Nominations are open for the 2025 Pharmacists’ Support Service (PSS) John Coppock Pharmacist Wellbeing Award, sponsored by PDL. The award honours the significant contribution of John to the wellbeing of pharmacists. The winner will be announced in October, in recognition of Mental Health Month, to a pharmacist, pharmacy intern or student, pharmacy staff member or a pharmacy team who contributes significantly to the wellbeing of members of the pharmacy profession. The recipient will receive a framed certificate and $2,500.
Nomination process
Nominations will be accepted from any pharmacist, pharmacy staff member or pharmacy team within Australia. All nominations should be made by a proposer and also a seconder, at least one of whom is a registered pharmacist. Self-nominations will be accepted.
To nominate, complete the online nomination form or contact admin@supportforpharmacists.org.au if you have any questions or queries about the nomination process.
Nominations close 10 September 2025
Selection criteria
The John Coppock Pharmacist Wellbeing Award is awarded to pharmacists, pharmacy interns or students, pharmacy staff members and pharmacy teams who have made a positive and sustained impact by championing mental, emotional and/or physical health and wellbeing within the pharmacy profession.
The award will recognise those who are proactively putting in place a well-thought-through strategy to encourage and promote the physical, emotional and mental health of those working in pharmacy. These initiatives could include new approaches to preventing or managing stressful situations, leading culture change, supporting team members or otherwise benefitting the wellbeing of members of the pharmacy profession. Previous nominees are welcome to reapply with any extensions to their activities or programs.
Nominations for the award will be assessed according to the extent to which the individual’s and/or pharmacy team’s initiative or strategy demonstrates evidence of:
- Implementation within a pharmacy working environment or team of an initiative(s) or strategy that aims to enhance the physical, emotional and mental health and wellbeing of the pharmacy team, i.e. scheduling of activities, responding to feedback from colleagues, newsletters/other communication announcing initiative components;
- Outcomes of the initiative(s) being sustainable in that they are embedded in current and/or future wellbeing strategy;
- Engagement and consultation with relevant team members during their development and implementation;
- Innovation – the extent to which the initiative(s) is based on/incorporates a new approach to addressing the specific challenge identified that was targeted by the initiative(s);
- Impact and outcomes – the extent to which the initiative(s) has addressed the challenge, achieved the desired outcomes and/or positively impacted on the individual(s) and/or group(s) targeted by the initiative(s).
If there is no suitable nomination the award will not be awarded this year.
Honouring John Coppock
John’s leadership in pharmacy has been characterised by integrity, strong relationships within the pharmacy profession and a commitment to the concept of pharmacy uniting to support all members of the profession. John has always strongly advocated that members of the profession need to work together for the best outcomes for pharmacists and the Australian community. As well as being President of PSS from 2010 to 2023, he was Chair of PDL for 40 years from 1971 to 2011.
Pictured above: the 2024 inaugural winner The Dignity Project, led by Tasmanian pharmacist Marika Castrisios, receiving the award at AdPha Medicines Management 2024.
