Tell us about your PATY experience.
PATY has been such a great experience. It has been such a pleasure meeting all the other finalists and having the opportunity to network with other Pharmacy Assistants throughout Queensland. I’m really looking forward to the Pharmacy Assistant Conference in October on the Gold Coast. I feel very grateful to be involved and to have the opportunity to acknowledge the hard work Pharmacy Assistants across Australia put into their work every day.
What was the workshop day like?
The workshop was such a great experience to be involved with. I was so impressed with the facilitator on the day because it was a really interactive workshop and very informative. I was really happy to share my experiences with my colleagues and to learn from their experiences as well. It’s really important to continue to learn, and continue to listen to your peers because everyone has different ways of tackling the same task. You might think you have the best process, but that’s not always the case. At the end of the day, I took away some really valuable feedback and improvements to streamline our processes in our store.
Would you encourage others to participate in PATY in the future? Why?
I would absolutely encourage others to get involved with PATY. Pharmacy Assistants play such an important role in health care, and even the wider community and I feel like sometimes we’re understated. Pharmacies offer a welcoming, warm and friendly environment compared to a GP or any other primary health care service, and in that way, we’re more approachable, less clinical. So we’re often on the front line of that initial health care for a patient and our role is so important in ensuring they receive the necessary care. Also, early detection of health issues helps to alleviate the stress off our health care systems. We play an important role within the healthcare system, and it’s important our work is nurtured, and PATY offers that support and acknowledgment.
How did you get started in pharmacy?
I was working in a bowls club and obviously we had a lot of elderly customers who were regulars. I really loved seeing them every day and so I was always looking for ways I could grow that compassion and love. At the time, my sister was working in a pharmacy as a Pharmacy Assistant and she really inspired me to take the leap and give it a go. It was such a perfect fit for me from the very first day, because you can provide that necessary care, and customer service, and I could continue to grow and learn.
You’ve been in pharmacy for a while, how has your interest evolved over that time?
From the beginning I was very motivated to learn as much as I could about every area of pharmacy. I started in base training and loved that customer service but I didn’t want to stop there. I started training in stock control and grew my understanding of how important it is to have a well maintained pharmacy. I then moved into dispensary, so I’ve really dipped my toes into every aspect of pharmacy. My passion led me into staff training because I wanted to ensure all our staff were as positive, passionate and motivated as I am about pharmacy. I’ve now been a manager for the last two years, so that’s been another learning experience.
You’ve worked in so many areas, do you have a favourite?
I actually really lacked confidence when I first started in pharmacy, so I forced myself into customer service, which has really helped me overcome those fears. I’ll really just go where ever I’m needed and I will do anything that needs to be done. Whether that’s helping in the dispensary, helping at the cash register or mopping the floors! I love the diversity and it’s important to ensure the store is running efficiently and ensuring all customers are being served.
What qualifications have you gained and how important is training to you?
I have a Certificate II, III and IV completed the dispensary short course. I’ve also really honed my customer service skills and learnt to adapt to different patients, which I feel like you can only really learn on the job. Good customer service comes from understanding that everyone is different and everyone has their own struggles in life, and dealing with each person with humility and empathy.