HLTPHA012 — Dispense prescriptions and medication orders

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What an assessment for HLTPHA012 must cover

43 assessable components: 5 elements (28 performance criteria), 3 performance evidence and 12 knowledge evidence requirements. An audit-defensible tool maps every question and task back to these — that mapping is the coverage matrix Auditori generates alongside the assessment.

Elements & performance criteria

1 Accept order for dispensing.

1.1Receive prescription or medication order and complete and confirm patient details.
1.2Identify the prescriber and initiate source for the purpose of costing and data entry.
1.3Read documentation to confirm the legality, validity and completeness of the prescription or medication order.
1.4Follow procedures to deal with contraventions of law.
1.5Identify if patient is eligible to access the medication through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
1.6Identify and report discrepancies to an authorised person.
1.7Provide information to patient about dispensing expectations in terms of availability, time and cost, including alternative dispensing options if there are delays or medication availability issues.

2 Ensure clinical evaluation by an authorised person.

2.1Complete required documentation in accordance with standard operating procedures (SOPs) or organisational policies prior to dispensing.
2.2Refer prescription or medication order to an authorised person for clinical evaluation.
2.3Confirm an authorised person has completed a clinical evaluation before filling the order.

3 Prepare for labelling of medication.

3.1Enter dispensing data into the pharmacy dispensing application or system and check accuracy against documentation.
3.2Follow procedures to deal with contraventions of law.
3.3Generate label, and cautionary and advisory labels to meet legal and regulatory requirements.
3.4Check information on labels for accuracy and clarity against dispensing requirements including any requirements for externally sourced compounded products.
3.5Alert an authorised person about any relevant warnings from the pharmacy dispensing application or system.

4 Assemble items.

4.1Interpret prescription or medication order requirements and refer to an authorised person where details or quantities are unclear.
4.2Select prescribed products in the correct quantities of each item, according to prescription or medication order, ensuring expiry date is appropriate.
4.3Use barcode scanning technology during the dispensing process according to Pharmacy Board of Australia Guidelines for Dispensing Medicines.
4.4Pack and label correct quantities into a suitable container with correct and clear labelling.
4.5Check packed item for accuracy and visibility of expiry date.
4.6Check package integrity to ensure sterility of externally sourced compounded products.
4.7Annotate the prepared order, written or electronic, with the quantity supplied, signature and date, ready for checking by an authorised person.
4.8Self-check work to ensure accuracy of assembled items.
4.9Arrange items for an easy and complete check by an authorised person.

5 Finalise dispensing of medication.

5.1Verify that prescription or medication order is checked and signed by an authorised person.
5.2Ensure prescription or medication order is stored appropriately prior to collection or delivery.
5.3Complete accurate final documentation.
5.4Record relevant information and statistics according to workplace requirements.

Performance evidence

use The International System of Units (SI) and the most recent Australian Pharmaceutical Formulary and Handbook (APF) to accurately process at least 10 patient discharge lists and 100 items from prescriptions and medication orders following workplace procedures and safe dispensing practices
identify issues outside scope of own practice and refer to an authorised person
perform the activities outlined in the performance criteria of this unit during a period of at least 240 hours of work related to hospital or health services pharmacy support in a clinical workplace environment. These 240 hours may be applied collectively across all units of competency that include the requirement for workplace hours for the purposes of assessment.

Knowledge evidence

National, State or Territory, legal and ethical requirements, for dispensing prescriptions, and how these are applied in organisations, including: - codes of conduct - duty of care and implications of negligence - privacy, confidentiality and disclosure - records management - rights and responsibilities of workers, employers and patients - specific legislation: - medication and their use - the practice of pharmacy - different schedules of medication and pharmaceutical products - work role boundaries including responsibilities and limitations - work health and safety
organisational standard operating procedures (SOPs) relating to dispensing of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), non-PBS, SAS prescriptions and medication orders
legal requirements for dispensing of medication: - information requirements on prescriptions and medication orders - requirements to be satisfied for a complete, unambiguous and valid prescription or medication order and actions to take if validity is questionable - specific requirements for dispensing controlled medication - Pharmacy Board of Australia Guidelines for dispensing medication
key information in standard pharmaceutical references and their use by pharmacy assistants, including: - Australian Pharmaceutical Formulary Handbook (APF) - Monthly Index of Medical Specialities (MIMS) or AusDI Advanced - Australian Medicines Handbook (AMH) - Micromedex
dispensing procedures: - procedures and rationale for validating orders - types of discrepancies or potential issues found on prescriptions and medication orders, and how to respond to these - accepted self-checking processes to ensure accuracy - charging for pharmaceuticals including organisation policy and the PBS - legal requirements and principles of pharmaceutical product labelling - prescribing conventions, and abbreviations and medical terminology used for instructions for the use of medication - principles of calculations, weights and measures using the SI system - processes for reconstitution of products - properties of container types and principles of selection for use
features of pharmaceutical products: - methods of administration - common proprietary and generic names and their differences - medication forms, dose, strength and quantity - principles and procedures for maintaining their security - principles and range of storage requirements - product identification and handling, including those for: - formulary medication and non-formulary medication - products with the required integrity as well as those whose integrity has been - routine of handling products and products requiring special handling
relevant pharmacy dispensing application or system
infection control principles and their relevance to dispensing medication
specific labelling requirements for compounded products, including: - adherence to legislative requirements - name, form and strength of product - ancillary labels as part of label details - hazard warnings - spacing for entry of batch numbers and expiry dates - packaging methods, container materials and principles for selection - storage and transport requirements and rationale for different types of product including: - hazardous materials - special storage considerations: - humidity - isolation - light - temperature - ventilation
features and use of pharmacy systems used for aseptic compounding
circumstances that require compounding of the product within a laminar flow hood or clean room or cytotoxic drug safety cabinet or cytotoxic suite or room or isolator
environmental and WHS standards for waste disposal.

Unit content sourced from training.gov.au — © Commonwealth of Australia, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Auditori is not affiliated with the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.

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Questions about assessing HLTPHA012

What does an assessment tool for HLTPHA012 need to cover?

To satisfy the Principles of Assessment and Rules of Evidence, an assessment for HLTPHA012 needs to address all 43 unit components: 5 elements with 28 performance criteria, 3 performance evidence requirements, 12 knowledge evidence requirements, and the foundation skills. A coverage matrix mapping each question and task to these components is what an auditor looks for.

How does Auditori generate an assessment tool for HLTPHA012?

Auditori pulls the current release of HLTPHA012 from training.gov.au and generates a complete package: candidate assessment, assessor guide with model answers and observation criteria, and a coverage matrix mapping every component. A suitably qualified person then reviews and approves the draft in a built-in workflow — consistent with ASQA's guidance on AI use in VET — before export as branded PDF and editable Word.

Is the first assessment tool really free?

Yes. Every new account includes one free credit — enough to generate the complete assessment tool for HLTPHA012 — with no card and no subscription required. After that it's pay-as-you-go per unit.

Can I check my existing HLTPHA012 assessment instead of generating a new one?

Yes — upload your existing assessment or learner guide and Auditori maps it against every element, performance criterion, PE and KE of HLTPHA012, showing exactly what's covered and what's missing. Mapping costs a quarter of a credit.

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