PSA is the major provider of continuing professional development programmes for pharmacists in Australia.
PSA also organises various pharmacy events including a national conference attended by over 1,200 delegates from around Australia and internationally.
The National PSA was formed in 1977 and was made up of state pharmaceutical societies, several of which were in existence before Federation.
Because the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society in Western Australia was responsible for the administration of the Pharmacy Act in this state, it was unable to subjugate itself to a form of federal control.
The PSA's purpose at unification was to enable pharmacists to optimise their contribution to improved health outcomes for the community through excellence in the practice of pharmacy.
PSA is a unified national society that operates to serve its members (pharmacy students, interns and pharmacists in Australia).
Each person is eligible to remain on the branch committee for up to five consecutive three-year terms (a total of fifteen years).
The five terms were all considered to have commenced from the time the state branches unified to a single national body in 2008.
This means that long standing members who have served on the branch committees since the time of unification will have completed their five-year terms in 2023.
A board member can serve a maximum of five consecutive three-year terms for a total of fifteen years.
and approximately 200 members have been elevated to fellowship status to recognise extraordinary contributions to the profession, organisation or health care.
As a registered training organisation, it provides qualifications as well as continuing professional education at live events, online and in print.
The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia runs an annual conference that attracts approximately 1000 delegates in June or July each year.
The conference attracts significant attention for the stimulating debate and high quality education it offers each year.
The most notable is the Victorian Pharmacy Conference in April each year, that is attended by approximately 200 to 300 pharmacists annually.
The Australian Pharmacist is the society's peer-reviewed journal that is published monthly in print, and began digital publication in 2017.