PATY winner Jessica Brown shares top 6 sessions for pharmacy assistants
14 July 2026
As national winner of the 2025 Pharmacy Guild of Australia/Maxigesic Pharmacy Assistant of the Year Award (PATY), Jessica Brown is recognised as one of the best pharmacy assistants in the country.
Ms Brown has shared her top 6 must-attend sessions for this year’s Pharmacy Connect conference, where she will emcee the Pharmacy Assistant Stream. Tailored specifically around the needs of the role, the stream is designed to give pharmacy assistants the product knowledge, confidence, sales and customer service skills, to evolve their careers.
Below are her top 6 must-attend sessions for pharmacy assistants, in order of their programmed date and time:
1) Refresher Training Workshop (Part I and II)
Thursday 10 September, 8.25am – 12.30pm
Some might say it’s cheeky to have two programmed items grouped together, but it’s really two halves of one great workshop (with a morning tea break) to help us brush up on our current skills and build confidence in supporting patients. The sessions will go through travel health essentials and paracetamol use, as well as common patient scenarios so we can see theory put into practice before we are on the floor.
2) Helping patients move through musculoskeletal pain
Thursday 10 September, 1.30pm – 2.00pm
Musculoskeletal pain is something we help customers with every day, so this is a really practical session to add to your toolkit. You’ll learn how to support customers with common aches, pains, sprains and strains, recommend appropriate self-care options, and recognise when it’s time to refer.
3) The weight question: New options customers are asking about
Thursday 10 September, 2.30pm – 3.00pm
Weight management is a topic that comes up more and more in pharmacy, and this session offers some great insights into supporting customers looking for alternatives to medication. You’ll discover practical ways to guide these conversations while learning about the exciting role of gut microbiome health and ingredients like Akkermansia.
4) How to boost your front of store capabilities
Thursday 10 September, 3.30pm – 4.00pm
This session is a great opportunity to explore simple ways we can strengthen our front of store offering as Full Scope of Practice continues to evolve. I’m looking forward to learning practical companion selling strategies that support better patient outcomes, improve the customer experience, and make recommending complementary products feel more natural.
5) Frontline to influencer: Empowering pharmacy assistants to drive
awareness and action
Thursday 10 September, 4.30pm – 5.30pm
As pharmacy continues to evolve, so does the role of the pharmacy assistant, and this session is all about embracing those opportunities. I’m looking forward to learning simple ways to start conversations about pharmacy services, promote what our pharmacy has to offer, and help more customers discover the care available right in their local community.
6) Changing the face of Men’s Health: Practical skills for pharmacy assistants
Friday 11 September, 12.00pm – 12.30pm
Men’s health conversations can sometimes be the hardest to start, but they can also make the biggest difference. This session will share practical tips on connecting with male customers, building trust, and helping them feel comfortable seeking advice and support in your pharmacy.
Whether you’re coming to learn, network, or celebrate, Pharmacy Connect is a great event for pharmacy assistants. You’ll leave feeling inspired, proud, and ready to take on whatever’s next.
Plus for a limited time, prospective delegates can enter the draw to win the ultimate conference experience! One lucky pharmacist and one lucky pharmacy assistant will win two nights at the Hyatt Regency Sydney and full registration for Pharmacy Connect 2026. Find out more here: WIN – Pharmacy Connect
