Rural, Aboriginal scholarship recipients named

The Pharmacy Guild of Australia has announced the recipients of the Rural Pharmacy Scholarship Scheme 2018

Thirty-seven students from across the country have been awarded the scholarship, the Guild has announced.

The Rural Pharmacy Scholarships provide financial support to students from rural and remote communities to encourage them to undertake undergraduate or graduate studies in pharmacy at university.

Scholarship holders receive $10,000 each year, for up to four years of study, to help cover the costs associated with study away from home.

They also participate in a mentor program aimed at reinforcing the students’ ties to rural and regional Australia.

National President of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia George Tambassis said scholarship holders received financial and mentoring support to ensure they got the most out of their university studies.

“And the fact that they are encouraged to conduct their professional careers in rural Australia is fantastic,” he said.

“The mentoring program helps the students develop a learning plan and also provides support to students outside the university environment. It’s an important support for students who have come from rural and remote areas and are studying away from their family base.”

Scholarship holders are encouraged to pursue a career in pharmacy in a rural or remote area of Australia after graduation. During their studies they also have a role in promoting rural pharmacy as a career choice to secondary school students.

The Rural Pharmacy Scholarship Scheme is an initiative of the Rural Support Programs, established in recognition of the key role pharmacists play in maintaining the health of all Australians, particularly those in rural and remote areas.

This Project is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health as part of the Sixth Community Pharmacy Agreement.

The Guild also announced the the recipients of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pharmacy Scholarship Scheme (ATSIPSS).

This year three students have been awarded the prestigious scholarship and will receive funding assistance during their time at university. The Guild congratulated Kirralee Natty (University of New England), Teneal Hutchin (University of Queensland) and Lillian Emery (Queensland University of Technology).

Scholarship holders receive $15,000 each year, for up to four years of study, to help cover the costs associated with study.

Mr Tambassis said scholarship holders received financial and mentoring support to ensure they got the most out of their university studies.

“The mentoring program not only helps the students to develop a learning plan, but it provides support to students outside of the university environment,” he said.

“It’s an important tool for supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to undertake studies in pharmacy at university.”

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pharmacy Scholarship Scheme provides incentives for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to undertake training in pharmacy and is funded under the Sixth Community Pharmacy Agreement. It was established in recognition of the key role pharmacists play in providing improved, culturally appropriate pharmacy services to better meet the needs of their local Indigenous communities and patients, as well as maintaining the health of all Australians.

This project is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health as part of the Sixth Community Pharmacy Agreement.