The Vice President of the World Pharmacy Council, Professor Trent Twomey announced in the opening plenary of APP2022 that early career pharmacist nominations are now open for the $50,000 Australia Health Minister Young Pharmacist Global Exchange Scholarship; an initiative of the Seventh Community Pharmacy Agreement (7CPA).
Supported by the Australasian College of Pharmacy and the World Pharmacy Council, this once-in-a-lifetime scholarship is available to early career pharmacists, in their first five years of general registration, who are currently working in a community pharmacy.
One talented Australian early career pharmacist will win the $50,000 scholarship, which supports them to work in community pharmacy for a year in the United Kingdom and share their experiences at a future World Pharmacy Council conference.
The scholarship will help to facilitate the two-way exchange of skills and knowledge at a practical level of the various tasks performed by community pharmacists working to their full scope of practice.
The Australasian College of Pharmacy President, Ms. Michelle Bou-Samra, said the scholarship was one of the many ways the College was engaging the next generation of pharmacy leaders.
“Being immersed in another country’s education and methods of working builds transferable skills like adaptability, confidence, ethical sensitivity and decision-making. In addition, working abroad in the United Kingdom provides the opportunity to the successful candidate to expand their professional contacts, build collaborative projects and other opportunities.”
“We’re proud to be partnering with the World Pharmacy Council to be delivering such a unique experience for young pharmacists in both Australia and the UK,” said Ms. Bou-Samra, “I encourage all early career pharmacists to take a few minutes to submit their nomination online today.”
Professor Trent Twomey said that the exchange program acknowledges that the role of community pharmacists is continually changing in response to patient expectations and higher demands on frontline workers across all healthcare services.
“Community pharmacy is recognised as a major part of primary healthcare systems worldwide. Patient relationships with a community pharmacy team is an important part of their support network.”
“Learning first-hand how pharmacy services are administered in other OECD countries will help the scholarship recipients build on their technical, operational and interpersonal skills and also bring some new found knowledge and experience back to their Australian colleagues,” said Prof Twomey, “This will benefit Australia, the United Kingdom host country and the industry overall.”
The winner will also receive return flights, accommodation and a full registration to attend the Pharmacy Connect Conference in Sydney on 1-3 September 2022, where the 2022 Australia Health Minister Young Pharmacist Global Exchange scholar will be announced.
Early career pharmacists can self-nominate or be nominated by a third party, such as an employer, pharmacy team member or industry representative at acp.edu.au/education/scholarships/young-pharmacist-global-exchange/.
More information about the scholarship, the nomination and submission forms are available at www.acp.edu.au/education/scholarships/young-pharmacist-global-exchange/. APP2022 attendees are invited to visit the College trade stand 363 this week to learn more.