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Rural Pharmacy Careers
Rural pharmacy practice provides a number of challenges and rewards that cannot be found in city practice. Rural pharmacists experience high levels of satisfaction from the diverse range of work they perform and are respected members of rural communities. The purchase price of rural pharmacies is usually less than that of metropolitan pharmacies, and lower overheads result in a greater return on investment. Housing is generally less expensive in rural areas, and offers greater choice ranging from rural-residential style acreage blocks to city-style suburban street frontage.
The rural lifestyle offers many benefits, including being able to live only a few minutes away from work. The relaxed lifestyle in a rural community provides an attractive opportunity to practice pharmacy as part of a close-knit regional health team.
Rural practice is as varied as rural communities. You may wish to work in a large rural city, a small rural town, or a remote centre. Some pharmacists choose to live in a large regional centre and commute to their workplace in a nearby small town. Programs are in place to assist rural pharmacists to access CPE and professional development opportunities.
There is a high demand for rural pharmacists, as they are a vital part of communities, and therefore there is no shortage of employment opportunities! In fact its common practice for pharmacies in these areas to try and employ students as soon as they complete their course. More than ever, there is a need for more pharmacists in country areas and a shortage of skilled pharmacists means there are jobs waiting to be filled in the bush. Such is the demand for pharmacists in the bush that in 2001, every graduate from Australia's first non-metropolitan pharmacy course at Wagga's Charles Sturt University had a job before their official graduation ceremony. No longer the domain of pill dispensers in white coats standing behind the counter, pharmacy in regional, rural and remote areas affords more personal contact, more rewards and more satisfying work in an environment that is often more profitable than the city. Working as a pharmacist in a rural or regional hospital provides opportunities not available in metropolitan hospitals. Hospitals in rural and regional towns are vital to the community, and as such those who work there become important members of the community. Pharmacists who choose to work in rural hospitals do so mainly because they enjoy the rural lifestyle - less traffic, recreational pursuits, community spirit, cheaper housing, etc. Smaller rural hospitals employ 1 or 2 pharmacists, while the larger regional hospitals employ up to 10 or even more. Pharmacists working in rural and regional hospitals develop close working relationships with the other healthcare professionals at the hospital and in the community. Pharmacists in rural and regional hospitals have a great deal of variety in their work - it might involve management and administrative duties, combined with clinical pharmacy activities. Find out more about pharmacy in hospitals and read about rural practice at http://www.shpa.org.au/careers/careers.html For students from regional, rural and remote locations, pharmacy offers graduates the opportunity to continue to enjoy the benefits of a country lifestyle while working in a prestigious and lucrative career. Pharmacy CoursesThe full time four year Bachelor of Pharmacy course is offered at metropolitan universities and regional universities at Bendigo, Wagga, Townsville and Orange. Some of these have a focus on the regional, rural and remote workplace environment. Students interested in studying pharmacy at university need to achieve high marks in English, Mathematics and Chemistry. Some universities offer students from rural areas extra credits to assist them into their preferred course and career. For more information on entry requirements into pharmacy courses, take a look at the links to the Universities where you can study. Please note that University of Newcastle, University of Sydney, University of South Australia and University of Canberra are now offering Master of Pharmacy Programs. More information regarding these courses can be found at:
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