Careers in Community Pharmacy
Some of the job roles include:
- Pharmacy Assistant
- Dispensary Assistant
- Retail Pharmacy Manager
Pharmacy Assistant
Community pharmacy assistants work in pharmacies and provide customers with medicines, pharmacy products and advice and health care information to assist them in gaining and maintaining good health. They act as a filter of information between the customer and the pharmacist where the customer requires further advice.
Pharmacy assistants may perform the following tasks:
- Develope detailed knowledge of general and non-therapeutic products and services offered by the pharmacy and advising customers on these products
- Advise customers on the selection and use of medicines and pharmacy products, under the supervision of the pharmacist
- Act as a filter for information and refer customers to the pharmacist where the customer requires further advice on medications, treatments or medical conditions
- Refer the sale of Pharmacist Only Medicines, Prescription Only Medicines and customers with health conditions to the pharmacist for further advice
- Refer prescriptions to the pharmacist and advise customers of when the prescription will be ready
- Advise customers on medicines and pharmacy products such as to assist them to make a purchase
- Operate cash registers or point of sale terminals to accept payments
- Price stock, re-order and replenish stock and participate in stock takes
- Maintaining merchandise displays and the general neatness and appearance of the pharmacy
Dispensary Assistant
Dispensary assistants help pharmacists prepare and supply prescription medication. They prepare prescriptions, such as by counting tablets and labelling bottles, and check their work with the pharmacist. They also maintain customer records and serve customers in the pharmacy.
Dispensary assistants need a general knowledge about medicines and their regulations, and an understanding of the human body.
Dispensary assistants often work directly with the public and need good interpersonal skills as they often have to deal with sick people who require efficient and sensitive service. They can be based either in community pharmacies, or hospital pharmacies.
Dispensary assistants may perform the following tasks:
- Receive and prepare prescriptions including: counting tablets, mixing and labelling preparations for customers to be approved by the pharmacist
- Issue complete prescriptions
- Maintain prescription and customer records
- Act as a filter for information and referring customers to the pharmacist where the customer requires further advice on medications, treatments or medical conditions, for both in person and phone enquiries
- Operate cash registers or point of sale terminals to accept payments
- Operate computing equipment to input and process scripts
- Perform customer service and sales duties within the pharmacy
- Participate in stock control, including checking incoming stock, pricing, and stock takes.
Retail Pharmacy Manager
Pharmacy supervisors have responsibility for coordinating a team of pharmacy assistants under the direction of the pharmacist.
The work of pharmacy supervisors includes maintaining store safety and security, co-ordinating interaction with customers, managing sales and service delivery, leading and managing staff and managing merchandise and store presentation. They often have extensive experience in pharmacy and/or dispensary work, as well as having retail supervision skills. They provide customer service through supporting and motivating a team.
Most retail pharmacy managers are employed in larger pharmacies.
Retail pharmacy managers may perform the following tasks:
- Front of pharmacy management
- Supervise the recruitment, training, rostering and work of staff
- Supervise all activities of staff to make sure the business is performing well in all areas including sales, service, security, presentation, merchandising, stock control and profit
- Maintain a high level of customer service, including resolving complaints
- Implement and oversee security procedures for stock and cash
- Oversee the presentation of the store and stock to ensure it is as appealing as possible.
What are the career opportunities?
It is possible for experienced employees to move into supervision or management, particularly in larger pharmacies.
Many pharmacy groups now have head offices and pharmacy and dispensary assistants can be employed in these head offices. Staff within these head offices often have responsibility for specific areas of pharmacy operation such as recruitment and employment or buying and stock control. They usually have responsibility for multiple pharmacies.
Many of the skills gained in working in community pharmacy can also be transferred into related industries, such as retail and beauty.
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What training do you need?
It is not essential to have formal qualifications in order to work within the industry, however formal training can help build your skills and your career options.
Under the Quality Care Pharmacy Program pharmacy and dispensary assistants are required to complete accredited unit SIRPPKS001A – Support the sale of Pharmacy and Pharmacist Only Medicines. Once this unit is completed pharmacy and dispensary assistants are required to undertake ongoing training annually.
In some states, dispensary assistants must complete accredited training before they can begin working in the dispensary.
There are a number of nationally recognised qualifications available within the industry:
Certificate II in Community Pharmacy (Pharmacy Assistant) is designed as the next step qualification within the industry. The skills involved include interacting with customers, performing stock control, merchandising products, accepting and returning prescription medication under the supervision of the pharmacist, and demonstrating an understanding of a range of medicines, products and services.
Certificate III in Community Pharmacy (Pharmacy and Dispensary Assistant) is designed for more experienced employees whose work involves a greater degree of responsibility. Roles could include dispensary assistant, pharmacy administration, front of pharmacy co-ordination, merchandising and selling co-ordination. There is the option to develop specialist product knowledge, dispensary or administration skills at this level.
Certificate IV in Community Pharmacy (Supervisor) is designed for more experienced employees in management or supervisory roles. Roles would include front of pharmacy management, specialist training and/or assessor role, quality and continuous improvement management, people management and stock and merchandise management.
The training may be undertaken in two main ways, depending on the qualification:
- Australian Apprenticeship - combines paid employment in the industry with structured training, leading to a recognised qualification.
- Some qualifications may be available as part of a full-time or part-time course, available through registered training organisations.
More information
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia is a useful organisation to speak to in regards to careers in the Pharmacy industry. The Pharmacy Guild of Australia is a national body, however, also has state branches. The Pharmacy Guild of Australia website includes information about the Guild, news centres, Guild training, programs, state branches and contact information.
More information can be found at: http://www.guild.org.au or http://www.guildtraining.com.au
