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The NPA, PSNC, the Pharmacy Guild of Australia and the World Pharmacy Council have established an exciting opportunity for a recently qualified pharmacist to experience community pharmacy in Australia.
This is a great opportunity to add a global context to your ongoing development, expand your network and open up different opportunities for professional and personal growth. Community pharmacy practice varies in different countries, and you will have the chance to identify opportunities to develop your practice as well as becoming an advocate for your profession. Immersing yourself in another health environment will strengthen your transferable employability skills like adaptability, confidence, resilience, self-reliance, problem-solving, collaboration and decision-making.
A scholarship of $Au50,000 (equivalent to £26,000 at the current exchange rate) will be awarded to a pharmacist from the UK to experience community pharmacy practice in Australia, and to share their experience of practice in their home country. The scholar will be expected to spend a minimum of four months and a maximum of one year in Australia. The scholars will present to the annual conference of the World Pharmacy Council in person or by video on their experiences and learning about community pharmacy practice and how it can be progressed, to inform the exchange and development of community pharmacy services in member countries.
Eligibility criteria:
- Have completed an undergraduate pharmacy qualification and hold current registration as a pharmacist with the GPhC or PSNI
- Have been working for fewer than 5 years in a pharmacy role
- Currently employed in an independent community pharmacy role
- Citizen of a World Pharmacy Council member country (Australia, Denmark, Ireland, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, UK, USA)
- Can commence their exchange within six months of receiving the scholarship (travel restrictions permitting)
This is an exchange programme and so an Australian pharmacist will be coming to the UK too. The UK applicant is encouraged to have a sponsoring pharmacy that will host the Australian pharmacist for part of their stay in the UK. The UK-based pharmacy will not need to pay the Australian pharmacist (as they will also be supported by a scholarship) but will be asked to offer a programme to help them experience the practice of community pharmacy in the UK.
Visa:
The scholar will be responsible for ensuring they have a valid visa for their trip. Information about visas for Australia is here: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/training-407.
Please note that this is a scholarship programme and it does not include securing a licence to practice as a pharmacist within Australia.
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia will assist the scholar visiting Australia with finding a placement and eligible sponsor.
The scholarship programme is funded by the Government of Australia.
How to apply:
Send a short letter setting out why you would like to be considered and how your involvement will be beneficial to the practice of independent community pharmacy in the UK (max 400 words) and a CV to [email protected]
Applicants should confirm that they meet the five eligibility criteria in the letter (evidence will be requested at a later point in the process). Applicants should also confirm the identity of any sponsoring UK pharmacy that is committed to hosting the Australian pharmacist for part of their stay in the UK.
If you have any questions about the scholarship or the application process please contact Gareth Jones via [email protected]
The closing date for applications is Wednesday 23rd March.