The Pharmacy Guild of Australia has announced that the date of next year’s Australian Pharmacy Professional Conference (APP) will be changed from March to 20-23 May 2021.
The date change is to allow for more time for COVID-19 restrictions to be further lifted.
APP Chairman Kos Sclavos AM said that the organising committee is currently developing a COVIDSafe Plan in conjunction with the conference venues, suppliers and the Queensland Government to guarantee the safety of attendees and to ensure that the event can be run at its optimum in the new COVID environment.
“While social distancing and other government restrictions will entail some changes to the traditional format of APP, our number one priority is the safety and wellbeing of our delegates, speakers, sponsors and exhibitors,” Kos said.
After hosting a livestreamed education program due to government restrictions on mass gatherings in March, the Guild postponed this year’s APP until later in 2020.
However, the ongoing uncertainty of border restrictions, venue availability, when restrictions on gatherings the size of APP will be eased, flight availability and higher airfare pricing, and the lead time required by sponsors, exhibitors and delegates have not made this possible.
“Given the uncertainty in the COVID-19 environment and after consultation with key stakeholders, the Guild has decided that unfortunately there will be no further APP events in 2020,” Kos said.
“We appreciate the difficulties, sacrifice, and financial impact faced by all those involved with APP2020,” Kos said.
“We are now looking forward to APP2021 in May, when as an industry we can come together to reflect on the last 12-18 months and build strategies and solutions to help the pharmacy industry recover and build resilience for the future”.
Further information on APP2021 will be available at www.appconference.com in the coming months.
Question & Answers
Why are there no further APP events in 2020?
Given the ongoing COVID-19 environment uncertainty and after consultation with key stakeholders, the Guild has decided that unfortunately there will be no further APP events in 2020. The issue of Queensland borders restrictions, venue availability, when mass gathering restrictions will be eased, airfare availability and higher airfare pricing, and the lead time required by sponsors, exhibitors and delegates have made rescheduling the event possible.
What about the APP2020 online session recordings?
APP2020 delegates are reminded that they have free access to the online session recordings which include the presentations livestreamed as part of our APP Online program, as well as a selection of presentations from the original APP2020 program.
Pharmacists registered for APP can access the session recordings and accreditation assessment activities via the Australian College of Pharmacy website at www.acp.edu.au. If you have misplaced your log in details, please contact info@acp.edu.au.
Why is APP2021 moving to May?
To allow for more time for the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions and for the event to be run at its optimum, APP2021 dates have been changed from March to 20-23 May.
Is there a COVIDSafe Plan for APP2021?
Yes. A COVIDSafe Plan is being developed in conjunction with our event venues and suppliers. This will be made available in the coming months and will be continually updated according to the latest advice from the Queensland Government. Our main suppliers’ COVIDSafe Plans will also be available on the APP website leading up to the event.
The article was originally published by The Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Queensland Branch and is reproduced with its permission.
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