Following a record number of 80 finalists, eight Pharmacy Assistants representing each Australian state and territory have been selected to compete for the national title of the 2024 Pharmacy Guild of Australia/Maxigesic Pharmacy Assistant of the Year Award (PATY).
Over the past two weeks, finalists have participated in virtual workshops where they demonstrated their pharmacy knowledge and leadership skills, following which the judges selected the following Pharmacy Assistants to represent their state or territory in the national finals in September. The winners include:
- Australian Capital Territory: Danielle Peel, Cooleman Court Pharmacy, Weston.
- Northern Territory: Karisa Lunn, Blooms the Chemist Bakewell.
- New South Wales: Aidan Kassi, Amcal Pharmacy Kings Cross Centre, Sydney.
- Queensland: Maddison Waide, Lucy Walker Pharmacy, Goondiwindi.
- South Australia: Amy Clayson, Terry White Chemmart Normanville.
- Tasmania: Seetha Naidoo, Terry White Chemmart Legana.
- Victoria: Rebecca Frost, Gunn and McConville Medication Management, Balwyn North.
- Western Australia: Demi Morton, Pharmacy 777 Tambrey, Nickol.
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia acting National President Nick Panayiaris congratulated the winners for their valuable contribution to Australian community pharmacy.
“I would like to congratulate the winners for standing out as their state’s top Pharmacy Assistant,” Mr Panayiaris said. “This prestigious award was established nearly two decades ago and, with our largest number of finalists ever, you should be very proud to be recognised among the top eight Pharmacy Assistants in Australia.”
“PATY acknowledges the exceptional dedication to patient care and proactive commitment to professional development shown by Pharmacy Assistants, and our finalists have shown just that and more,” he said.
The winners will convene for an in-person national workshop in September, during the 2024 Pharmacy Assistant National Conference (PA2024) in Sydney.
“The state winners receive access to exclusive training and development sessions, return flights and accommodation for the National Judging Workshop on 5 September in Sydney, complimentary registration to the Pharmacy Assistant (PA) National Conference (5-7 September), an invitation to be a judge in their respective PATY2025 state workshops, as well as recognition in national industry publications,” Mr Panayiaris said.
The announcement of the national 2024 PATY Award winner will take place during the PA2024 Cocktail Party on 6 September 2024.
“The national PATY winner will receive a cash prize of $5,000, complimentary registration, return flights and accommodation for attendance at APP2025 and PA2025, and an invitation to participate in the 2025 National Judging Workshop.”
For more than two decades, the PA National Conference has been a cornerstone in the education of Pharmacy Assistants throughout Australia. This will be the second consecutive year in which the conference will be held in conjunction with Pharmacy Connect, an annual Pharmacy Guild event for Pharmacists and pharmacy owners. The two events will share a 70-plus stand trade exhibition and social functions including the Welcome Reception and Cocktail Party.
Early bird registration for the conference, which saves delegates $65 off the full registration fee, opens 30 June.
To view the full program and to register, visit pharmacy-connect.com.au.
