Pharmacy Students Show Interest In Regional Opportunities

Pathways to ownership, hands on experi­ence and lifestyle are just some aspects of regional pharmacy appealing to the next generation of Australian pharmacy profes­sionals.

Industry figures show more than 2,700 full time equivalent (FTE)[1] pharmacists will be needed across Australia in 2025, with more than half (1600) required in com­munity pharmacy.

Life Pharmacy Group (LPG) Pharmacists Lochie Pettiford (Parkes), Uzair Qamar (Dubbo) and Bailey Stratford (ACT) re­cently attended the annual Congress of the National Australian Pharmacy Students’ As­sociation (NAPSA Congress) in Brisbane.

“The students were very engaged and eager to try rural pharmacy, which is always a very good response,” Part owner and Pharmacist in Charge of Parkes Pharmacy, Lochie Pettiford, said.

“Typically, there’s a lot of hesitancy about working outside of major cities, even just for placements, so to have so many people re­ally interested and wanting to come and try rural practice, was exciting.”

More than 250 pharmacy students from across Australia and New Zealand attended NAPSA 2025 at the University of Queens­land. The Congress is an opportunity for pharmacy students and interns to attend education sessions, workshops, network­ing opportunities and the trade exhibition.

“I think students are starting to understand that rural pharmacy is more hands on, they realise rural pharmacy is where you can do more of it and more often,” Lochie said.

“Life Pharmacy Group has a fair few students in regional New South Wales on placement and we’re spreading the word that rural practice is a good offering. Re­gional communities are welcoming and friendly, it’s a great lifestyle and the work aspect is a big driver.”

“It’s always great when people want to come and try [rural practice] in any aspect – whether it’s a placement, internship or long term, the amount of people that were inquir­ing about it is encouraging.” Lochie said.