Meet pharmacy assistant Donna Williamson

For this month’s Pharmacy Assistant Profile, we speak with Donna Williamson, pharmacy assistant at Discount Drug Store in Redland Bay, Queensland, about her career highlights, challenges, and tips for other pharmacy assistants. 

How long have you been working at the Redland Bay Discount Drug Store? 

Seven years. Our pharmacy is a true community pharmacy. We have lots of familiar faces every day and many new people to meet and serve as well.

We offer many services, which all the staff are happy to help with.

My job description would include setting up for catalogues, measuring and fitting of compression stockings, and the day-to-day jobs of all pharmacy assistants. 

Do you have a background in pharmacy, whether it be previously working for a different pharmacy or studying pharmacy? 

My first pharmacy job was in the small country town where I grew up – I was only 15-years-old.

Boonah Pharmacy [100km west of the Gold Coast] was where it all began, and I loved working with the people around me that I’ve grown up with. I was there for six years.

I moved to Brisbane and started working with Malouf Group Pharmacies in stock control and home health. This is where my stocking training began.

I then moved to Garden City to a pharmacy retail manager and stock controller role.

Stepping down to have my son, Harry, I returned on a part-time basis for a few more years until my daughter, Molly, was born.

My husband and I started our own business in the science industry, and I helped out there for three years before realising how much I was missing retail and helping people. 

Is pharmacy a career pathway you’ve always been passionate about? 

I started in pharmacy when I was young. It was a terrific job for me in my hometown and I was so very proud to have built such a great relationship with my colleagues and all the customers.

A highlight was when I was able to serve my grandparents when they came to town. Pharmacy opened my eyes to such a big world.

What are your hobbies and passions/activities that you enjoy in your spare time? 

I have two kids and they both race BMX at a very competitive level.

We’ve travelled all over Australia and, in 2019, we went to Belgium to compete on the BMX world stage – totally amazing.

I’m so proud of my brave kids and how hard they work to achieve their goals. We’ve made friends all over the world.

When I’m not at a race track, I absolutely love to read. I’ve started sewing again and I love swimming and water skiing. Hanging out with family and friends is very important too. 

What do you enjoy most about working in pharmacy? 

The customers and my colleagues. What I’ve learnt and what I’m still learning every day is to be able to be the very best that I can.

One of my employers said to me once that it’s your customer service skills that will set you apart from everything else, and I believe that.  

What are some of the highlights in your career so far? Recently you were part of the 2021 Pharmacy Assistant of the Year (PATY) Award process. What was the experience like and how did you feel winning the Glucojel Super Star Award for customer service?  

The highlights of my career are the friends that I’ve made along the way and everything that I’ve learnt.

I’m proud of the work that I do with compression stockings and working with different medical teams regarding this.

My boss, Fiona Watson, nominated me for the PATY Award, and I was blown away. I was so surprised when I received the email to say that I was a state finalist.

With my children setting up Zoom for me [the PATY workshop was conducted via Zoom], I started the day with no idea what I was doing, but 10 minutes later I popped up on the screen and I could see everybody.

I had the most wonderful day and really enjoyed working with all the other finalists.

What is one thing you think all pharmacy assistants should remember while working? 

As pharmacy assistants, the most important thing to remember while working is the customer. Every time you serve a new person, they’re coming to you for your help and they deserve your full attention.

Stop, breathe and smile. We might be crazy busy or have so many jobs to do, but that must all stop as soon as we need to look after our customers. We need to also look after each other behind the counter.

Communication is key to making sure that everybody is OK.

To read the full feature as it appears in the October issue of Retail Pharmacy Assistants e-magazine, visit: rpassistants.com.au/magazines/retail-pharmacy-assistants-october-2021