APP is The Pharmacy Guild of Australia’s annual national conference and the largest pharmacy conference and trade show in Australia. APP offers attendees a comprehensive four-day educational program, exciting social activities and a trade exhibition showcasing the latest products, services and industry information.

The conference and trade exhibition will be held at the Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre (GCCEC).
2684-2690 Gold Coast Hwy, Broadbeach QLD 4218.  

Conference sessions and the trade exhibition are held from Thursday 23 March until Sunday 26 March 2023.  Please visit the Program page for session information and times.

Please see below for the Trade Exhibition opening times.

There will be over 400 trade stands showcasing the latest industry products and services.

Please visit the Trade page, which is regularly updated as new trade exhibition bookings are received.

Admission to conference sessions and the trade exhibition is open to anyone working within the pharmacy industry. Entry to the trade exhibition is free. Attendees can also bring family members to visit the trade, as long as they are registered as visitors.

Yes, extra tickets to both the Welcome Reception and the APP Street Party can be purchased online with your registration. Additional Welcome Reception tickets can be purchased for $85 each and additional Street Party tickets for $110 each (the Street Party ticket price has been reduced to make it more affordable for partners and guests to attend with delegates).

The Pharmacy Guild of Australia will be seeking accreditation for conference sessions. Further details will be available closer to the event.

The CPE Allowance provides financial support to assist pharmacists from rural and remote areas to access CPD and Professional Development activities. Click here for more information and find out if you are eligible. The Rural Intern Training Allowance (RITA) provides financial support to assist intern pharmacists from rural and remote areas to attend compulsory intern training program activities. Click here for more information and find out if you are eligible.

In line with Queensland Government regulations, from 17 December 2021 it is a requirement of the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre and The Star Gold Coast that all visitors must be double vaccinated in order to attend an event held at these venues. In order to attend APP2022 proof of COVID-19 vaccination, or proof of an exemption from COVID-19 vaccination, is required for entry. Further information on medical exemptions can be found here. If you cannot produce one of these documents at the event, unfortunately you will be refused entry. If this requirement impacts your ability to attend the event, please contact events@qldguild.org.au.

You must stay home if you have experienced symptoms including fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue, shortness of breath, runny nose, or loss of taste or smell in the 14 days prior to APP.
If you are feeling unwell, contact the APP Events Team on 07 3831 3788 or email events@qldguild.org.au to discuss your situation.

You must notify the nearest Event/GCCEC staff member or notify staff at the Enquiries Desk. A member of the GCCEC first aid team will then escort you to an isolation room to conduct an assessment of your health.

The Queensland Government has advised that from 6pm on Friday 4 March, masks will no longer be required in settings including workplaces, shops, cafés, pubs or restaurants. Whilst this means that masks won’t be compulsory at APP, we encourage attendees to wear a mask when they are unable to maintain a physical distance of 1.5m. Masks will be available for attendees at the event, however we also recommend bringing a supply of your own. Masks will still be required on public transport, in airports and on planes.

APP will be held as a face-to-face event. As in previous years, online session recordings will be available to all full delegates following the event.

As outlined in the Terms & Conditions for Attendees, if border control measures or government restrictions prevent a delegate from attending, delegates have the following options:
1. Delegates can access sessions online (via recordings) – a 50% cancellation fee will be deducted from the total cost of the booking
2. A full refund will be provided
3. Registration transfer (at TPGA’s discretion) to another delegate at no cost

Based on the overall number of attendees at APP, the event will not exceed the GCCEC’s maximum COVID Safe capacity. However, attendance in the session rooms and the trade exhibition will be limited in line with the capacities set by the Queensland Government at the time of the event (i.e. the 4m2 or 2m2 rule). GCCEC staff will monitor the capacities in these areas.

Numbers to the Street Party will be limited to ensure that the COVID Safe maximum capacity is not exceeded. Each area at the Street Party (ballroom, foyer and marquee) will be monitored to ensure that capacities in each section are not exceeded.

Bookings are not required for conference sessions. 

Delegates will be asked to nominate a registration window for name badge collection on Wednesday 23 or Thursday 24 March (morning) in order to maintain physical distancing in the registration area. Further information in regard to this will be provided in the delegate information email sent the week prior to APP. If you are arriving at the event on Thursday afternoon, Friday, Saturday or Sunday you will not need to nominate a window for name badge collection.

We highly recommend collecting your name badge on Wednesday 23 March. The registration area will be open from 8am – 6pm on this day.

Concurrent session start and finish times have been staggered to ensure that the sessions break for morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea at different times.

•    Attendees will be required to check in each day and at the social functions using a QR code (see below)
•    Due to limited room capacities, overflow areas will be established for the sessions
•    Where possible, foot traffic will flow one-way
•    Handshaking and other physical forms of greeting will be discouraged
•    GCCEC COVID marshals will remind delegates to adhere to physical distancing
•    Food buffets will be served by venue staff instead of self-service

Delegates will be required to check in via a QR code to the GCCEC each day and to functions held at The Star. QR check in codes will also be available at the entrances to GCCEC and The Star function rooms.

In accordance with Queensland Government requirements, the data collected via the check in process will be securely stored for 56 days, after which time it will be appropriately destroyed. The data will not be used for any other purpose.

Morning and afternoon teas will be individually portioned. Lunch buffets will continue to operate, however venue staff will serve each guest. Food at the Welcome Reception and Street Party will be served by tray service (individual servings of canapes) or via buffet stations, where venue staff will again serve each guest.

As long as physical distancing is maintained, you can sit with colleagues.

Unless there is a change in current Queensland Government guidelines for indoor events, the Street Party will be held in its usual format as a stand-up function with limited seating. Physical distancing must be maintained at this event.

Unless there is a change in current Queensland Government guidelines, dancing at the Street Party is permitted.

Family members may accompanying delegates to the trade exhibition, but they MUST register prior to attending.

Pre online registration is preferred. Online registration will remain open during the event, meaning you can register on your mobile phone or any other device before arriving onsite.

Please refer to the COVID Safe page for details on how APP will be run as a COVID Safe event.

Online Registrations will be open up to and during the event.

Pre-registration is highly encouraged. Online registration will remain open during the event, meaning you can register on your mobile phone or any other device before arriving onsite.

A confirmation of registration and tax invoice will be issued to your email address on submission of registration. If you do not receive a confirmation email, please check your ‘junk’ or ‘spam’ folders and check that the email address you provided when registering is correct. If a confirmation has not been received please contact the Events Division of The Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Queensland Branch on 07 3831 3788 or email events@qldguild.org.au.

Yes. You can contact the Events Division of The Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Queensland Branch on 07 3831 3788 or email events@qldguild.org.au to check if your registration has been submitted successfully.

This depends on individual circumstances. Please contact your tax professional to discuss this.

No, your name badge and function tickets will be available for collection from the Name Badge Collection area onsite on arrival at the conference.

Please refer to the Cancellations and Refunds schedule in the Terms & Conditions for cancellation dates and fees. All cancellations must be made in writing to events@qldguild.org.au. Refunds will be paid within 30 days of the cancellation date. If you would like to transfer your registration to another delegate you may do so at the discretion of The Pharmacy Guild of Australia if the subsituted delegate is from the same organisation as you and you have notified The Pharmacy Guild of Australia of the proposed substitution by email prior to 5pm on Wednesday 23 March 2022. 

Yes. Special hotel rates are available for attendees and exhibitors. Please visit the Accommodation page for more information.

Jetstar

131 538

www.jetstar.com.au

Virgin Australia

136 789

www.virginaustralia.com.au

QANTAS

131 133

www.qantas.com.au

Gold Coast (Coolangatta) Airport services the Gold Coast with regular direct flights from most capital cities. The airport is a 30-minute drive south of the Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre and Broadbeach accommodation. Alternatively Brisbane Airport is a 90-minute drive to Broadbeach.

The following airlines service Gold Coast and Brisbane Airports:

For delegates requiring airport transfers, a wide range of coach, bus, taxi and hire car services are available from both Gold Coast/Coolangatta and Brisbane airports.

From Gold Coast Airport - for details of transfers from Gold Coast Airport click here.
From Brisbane Airport - for details of transfers from Brisbane Airport click here.

All APP accommodation venues are in walking distance from the GCCEC. A shuttle service from all accommodation venues will be offered to and from the APP Street Party on Saturday 26 March 2022 from 6:30pm – 7:30pm and then from 10:00pm – 12:30am.

For a list of Gold Coast activities, tours and entertainment to enjoy before or after the conference, take a look at the Visit Gold Coast website.

Car parking is available for delegates at the Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre at a cost of $12.00 per day. The entrance to the car park is off the Gold Coast Highway.

The Gold Coast’s climate is sub-tropical with 287 days of sunshine annually. The temperature in March ranges from 19°C to 28°C.

No. If you require babysitting services please arrange this with your hotel concierge.

A small unsecured cloakroom is available onsite. Delegates requiring storage of luggage after checkout should contact their respective hotel concierges.

Yes, there is free wi-fi available throughout the centre.

Conference sessions – smart casual
Welcome Reception – smart casual or business
APP Street Party – cocktail or jungle theme

Yes. Local buses, taxis and a light rail (tram) operate regular services to all major attractions, hotels and shopping centres on the Gold Coast, including GCCEC.

Buses

Surfside Buslines service the Gold Coast 24 hours a day at four to five minute intervals during peak periods. Surfside also transports visitors to all Gold Coast theme parks.
Ph: 07 5571 6555
Web: surfside.com.au

Taxis

Gold Coast Cabs service the Gold Coast.
Ph: 131 008
Web: gccabs.com.au

G:link Light Rail

The Gold Coast light rail system is a 13 kilometre corridor connecting Griffith University to Broadbeach, passing through the key activity centres of Southport and Surfers Paradise. For timetables and fares visit translink.com.au or ridetheg.com.au.

The organiser of the event is The Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Queensland Branch. Please contact the organiser by emailing events@qldguild.org.au or by calling 07 3831 3788.

© 2022 APP Conference. All Rights Reserved.

The 2023 Australian Pharmacy Professional Conference is proudly sponsored by: