Page 27 - Tropic Magazine Issue 32

TROPIC • WORK & STUDY

Ruth says her career in Far North
Queensland has been rewarding.
“I had never had that kind of experience Q&A COVID-19 response
working in remote, predominantly
Indigenous communities before,” Shylee Jade During the pandemic,
she said. Student, Bachelor of Pharmacy pharmacists have been critical to
with Honours at JCU the health response.
Not only have they been involved
Why pharmacy? in the development and delivery
It’s unique and special I graduated high school during the of vaccines, but they became
trusted sources of information
and I’d strongly encourage COVID-19 pandemic last year and I got when GP clinics were closed.
to see how important the health care
people to give it a go profession was. I always knew I didn’t “We were always open,” Ruth said.
want to be face-to-face with wounds “Doctors were doing telehealth,
Ruth Nona and that type of thing. Pharmacy is a but you could always see
Renshaw great option because I still get to help a pharmacist.”
Pharmacist Despite challenges in getting
the community.
stocks of some medications,
Given the many vocational opportunities What are your plans post-degree? pharmacies also successfully
pharmacists have, Ruth’s career has been I have a job in a pharmacy, so I think pivoted, giving rise to the e-script.
varied. Today, alongside managing a I’ll stay until I finish and then look at “There has been a massive surge
pharmacy, she tutors at JCU, inspiring my options. I’m interested to try in the rolling out of the e-script,”
the next generation of pharmacists. hospital pharmacy. Ruth said. “Being able to have
“I love teaching,” she said. “I love being your prescription on an app on
able to pass on my extensive experience.” Shylee Jade won last year’s Business your phone, walk into a pharmacy,
The scope of a pharmacist’s job has also Liaison Association’s Excellence in scan the code and have it sent
changed over her years in the field, from Pharmacy award. Applications are open back to your phone has been a
carrying out patient medication checks to Year 12 students until 8 October at game changer.”
to vaccinations, compound pharmacy* bla.org.au.
and even prescribing.
“We are trying to align ourselves with
the UK and Canada where there are The extra salary pharmacists in
pharmacist prescribers,” she said. +$20,000 rural and regional areas make
We can already prescribe short-term compared to their city counterparts.
antibiotics for uncomplicated urinary
tract infections. We are trying to offer Source: Raven’s Recruitment’s 2020 Pharmacy Market Report
more and more.”

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27 • tropicnow.com.au