmacy learners and workplace pharmacist supervisors to effectively use EPAs to support workplace learning and make informed entrustment decisions.
Methods: The workshop will begin with a facilitated Q&A forum, featuring a registered pharmacist (supervisor) and provisionally registered pharmacist (learner) discussing their experiences with entrustment decisions within pharmacy workplaces. Topics will include practice observation, entrustment discussions, decision-making, and feedback. Participants will then view a simulated video interaction between a patient and pharmacy learner, followed by a role-play group activity where they take on the roles of learner or supervisor, guided by exemplar EPA documentation. Participants will be supported with a suite of EPA resources. The workshop will conclude with a group debrief to share lessons learned and strategies for applying EPAs in the workplace.
Results: Participants will gain an understanding of entrustment decision making, including examples of EPAs that support pharmacy learners, and strategies for conducting effective entrustment discussions and providing feedback. Insights from an evaluation study on early experiences with EPAs in Australian pharmacy settings will highlight practical challenges and enablers in these environments. Tangible outcomes of the workshop will include strategies for implementing EPAs supported by a framework for robust entrustment decision making.
Conclusion: This workshop will enhance the ability of supervisors to make informed entrustment decisions, thereby supporting the ongoing implementation of EPAs in pharmacy training.
Methods: The workshop will begin with a facilitated Q&A forum, featuring a registered pharmacist (supervisor) and provisionally registered pharmacist (learner) discussing their experiences with entrustment decisions within pharmacy workplaces. Topics will include practice observation, entrustment discussions, decision-making, and feedback. Participants will then view a simulated video interaction between a patient and pharmacy learner, followed by a role-play group activity where they take on the roles of learner or supervisor, guided by exemplar EPA documentation. Participants will be supported with a suite of EPA resources. The workshop will conclude with a group debrief to share lessons learned and strategies for applying EPAs in the workplace.
Results: Participants will gain an understanding of entrustment decision making, including examples of EPAs that support pharmacy learners, and strategies for conducting effective entrustment discussions and providing feedback. Insights from an evaluation study on early experiences with EPAs in Australian pharmacy settings will highlight practical challenges and enablers in these environments. Tangible outcomes of the workshop will include strategies for implementing EPAs supported by a framework for robust entrustment decision making.
Conclusion: This workshop will enhance the ability of supervisors to make informed entrustment decisions, thereby supporting the ongoing implementation of EPAs in pharmacy training.
Biography
Dr Hayley Croft began her pharmacy career in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, becoming a pharmacist and later an accredited consultant pharmacist working in primary health care. Following a PhD in Pharmacy, Hayley developed a clinician scientist role with a research focus on workforce development, exploring innovative strategies in pharmacy education to prepare pharmacists for diverse and emerging practice areas, including roles in disability care. Since 2000, she has provided clinical pharmacy services, and since 2007, she has worked in pharmacy education and research. In 2019, Hayley developed and validated a competency-based assessment framework to evaluate pharmacist performance in everyday practice, focusing on clinical reasoning. She is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Newcastle and collaborates with the Australian Pharmacy Council, supporting the development, implementation, and evaluation of workplace learning approaches for trainee pharmacists. Hayley has published in international peer-reviewed journals and presents her work frequently at conferences.
Dr Lynn Cheong
Director Assessment
Australian Pharmacy Council
Co-presenter
Biography
Dr Lynn Cheong is the Director of Assessment at the Australian Pharmacy Council, where she oversees a comprehensive suite of assessments for pharmacist registration. She leads a dedicated team that is committed to providing valid, reliable, and fair assessments, ensuring competence and readiness in the dynamic pharmacy profession. Lynn is a registered pharmacist with extensive experience across diverse pharmacy sectors, including community, hospital, government, and academia. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated a strong commitment to driving positive change in the pharmacy field, with a focus on educational innovations and healthcare excellence. Lynn is dedicated to advancing the profession and maintaining a strong pharmacy workforce, ultimately striving to enhance patient outcomes in our local communities.
