The Aussie Discount Chemist Group and TWCM Cumberland Park Pharmacy have won the Private Sector Award in this year’s South Australian Governor’s Multicultural Awards.
Aussie Discount Chemist Group started in 2007, and with six pharmacies, is one of the largest family run pharmacy businesses in the State, with a focus on servicing customers from diverse cultural and social backgrounds.
The group has created more than 150 jobs in regional South Australia, employing migrants from 18 different nationalities who speak 21 different languages – and assisted 35 pharmacists of different nationalities to settle in Australia.
During COVID-19 Aussie Discount Chemist started an innovative health program providing free flu vaccinations to new migrants, international students, humanitarian entrants, and those residing in Australia due to border closures.
More than 5000 flu vaccines and a further 6000 COVID-19 vaccinations have been administered, helping to keep vulnerable people safe and healthy.
Pharmacist and Director of the group, Sobia Irfan Hashmi, received the award and said she was “grateful for the recognition I have received for my work, because I am very sure that every other nominee for this award was as capable, if not more so, of winning this award.
“I have faced several challenges on my way here, but each one of them has only strengthened me and made me the person I am today; a thorough professional who knows exactly what she wants; someone who sets her eyes on a goal and does not lose sight of it, until it is achieved.
“Winning this award would not have been possible without the inspiration I have received from my seniors and my colleagues, for whom I have the deepest respect, and from whom I have derived the strength to challenge myself and perform better at each stage.”
Ms Hashmi said the award gave her more energy to do more to promote multiculturalism through her family pharmacy business.
She said she could not have achieved what she had without the help of others and particularly thanked Geoff Brock MP Member for Frome; Mraseem Khokhar of the Pakistani Association in South Australia; Nasir Hussain of Multicultural Communities Council of SA (MACSA); Brother Ahmed Zreika of the Islamic Society of SA; Ms Helena Kyriazopoulos CEO of MCCSA; the Hon Jing Lee MLC, Assistant Minister to the Premier; and the Hon Zoe Bettison MP, Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs.
“I also want to thank the many family friends for helping me reach a stage where I can proudly hold up this award as a mark of my achievement.
“I also promise to only get better at my work so that you can see me here for a more such awards. Thank you to my life partner Irfan Hashmi who is the mover and shaker and motivator in all moments… When the Going Gets Tough.
“And thank you South Australia where our family has received unlimited opportunities during our journey which we started as new immigrants in January 2003.”
