Page 27 - Tropic Magazine Issue 32
P. 27

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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