The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the work role. This includes knowledge of:
legal and ethical requirements (national, state/territory) for pharmacy work, and how these are applied in organisations, including:
codes of conduct
duty of care (and implications of negligence)
privacy, confidentiality and disclosure
records management
rights and responsibilities of workers, employers and clients
specific legislation:
medicines and their use
the practice of pharmacy
different schedules of medicines and pharmaceutical products
work role boundaries – responsibilities and limitations
work health and safety
legal requirements and principles of pharmaceutical product labelling (product name, batch numbering and expiry date):
Pharmacy Board of Australia’s Guidelines on specialised supply arrangements, national guidelines and legislation on the filling of dose administration containers
specific labelling requirements for filling DAAs and other containers
key information for inclusion:
date on which the container was filled
directions for use of each medicine according to work sheet
inclusion of ancillary labels, where required
name, strength, form and quantity of all medicines supplied in the container
pharmacy details
Pharmacy Board of Australia Guidelines for dispensing medicines, that apply to individual workers
key information in standard pharmaceutical references and their use by pharmacy assistants, including:
Australian pharmaceutical formulary and handbook (APF)
MIMs
Australian medicines handbook (AMH)
Micromedex
infection control principles and their relevance to pharmaceutical packaging
features of packaging equipment including their operation, cleaning and maintenance, including:
counting trays
irons
heat sealing equipment
measures
scales
tweezers
packaging principles and processes, including:
calculations, weights and measures
properties of container types and selection for use
various pack sizes and selection for use
types of packaging materials
environmental conditions required for pharmaceutical packaging related to:
humidity, light
security
temperature
ventilation
product identification and handling, including those for:
formulary medicines and non-formulary medicines
products with the required integrity as well as those whose integrity has been compromised
routine handling of products and products requiring special handling
Skills must be demonstrated in the workplace or in a simulated environment that reflects workplace conditions. The following conditions must be met for this unit:
use of suitable facilities, equipment and resources, including:
weighing and measuring equipment
packaging equipment and materials, including DAAs and containers
pharmaceutical stock management procedures
modelling of industry operating conditions, including time constraints for completing packaging activities
Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.