FIRST Nations peak body, NACCHO, has awarded the 2024 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pharmacy Leadership Grant to Cheyne Sullivan and Jes Pearson.
Sullivan is a Barkindji woman and SA Pharmacy Aboriginal Health and Beyond the Gap Project Lead, while Pearson is a Wiradjuri woman originally from Wellington and currently working towards becoming a registered pharmacist
Supported by Pfizer Australia, the $15,000 grant aims to empower emerging Indigenous pharmacy leaders through international travel, accommodation and cross-cultural experiences.
Pearson and Sullivan will travel abroad to foster leadership skills and building networks with other Indigenous pharmacists.
Upon their return, they will share insights with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health sector.
Dr Dawn Casey, NACCHO's Deputy CEO, praised the winners, emphasising the importance of developing a culturally safe pharmacy workforce.
Pfizer has been on a "journey of reconciliation", according to Leigh Simmonds, the company's Senior Manager Patient Advocacy.
"Through listening and learning, we have come to a greater understanding of the inter-connectedness of culture, language, Country, and Aboriginal world views of health and wellbeing.
"We recognise the importance of health workforce development.
"Support for this leadership grant is just one aspect of our overall commitment to improving health equity for generations to come." JG
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