Success Stories
- Pharmacy Essentials Nanango and Kingaroy - Barry Lonsdale, Owner (Employer)
- Malouf Group Pharmacies - Des Kerr, HR Manager (Employer)
- 'Adventures in an outback mining town' - Grace Jee (Pharmacist)
- 'Loving life in a two horse town' - Richard Thorpe (Pharmacist)
- 'Dreams do come true in the outback' - Ser Hui Lim (Pharmacist)
- 'Lifestyle is what you choose to make of it' - Philip Smith (Pharmacist)
- 'Success by the sea' - Rose Aboud (Pharmacist)
Pharmacy Essentials Nanango and Kingaroy – Barry Lonsdale, Owner
Initially I tried advertising on the internet. I received many applications, most of whom were not registered to work in Australia. After considering "unknown" applicants I soon realised that if I got the wrong person the negative effects on business could be large, much larger than what it would cost to get Ravens to do the work for me.
Debbie at Ravens was able to get to the bottom of what I really needed in a candidate. I found the service to be very prompt, reliable and trustworthy. I was confident my interests were being looked after. She was also able to sell the benefits of working at my business and gave my postition my more exposure than what I could have, therefore attracting better applicants.
I would recommend you try Ravens for your recruitment requirements, they take away all the hassles allowing you to get on with your work. You may think you can save money by doing it all yourself, but it will cost big money if the candidate doesn't suit your requirements.
Barry Lonsdale
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Barry Lonsdale
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Malouf Group Pharmacies – Des Kerr, HR Manager
Malouf Group Pharmacies is proud to say that we have a long term relationship with the team at Ravens Recruitment and we are extremely happy with their service and commitment to our business.
Ravens have assisted us over the years with not only short term locum work but also with many permanent recruitment needs as well. We always receive quality service from the friendly team and we are always made to feel that our business is important to them.
It is because of the above reasons that we have Ravens as the only company we deal with when it comes to Pharmacist’s, Dispensary Assistants etc.
Des Kerr
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I'm doing very well here, finding the work very satisfying and am enjoying myself by contributing my best to the Pharmacy Department, the patients and other allied health professionals in the ward. I settled in quickly, mixing around and making heaps of friends in the hospital and community.
As Pharmacist-in-Charge I am responsible for a number of staff including many pharmacy students from Charles Sturt University that come here for rural placements. I am responsible for organizing their daily activities when the pharmacy manager is not available. I also oversee the surgical ward and the Intensive Care Unit. This opportunity has really helped me to sharpen my leadership and management skills and I'm very satisfied with the services I provide to the hospital.
Des Kerr
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'Adventures in an outback mining town' – Grace Jee
My mission is to work as a locum pharmacist in rural and regional areas. Locum work is challenging, but I welcome challenges. In fact, without challenges, life is boring, which is why I am so passionate about locum pharmacist work. Locum work gives me a golden opportunity to travel everywhere around Australia, solving other people problems, serving the community and adding value to other people lives. I believe that everywhere I go, I can definitely learn something new. I love learning. I believe that we can only grow and become a better people as we learn.
Broken Hill is very unique, the people, architecture and landscapes. I spent some of my weekend visiting places like The Living Desert, Day Dream Underground Mining, The 'Ghost Town', and Mundi-Mundi. These places are fantastic. The underground mining tour was really adventurous and great. I have taken more than 100 photos of Broken Hill and uploaded them to my personal website and it’s amazing, I have received lots of positive feedback from my friends around the world. They told me that they want come to Broken Hill themselves, to enjoy the secret scenery in this small town.
I'm doing very well here, finding the work very satisfying and am enjoying myself by contributing my best to the Pharmacy Department, the patients and other allied health professionals in the ward. I settled in quickly, mixing around and making heaps of friends in the hospital and community.
As Pharmacist-in-Charge I am responsible for a number of staff including many pharmacy students from Charles Sturt University that come here for rural placements. I am responsible for organizing their daily activities when the pharmacy manager is not available. I also oversee the surgical ward and the Intensive Care Unit. This opportunity has really helped me to sharpen my leadership and management skills and I'm very satisfied with the services I provide to the hospital.
Lack of health care professionals in rural and regional areas, is definitely a big issue at the moment. We tend to forget about these communities. Nowdays, many youngsters love to work in big cities, claiming that rural health practice life is boring. However, I can assure you that it is NOT true. There are a great variety of activities that you can do in these country towns. If you are a person who loves nature, then rural health care professional practice is definitely for you!
There are many communities out there that need our help. So, let's don't forget about them, love them and serve them with your open kind heart! If you have never worked in a rural or regional area before, why not give yourself a chance and go and explore the country areas around Australia.
Rural pharmacy practice experience will definitely blow you away, open your eyes and grant you the chance to escape the rat-race hectic life in busy cities. For me, rural pharmacy practice has certainly been a great experience, it has granted me golden opportunities to learn many great values and lessons in life, in fact it has become one of my greatest passions.
Grace Jee
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Grace Jee
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'Loving life in a two horse town' - Richard Thorpe
I have been working as a community pharmacist in a two horse town for the last six months. The town has two pubs, two servos, two supermarkets and most importantly two pharmacies. We are half way between Coffs Harbour and Kempsey, Big Banana to the north, Slim Dusty Country to the south!
Pharmacy in this environment still presents unique challenges, but the professional and personal isolation that may have put people off working outside metropolitan areas in the past is becoming less of an issue as technology gets better. Concerns I had before taking tis job included:
What to do on a weekend – Although the population of the town I live in is only around 3500, we have an excellent gym, which is my way of keeping busy outside of work. We also have beautiful deserted beaches and national parks. Others may embrace the local football club; we have all three codes, or any other number of sports clubs. The Shire Guide lists a local Philatelic Society, Scottish Country Dancers, Scrabble Club, Orchid Society to name a few. It would appear that whatever floats your boat it is available in the valley if you know where to look. Austar and internet shopping also help to keep me entertained.
How do I get quality CPE – I have always attended SHPA and PSA CPE lectures in the city and used these as my main source of CPE. DVD and video recordings of these lectures have been available for many years so it is actually easier to watch them at home in the country than to travel to see them live. Internet based initiatives such as PSAs PRIMed and access to professional journals on the internet gives endless options without leaving home. Everything is accessible via the excellent Auspharmacist.net.au. The Guild also has an initiative for country pharmacists attending conferences, they pay travel and accommodation expenses, details are available on the Guild website.
Will I be professionally isolated – I am lucky in that the other pharmacy in town is next door but one, and the two shops have always had an excellent relationship. Local doctors see you as a local ally. Through a strong division facilitator we have started HMRs in the area and I am currently working my way through 220 RMMRs which were previously sent by fax to Sydney.
Is the money really better – Yes it is! The national shortage of pharmacists puts you in a great negotiating position if you are willing to travel outside most people’s comfort zone. Better hourly rates, accommodation and extended holidays may be available depending on your commitment.
Like the sound of my job? Well get your own because I am staying here for a while yet, Ravens found me this position and I’m sure they will find one for you too!
Richard Thorpe
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A quick introduction about myself. My name is Ser Hui and I am 26 years of age. I am currently working as a pharmacy manager at Guardian Pharmacy in Moora, Western Australia. I would like to share my experiences working and living in Moora for more than a year by now.
Working in areas away from cities might not be the interest or preference of most people, for young people especially. If you do agree with the above point, you might be questioning what makes me which was only 24 at that time, decided to take up this role at a small town distanced 2 hours drive from Perth city.
Seeking for opportunity to learn and advance in my career path were the main reasons for me to look up for a higher position role. Via Ravens, I was fortunate enough to be offered the role I was dreaming for. Working as a sole pharmacist with management responsibility in Moora gives me lots of challenges and space to improve and learn. Although the learning curve was steep at the beginning, I think it is really worthy as it makes me grow not merely in my career aspects but also my people and living skill, in a faster pace too.
Besides satisfaction in terms of knowledge increase, I feel very happy being able to serve the people in this town. As this is the only pharmacy in a small town with an estimate of 3000 population in size, customers have become my neighbours and friends. Therefore, this has makes my work and life here filled with more colours with the culture and warmth of the friendly people in the town.
Working in areas away from city also gives me an opportunity to experience a different lifestyle in Australia. The environment is really great as it gives me a nearer approach to mother-nature. Probably this is what people living in the city are after in order to get away from the tense of traffic jam or a fast pace lifestyle.
As a conclusion, working on Moora has given me three of the greatest things I ever had, which is a great opportunity to learn, great people, and great environment! Therefore, I hope people would be able to have a different view of working away from city areas as it has its own great advantages which cities are not able to provide.
Ser Hui Lim
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My partner and I moved from Newcastle to Dorrigo in January 2006 for management opportunity and financial incentive that we could not get in the city at a young age of 25.
We were provided with a house to live in fully furnished with power and gas all covered. We were also re-imbursed for our moving costs.
It was my first job as a sole pharmacist and also my first after working at 2 different city pharmacies.
I would now find it very hard to go back to working in “urban” pharmacy.
The pace is much more leisurely and there is plenty of work time to keep up with all the latest knowledge in pharmacy with drug rep information, Medscape and AusPharmList.
The community is unbelievable, friendly, inviting you to the many social events and clubs (rotary, lions etc) that are available from sporting to drama. They know your name well before you remember many of theirs and are greeted with a friendly hello.
There are a couple of pubs with meals, takeaways, cafes, beauty rooms, video/dvd stores, social sporting teams from volleyball to rugby, the lifestyle is what you choose to make of it. We are less than a hours drive to Coffs Harbour and don't miss the latest movie we want to see or major retail therapy that my partner sometimes needs!
You still have your “problem” customers, what pharmacy doesn't? But with only 1 or 2 a month, it beats the 10-20 a week I could have in the city. You can spend a little more time with them sorting out their issues and with time they are no longer a “problem” customer, but more of a “loyal” one.
Everyone speaks English, making it much easier to convey safety messages regarding medication.
The doctor/pharmacist relationship is a little closer, being the only pharmacist in town its easy to get to know the doctors if you want too, plus their family and themselves visit you for medications. I frequently get calls regarding medication advice, possible changes to medications and latest information on PBS listings. Prescription errors are fixed with an easy phone call and not meet with angst.
When you refer people to doctors with skin conditions and other problems, it is satisfying that they come back to you with a prescription or answer (instead of the closest pharmacy to doctors in town), helping with the learning process, so in future if you see something similar you can advise accordingly. I have heard many a time now “The doctor said it is what you said it was”, which still brings a smile to my face.
Its 5 minutes to work by car (Or 15 minutes walk), no red lights, no traffic jams!
Work hours where more than in the city, but easy to adjust to as no late nights, no Sundays and no public holidays.
The staff had to put up with locum pharmacist for about 6 months so they knew the running of the business inside out, so it takes pressure off you as you step into running the business. Staff turnover is a lot less than that of city pharmacies as well.
We are lucky to have a very good bunch of locums in the area and I have NEVER had a problem in getting time off when needed, even for our recent wedding and honeymoon for over a month!
I never for a minute have regretted the decision to move to the country and don't know why more pharmacist don't make the move?
Philip Smith
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I started locuming in 2001. The past few years have felt like one very long travelling adventure: new sites, new people & new pharmacies. What a great way to do what I do (pharmacy) & see & experience parts of Australia I never thought I would see. The placements have been as far north as Cairns & as south as Bega. Luckily the lingo, currency & PBS stay constant otherwise you might think you were in different countries. City people & county people. They can all tell you stories. Lives that are so different from my Sydney suburban background.
Even in the pharmacy you're dealing with people who may have driven through a flood or 3 hours to get to town for their weekly or monthly visit. (Try explaining the 20 day rule to them?) I have a 3 part rating system for each placement:
1. the location: I usually explore within a 1-2 hour radius out of town. This may take me to the next town, beach, rainforest, bush, farms, hinterland ect.
2. the pharmacy: workflow, procedures, systems & staff. Yes they do differ, as did my job description or role. Sometimes sole pharmacist, sometimes with 1 or more pharmacist.
3. the accommodation: On average not too bad. Sometimes a surprise. I always ask for safe, clean & A/C if north of Sydney.
I'm happy to say that most placements had a good rating score, & if not Ravens were always there to liaise, advise & support. It was actually a difficult decision to stop locuming, but the decision to move out of Sydney was easy. Since April I've been working fulltime in lovely Port Macquarie. The people here are a mix of locals, returned locals or like me (sea changes- old & new). The lifestyle & people are easy going. Travel to shopping centres, including parking is under 5 minutes. There are several beaches to choose from ( can't wait for summer). Cafes & restaurants in abundance ( very important for those coffee breaks). Very civilised. And life in pharmacy goes on, luckily for me, with a lovely team of people.
