The South Australian Pharmacy Students’ Association (SAPSA) was established in 1923. It is a non-for-profit organisation and is the student representative committee for South Australian pharmacy students studying at the University of South Australia.  It has an integral role in providing services into many aspects of the pharmacy student social and academic calendar. We provide representation to all facets of the academic and professional structure of pharmacy. SAPSA organises orientation week activities, barbecues, pubcrawls, dinners, sporting events, charity functions, an annual ball, education sessions and other initiatives. It also importantly facilitates local implementation on behalf of the National Australian Pharmacy Students' Association (NAPSA) and the International Pharmacy Students' Federation (IPSF). 

SAPSA has always had a very strong membership, helping to create its level of recognition amongst the professional organisations and the pharmacy sector. Membership is open to all students of pharmacy taking lectures or examinations at the university and includes registration and benefits of both NAPSA and IPSF.  The student committee is formed of student members elected at the Annual General Meeting and the committee has representatives from each year of the four year undergraduate program. Getting involved with SAPSA guarantees many benefits from an association with plentiful history, strong support and a promising future.

History of SAPSA

What we now know as the South Australian Pharmacy Students’ Association (SAPSA) was first established in November 1923 at Adelaide University. South Australia’s Pharmacy School remained at the University of Adelaide for over half a century. However, it then moved to the South Australian Institute of Technology (SAIT). In 1991 the SAIT became the University of South Australia, where SAPSA finds itself based today.

SAPSA was always heavily involved in the National Association of Pharmacy Students of Australia (NAPSA) until its downfall. However, NAPSA was reformed in mid-2001, now as the National Australian Pharmacy Students’ Association, of which SAPSA is a constituent organisation. The first, phase two, NAPSA Congress was held in Adelaide in 2003 and was a tribute to the hard work of the SAPSA committee.

NAPSA’s reaffiliation with the International Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation (IPSF) in 2001 led to the first NAPSA and SAPSA delegation attending the International Congress in Egypt. Since then we have witnessed strong support for the IPSF congress with over 20 SAPSA members attending the 2006 Congress in Cairns 2006.