AACP HMR Mentoring Service
Edited letter from Grant Martin 22nd June 2010
Dear Colleagues,
RE: The HMR Mentoring Program
As you are aware the AACP has been attempting to negotiate an extension to the mentor support program beyond the end of the of the 4th Community Pharmacy Agreement (4CPA).
Our argument in support of extending the program was that the program would assist many pharmacists to finalise their MMR credential and would complement the extension of the MMR incentive program for those enrolled in Stage 2 of the assessment process.
The original planning for this program occurred early in the 4CPA. The project was to be delivered over a three year period ending on June 30, 2010. Unfortunate delays in the contracting and approval process mean that the program only started in June 2009 , leaving in theory, a maximum of the 12 months to run.
Original estimates suggested that up to 300 pharmacists would potentially access the program for support and assistance in the MMR accreditation and re-accreditation process on an annual basis. It was very gratifying and encouraging when ( at last count in June 2010) almost 500 pharmacists , mostly in initial accreditation phase, sought and registered for funded mentor support in the past 11 months. 150 pharmacists enrolled in the program have achieved their initial MMR accreditation in this time. I believe this is very indicative of the quality of the program and the quality and dedication of the mentors who have been the foundation of the program.
Unfortunately, the AACP has been unable to get approval to continue the program beyond June 30 2010.
We have argued that the underspend in the program, due to shortened timeframe available, could fund the program for some months beyond the 4CPA completion date. The AACP has and is attempting to negotiate the inclusion pf the mentor program in the 5CPA and has argued that while these negotiations are continuing the underspend funding could provide some continuity and enable the program to continue to support pharmacists through the MMR credential.
It is with great regret that I must advise you that as of July 1 2010 the HMR Mentoring program will be closed. This means that no further funding is available for mentoring beyond this date.
For those of you that have accessed the program but were unable to access a mentor for the full planned access quota I hope the contact you have had has been of use and provided you with some assistance in furthering the MMR credential.
The AACP will continue to advocate and negotiate for the inclusion of mentor program in the 5CPA. Any feedback on the program and its value that may assist us in our task would be greatly appreciated and can be forwarded to the program manager , Keith Macaulay , through the usual contact email.
Either Keith or I can be contacted ( see below) if there are any questions or queries about the program.
For those who have found the program advantageous I would encourage you to speak with your mentor and perhaps attempt to negotiate a private agreement. The AACP is creating an on-line forum for all interested parties (mentors and mentees) where information can be exchanged . While we do not have the resources to broker individual arrangements we can provide a means for facilitating contact between those seeking mentor assistance and those mentors interested in investigating individual arrangements. More information on this forum will be forwarded by email when the site is ready.
As mentioned above the collection of data for the program is of vital importance in assisting further negotiations. Please continue to send all feedback to the usual contact points - please feel free to include suggestions for improvements to any potential future program.
Grant Martin BPharm
Chief Executive Officer
Phone 02 6120 2800
Fax 02 6273 8160
grant.martin@aacp.com.au
Dear Colleagues,
RE: The HMR Mentoring Program
As you are aware the AACP has been attempting to negotiate an extension to the mentor support program beyond the end of the of the 4th Community Pharmacy Agreement (4CPA).
Our argument in support of extending the program was that the program would assist many pharmacists to finalise their MMR credential and would complement the extension of the MMR incentive program for those enrolled in Stage 2 of the assessment process.
The original planning for this program occurred early in the 4CPA. The project was to be delivered over a three year period ending on June 30, 2010. Unfortunate delays in the contracting and approval process mean that the program only started in June 2009 , leaving in theory, a maximum of the 12 months to run.
Original estimates suggested that up to 300 pharmacists would potentially access the program for support and assistance in the MMR accreditation and re-accreditation process on an annual basis. It was very gratifying and encouraging when ( at last count in June 2010) almost 500 pharmacists , mostly in initial accreditation phase, sought and registered for funded mentor support in the past 11 months. 150 pharmacists enrolled in the program have achieved their initial MMR accreditation in this time. I believe this is very indicative of the quality of the program and the quality and dedication of the mentors who have been the foundation of the program.
Unfortunately, the AACP has been unable to get approval to continue the program beyond June 30 2010.
We have argued that the underspend in the program, due to shortened timeframe available, could fund the program for some months beyond the 4CPA completion date. The AACP has and is attempting to negotiate the inclusion pf the mentor program in the 5CPA and has argued that while these negotiations are continuing the underspend funding could provide some continuity and enable the program to continue to support pharmacists through the MMR credential.
It is with great regret that I must advise you that as of July 1 2010 the HMR Mentoring program will be closed. This means that no further funding is available for mentoring beyond this date.
For those of you that have accessed the program but were unable to access a mentor for the full planned access quota I hope the contact you have had has been of use and provided you with some assistance in furthering the MMR credential.
The AACP will continue to advocate and negotiate for the inclusion of mentor program in the 5CPA. Any feedback on the program and its value that may assist us in our task would be greatly appreciated and can be forwarded to the program manager , Keith Macaulay , through the usual contact email.
Either Keith or I can be contacted ( see below) if there are any questions or queries about the program.
For those who have found the program advantageous I would encourage you to speak with your mentor and perhaps attempt to negotiate a private agreement. The AACP is creating an on-line forum for all interested parties (mentors and mentees) where information can be exchanged . While we do not have the resources to broker individual arrangements we can provide a means for facilitating contact between those seeking mentor assistance and those mentors interested in investigating individual arrangements. More information on this forum will be forwarded by email when the site is ready.
As mentioned above the collection of data for the program is of vital importance in assisting further negotiations. Please continue to send all feedback to the usual contact points - please feel free to include suggestions for improvements to any potential future program.
Grant Martin BPharm
Chief Executive Officer
Phone 02 6120 2800
Fax 02 6273 8160
grant.martin@aacp.com.au
Contact Details for mentoring program manager:
Keith MacAulay. email : 2OA@westnet.com.au
Phone 08 97581091 (answering machine)
Mobile : 0417913044.
Keith MacAulay. email : 2OA@westnet.com.au
Phone 08 97581091 (answering machine)
Mobile : 0417913044.
AACP trained Mentors available for private consultation :
Western Australia
Matt Pettit - Bunbury - matt_the pharmacist@iinet.net.au
Richard Plumridge - Perth - pharm@iinet.net.au
Jim Grehan - Perth - jgrehan@wn.com.au
South Australia
Anne Reeves - Nairne - areevesfamily@bigpond.com.au
Christine De Brenni - Angaston - shamana@esat.net.au
Nick Galatis - Adelaide - gapv@dodo.com.au
Tasmania
Mary Collins - Hobart - marycollins@netspace.net.au
Peter Tenni - Hobart - Peter.Tenni@utas.edu.au
Northern Territory
Victoria
Keli Symons - Melbourne - keli_symons@yahoo.com.au
Caroline Beischer - Wonthaggi - dbeischer@bigpond.com
Thiza Titchen - Phillip Island - thirza.titchen@gmail.com
Debbie Norton - Horsham - d.norton@westvicdiv.asn.au
Queensland
Kaye Hazel - Bundaberg - kmhazel@bigpond.net.au
New South Wales
Elizabeth Sabolch - Lane Cove - ebett@iprimus.com.au
Olly Zekry - Abbotsford - olly.zekry@email.cs.nsw.gov.au
Paul Hannan - Haberfield - paulhannan@meditrax.com.au
Jenny Madden - near Wagga Wagga - gedmad@austarnet.com.au
Khaled Eddie - Enfield - khaled75@chemist.com
A.C.T.
Western Australia
Matt Pettit - Bunbury - matt_the pharmacist@iinet.net.au
Richard Plumridge - Perth - pharm@iinet.net.au
Jim Grehan - Perth - jgrehan@wn.com.au
South Australia
Anne Reeves - Nairne - areevesfamily@bigpond.com.au
Christine De Brenni - Angaston - shamana@esat.net.au
Nick Galatis - Adelaide - gapv@dodo.com.au
Tasmania
Mary Collins - Hobart - marycollins@netspace.net.au
Peter Tenni - Hobart - Peter.Tenni@utas.edu.au
Northern Territory
Victoria
Keli Symons - Melbourne - keli_symons@yahoo.com.au
Caroline Beischer - Wonthaggi - dbeischer@bigpond.com
Thiza Titchen - Phillip Island - thirza.titchen@gmail.com
Debbie Norton - Horsham - d.norton@westvicdiv.asn.au
Queensland
Kaye Hazel - Bundaberg - kmhazel@bigpond.net.au
New South Wales
Elizabeth Sabolch - Lane Cove - ebett@iprimus.com.au
Olly Zekry - Abbotsford - olly.zekry@email.cs.nsw.gov.au
Paul Hannan - Haberfield - paulhannan@meditrax.com.au
Jenny Madden - near Wagga Wagga - gedmad@austarnet.com.au
Khaled Eddie - Enfield - khaled75@chemist.com
A.C.T.