A NATIONAL leadership body has announced six successful recipients of the 2023 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pharmacist Scholarship, supported by a grant from Sanofi Australia.
The National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) shared that the six scholarship winners are Bryony Forrest, Chelsea Corbett, Jai-ann Eastaughffe, James Sowter, Jason Coleman and Macy Poke.
The Scholarship provides subsidies and support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander pharmacy students and aims to build the First Nations pharmacist workforce.
2023 scholarship recipient, Jai-ann Eastaughffe commented, "I believe this scholarship will allow me to connect with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders in health and particularly within the pharmacy industry.
"The mentors and connections I make will be valuable as I enter my last year of the degree and prepare to enter the workforce.
"The scholarship will also help financially, as I complete my final six weeks of placement."
The scholarship program, which began in 2022 and expanded to six recipients this year is extended till 2025, demonstrating Sanofi's commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
"Our warmest congratulations to this year's recipients, the judging panel and the team at NACCHO for their ongoing leadership of this important scholarship program," said Karen Hood, Sanofi Australia and New Zealand Country Lead.
"Building the skills of future First Nations pharmacists is a crucial part of ensuring that pharmacy and pharmacists can support culturally safe care.
"We have been enormously impressed by NACCHO and the judging panel's leadership of this program and couldn't be more pleased to confirm our expanded, support," affirmed Hood.
Dr Dawn Casey, NACCHO Deputy CEO noted that "this year's scholarship recipients are impressive young Aboriginal students we are so proud to provide these opportunities to".
According to Health and census data, out of a total of 27,000 pharmacists in Australia, only 85 identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, representing just 0.3% of the pharmacist workforce.
Currently Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people working in the health sector account for only 1.8% of the total health workforce, despite accounting for 3.2% of the Australian population.
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