Community education — get involved

NPS MedicineWise has developed resources to enable you to make the best decisions about medicines and medical tests. These resources can be used by community groups — including culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) groups and seniors (people over the age of 50) — to run education sessions. These sessions are designed to:

  • improve skills and knowledge for decision making about medicines and medical tests
  • raise and improve awareness about the potential benefits and risks of medicines and medical tests
  • promote greater understanding and awareness of choices between medicines and non-medicine options
  • increase consumer awareness about the key role they play in talking to health professionals about their medicines and medical tests.

Run your own medicines information session

You don’t need to be an expert on medicines to organise information sessions. The NPS MedicineWise Get to know your medicines and medical tests kit will help you host a successful community event about the safe and wise use of medicines.

The kit covers everything you and your community group need to know about medicines and medical tests, and includes:

  • Presenter's guide — notes on running your presentation, including the purpose of each slide, background information, learning outcomes, key messages, useful resources and suggestions to encourage participant interaction and group discussion.
  • Presentation — a 24-slide presentation covering the things you and your community need to know about medicines and medical tests.

NPS MedicineWise developed the original Get to know your medicines kit in collaboration with the Consumers Health Forum of Australia, National Rural Health Alliance and Health Consumers of Rural and Remote Australia.

Education sessions in languages other than English

NPS has developed resources for in-language medicines information sessions that are run by bilingual health professionals. These seminars are facilitated by ethno-specific organisations in cities across Australia, and cover interesting and varied topics, such as:

  • Safe and wise use of medicines — including tips on how to use medicines safely, what you need to know about your medicine and how to avoid problems with your medicines
  • Sleep and ageing — everything you need to know about sleep, including normal changes to sleep patterns as you age and simple tips for getting the best sleep without the need for medicines. 

To find out dates, times and locations of these education seminars, contact your community group.

People over 50

Book a medicines information session

If you’re over 50 and you, your friends or community group would like to know more about managing medicines, book a peer educator to run a free medicines information session at your next group meeting.

NPS MedicineWise partners with COTA to help seniors learn about the safe and wise use of medicines. The 'Medicines and you' information sessions are held in all states and territories. Participants will learn:

  • where to find important medicines information
  • how to get the most out of visits to your doctor or pharmacist
  • what products are available to help you remember your medicines
  • ways of saving money on medicines
  • what generic medicines are, and whether they are a safe option for you
  • how to get the most from your medicines.

The sessions can also focus on specific topics including antibiotics, diabetes, sleep problems or managing chronic pain.

The information sessions are delivered by fully-trained, volunteer peer educators who will visit your seniors club or group at a time and venue that is suitable for you. The sessions run for approximately one hour.

To book a free medicines information session, please contact the COTA office in your State or Territory.

Become a peer educator

Whether you’re working, semi-retired or retired, get trained to deliver useful medicines information sessions to seniors in your community.

Seniors peer educators are men and women from all walks of life. Peer educators attend training held in partnership with COTA to run information sessions with seniors in their metropolitan or regional community. To find out more about becoming a peer educator, please contact the COTA office in your State or Territory.