In this month’s issue of Retail Pharmacy Assistants e-magazine we speak with Christine Smythe, retail assistant at Metung Discount Pharmacy in Victoria’s East Gippsland, about her career highlights, challenges and tips for working in pharmacy.
How long have you been working for Metung Pharmacy?
I started in October 2020, so I’ve been there for seven months.
Do you have a background in pharmacy?
No, I come from a mix of retail and corporate. Coming out of high school, I did retail, finished college, then went into the corporate world for 18 years. I then came back and did retail and hospitality. I’m originally from Toronto, Canada.
Is pharmacy a career pathway you’re passionate about? Or do you have a different idea of a future career pathway for yourself?
At this point I’d like to continue doing it. I’ve looked online for certifications [relevant for] pharmacy assistants, or pharmacy technician courses online. It’s something I’ll continue to do while we live here. It’s been a good opportunity to start, so I may as well continue on.
What are your hobbies and passions/activities that you enjoy in your spare time?
Mainly, because we moved here in March 2020 due to Covid-19, we haven’t had the opportunity to discover East Gippsland. That’s what we’ve been doing all year with my family. That’s what we like doing. Also, music. I have quite a large vinyl collection and proper DJ turntables.
My husband bought me an Apple watch, so I’m enjoying tracking my fitness. This is the first time I’ve been able to track my fitness, so I walk to and from work, which is great. I was never able to do that in the city.
What do you enjoy most about working in retail pharmacy?
Our village is small. We have about 70% retirees here. I like the country atmosphere, the daily interaction with the customers, helping the older ones out. Sometimes they just need a little chat. They come get their scripts and they leave a little happier.
I really enjoy learning about all the new products we get in, whether it’s in front of the counter or behind the counter. I’m really interested in learning about the prescription medications. It’s good to put a little science inside my head. You do hear about them in the media, and not always know what they do, so it’s good [to learn about the medications].
What are the benefits of working in a smaller team? Can you elaborate on how it changes your customer interactions?
It’s just the pharmacist (Fady Baky) and myself. He opened the pharmacy six years ago, in July 2015. He comes with a wealth of knowledge. As a pharmacist, he ran the business on his own for six years, but realised he needed some help as our village was growing.
With Covid-19, so many more people have moved to the regional areas.
Working with him on a daily basis, we’ve developed a really nice relationship, we feed off each other, and he’s generally a really happy person, like me, so we get along quite well. A pleasant surprise.
To read the full interview with Christine Smythe, head to pages 26-27 of the latest Retail Pharmacy Assistants e-magazine.
