Pharmacy Daily | Public to upskill in funded course

WITH the role of pharmacies expanding The Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Queensland Branch President Chris Owen has urged residents of Brisbane and Ipswich to take up the opportunity to gain skills in pharmacy via the Queensland Government's fully-funded training course.

"Pharmacies will always play a key role in keeping the community healthy. In recent years, this role has grown bigger and community pharmacies have become integral primary health care providers," said Mr Owen.

"Those in and around Brisbane and Ipswich who are eligible have a great opportunity in 2023 to become qualified pharmacy assistants via the Queensland Government's Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative and work in Queensland's extensive network of more than 1,200 community pharmacies."

Mr Owen said the fully-funded program offered an excellent opportunity for community members to join the respected pharmacy profession.

"Once working as a pharmacy assistant, there are opportunities to specialise in particular areas that interest you and further your career by completing additional training through the Guild," Mr Owen said.

The Fundamentals of Community Pharmacy course is fully subsidised for eligible participants through the Queensland Government's Skilling Queenslanders for Work program.

After the successful delivery of 11 courses in 2022, The Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Queensland Branch, will continue to deliver courses in 2023.

The in-person course runs for seven weeks and incorporates ten days of vocational placement in a community pharmacy where participants can put their learning into action and gain practical experience.

Successful graduates of the course will receive a nationally accredited SIR20116 Certificate II in Community Pharmacy and gain the skills and knowledge required to meet the needs of community pharmacy patients.

With limited places available, interested participants in the Brisbane and Ipswich regions are encouraged to complete their expression of interest now, with each course commencing on Monday 16 January.

For more information about the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative, eligibility criteria and submitting your expression of interest, head to the Guild site at www.guild.org.au/cws.