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PATY 2020 NATIONAL WINNER 37 2020 PATY WINNER: Highlighting the role of pharmacy assistants By Benjamin King, 2020 Pharmacy GNuild of Australia/Maxigesic Pharmacy Assistant of the Year. ominations are open for the 2021 Pharmacy Assistant of the Year Award. I’m so excited! The opportunity is one in a million, and the other pharmacy assistants you meet are incredible. The 2020 finalists and I have a group chat where we keep up to date with each other. Recently we all caught up, and I’m still in awe. They’re all improving their knowledge and skills, which is truly inspiring for me. With nominations open, it’s a chance to look at your team and nominate those you think do an excellent job – the passionate people who make a positive impact in the team and community. The wealth of knowledge, talent and experience within pharmacy assistants across Australia is phenomenal. I’ve been working with an incredible set of people over the last few years – specifically, I work closely with my retail and pharmacist managers. They have a wide array of tasks to get done each day, and I often help them out when I can. More importantly, I work with another dispensary technician, who provides me with the time I need to assist my managers when required. Without him, I’d be too busy dispensing to have time for anything else. I cannot truly express “Pharmacists have a wide range of tasks and procedures they oversee daily. With flu vaccinations added to that list, it’s easy to see how stressful the job can get.” my gratitude enough. He covers me whenever needed, and I think he’s a phenomenal assistant. I dearly hope that everyone considers nominating a fellow assistant. Take the time to show you appreciate the dedication your team put into their work. I believe all pharmacy assistants have been doing an incredible job over the last year and I’m excited to meet some more passionate pharmacy assistants next month, at APP, which is another event in pharmacy that I’m excited about – along with the flu vaccination season just begun. I’m overjoyed that AAP21 is almost here. I’m honoured to be a guest there with \\\\\\\[2019 PATY Winner\\\\\\\] Brianne Shephard. I’ve heard the experience at the conference is incredible. I’m passionate about knowledge and can’t wait to see what new information will be available to me. I have no idea what events are scheduled or which speakers will be present. There’s a large element of the conference that’s unknown to me, and I can’t wait to uncover what’s in store. Meanwhile, it’s that time of the year again: flu vaccinations for 2021 are underway. We’ve just begun administering vaccines in pharmacy and, as normal, it’s hectic. The traffic of our normal customers coming through, matched with the flu vaccine appointments and our sleep apnoea clinic providing its continued service, make for some very busy days. This year we’re fortunate enough to have a second pharmacist working during the vaccine appointments, but in the past this hasn’t been the case. There was a time when my pharmacist had to bear his normal workload while doing vaccinations for the season. Needless to say, it wasn’t the easiest time, but we made it through, thanks to the power of communication. The importance of coherent communication in the workplace cannot be overlooked. Pharmacists have a wide range of tasks and procedures they oversee daily. With flu vaccinations added to that list, it’s easy to see how stressful the job can get. I have a simple tip: prepare. Check in with your pharmacist and ensure you know what times they want vaccinations booked in, and ask what they need to be done to help prepare. Work together to ensure this flu season is seamless for everybody. RETAIL PHARMACY ASSISTANTS • APR 2021