Choosing to do Pharmacy was an obvious choice for me. My passion for Science and serving the community was manifested through this path. I would encourage new graduates to experiment and try out the multiple areas of the profession, before committing to one sector! The opportunities we have are expanding, which is very exciting as it means we can have more of an impact and show how dynamic we are.

Rewinding back a few years, I had the privilege of completing my internship year at the Royal Children’s Hospital. It was a year full of learning, challenges and finally success for becoming registered! Working with children in such a setting was both adorable and devastating at times. Yes, it was daunting and very busy with all the studying, however it’s worth it at the end because you feel well-prepared to face it independently! The best advice I can give for the intern year is to find a great preceptor, as their support and training help you immensely. Students tend to view Hospital Pharmacy as more favourable compared to Community Pharmacy, however, I promise you that who you work with matters the most! Since then, I had experience in Aged Care, Medical Cannabis and Compounding Pharmacy.

Pharmacy for me, is somewhere between being patient with people’s needs, sharing important health information, to enjoying the feeling of putting stickers on medication boxes. I would definitely say that a main quality you need to love Pharmacy is to be a people’s person! We’ve all heard that the days become repetitive and you sometimes feel robotic, however what satisfies me the most is the loyal customers who are thankful for the help. Sounds cliché I know, but this is why we are here! Those long, challenging years at University not only filled our brains with medication knowledge, it taught us how to interact with people no matter their background! I currently work at a local, close-knit Community Pharmacy with customers of varying nationalities. I strive to create a judgement-free environment and try my best to interpret the needs of those with little to no English. Going that extra mile to see customers satisfied is what keeps me going!

As the years go by, I have found myself becoming more confident and direct with customers. What I mean by this, is that some customers can test your patience and therefore it’s essential that we can defend ourselves! I remember feeling the stress of the piercing stares as I was dispensing scripts at peak time, causing me to feel anxious and make mistakes. We must take our time and avoid burnout! I’ve come to realise that the genuine, loyal customers can SEE you and appreciate you anyway! In the coming years, I hope to see the world of Pharmacy gain more recognition and expand further!

More about the Author!:

I have been working as a Pharmacist for almost 5 years and currently a community Pharmacist in Melbourne, Victoria. My passion for Pharmacy started whilst I was studying Bachelor of Science at University of Melbourne, followed by Pharmacy at Monash University. I’ve had experience in Hospital, Aged Care, Compounding, Medical Cannabis and Community Pharmacy. Alongside with my passion for helping people with their medicines, I like to travel and spend quality time with loved ones.