Elements and Performance Criteria

The Range Statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Add any essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts.


Dispensary administrative systems may include:
Pharmacy dispensary hardware system:
keyboard, screen, printers, modem, scanners
main hard drive, associated floppy and/or CD / DVD / USB drives
various controller boards for peripheral devices
Pharmacy dispensary software system:
customer, supplier, stock, and medicine usage databases
proprietary software
spreadsheets, word processing, accounting packages


Accuracy of client details may include but is not limited to:
Allergies, medical conditions and other medications taken
Concessional/entitlement numbers and categories eg pension
Medicare numbers and individual healthcare identifiers
Name, current address, date of birth
Name of client’s doctor
Ward / clinic / business activity cost centre


Client medication profile may include:
Allergies or history of adverse drug reaction
Any known and relevant lifestyle factors e.g. history of drug dependency, use of non-pharmacy health care services or therapies
Any known chronic medical conditions or incapacities
Approximate weight and height of the patient
Authority numbers
Date of birth
Other medications including over the counter (OTC), complementary products, prescription etc.
Restricted medicine approvals
S100 status
SAS approvals


Maintain dispensary information may include but is not limited to:
Backing up system and maintaining security - daily, weekly and system backups
Financial management reports - number and value of medicines / products supplied / dispensed
Maintaining dispensing/prescription records
Maintaining medication/drug records
Maintaining prescriber records
Maintaining supply of cautionary and advisory information ready for use
Management accounting - customer accounts
Medicare Australia / government claims
Medicine usage reports
Printing consumer product information
Stock control reports
Updating patient records - demographic details, entitlement numbers


Prescription details may include:
Authority number including streamline authority
Date of prescription
Evidence of receipt by patient or agent
Medicare number
Pharmaceutical benefit code
Pharmaceutical benefit entitlement number
Prescriber name and number


Pharmaceutical benefit documents may include:
Medicare reimbursement form
Pharmaceutical benefit entitlement card
Pharmaceutical benefit record form
Pharmaceutical tax receipt

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate this competency unit:
The individual being assessed must provide evidence of specified essential knowledge as well as skills
Observation of workplace performance is essential for assessment of this unit
Consistency of performance should be demonstrated over the required range of situations relevant to the workplace
Where, for reasons of safety, space, or access to equipment and resources, assessment takes place away from the workplace, the assessment environment should represent workplace conditions as closely as possible


Context of and specific resources for assessment:
Assessment should replicate workplace conditions as closely as possible
Simulations may be used to represent workplace conditions as closely as possibleAcceptable simulation requires:
Scope to determine that work is conducted within legislative and regulatory requirements
Scope to determine that work is conducted within WHS and infection control requirements
Resources essential for assessment include:
Access to relevant workplace or appropriately simulated environment where assessment can take place
Relevant legislation, regulations and guidelines
Relevant policies
Weighing and measuring equipment and instructions


Method of assessment may include:
Formal appraisal systems
Interviewing and questioning
Observation in the work place
Supporting statement of supervisor(s)
Written assignments/projects


Access and equity considerations:
All workers in the health industry should be aware of access and equity issues in relation to their own area of work
All workers should develop their ability to work in a culturally diverse environment
In recognition of particular health issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, workers should be aware of cultural, historical and current issues impacting on health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Assessors and trainers must take into account relevant access and equity issues, in particular relating to factors impacting on health of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities