Winton local Sally Carrington will honour her regional roots after graduating with a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from James Cook University (JCU) this week (Wednesday, December 20).
The Blackheath and Thornburgh College graduate was one of 40 students to complete their four- year pharmacy studies this month.
Sally said her JCU studies had given her outstanding opportunities, like her placements in Mackay, Mossman, Longreach, Magnetic Island and Townsville.
“For a long time I wanted to be a vet and when I did some work experience with a vet I discovered I was really interested in the treatment and drug side. So I explored this a bit more and discovered pharmacy,” said Sally.
Sally has secured a pharmacy position in Broken Hill in 2018.
“In the future I would like to own a chain of rural pharmacies. There is a big gap in rural healthcare and pharmacy plays an important role. I’d like to be part of positive change.”
Bachelor of Pharmacy Head of Discipline Dr Michelle Bellingan said the University was very proud of Sally and her fellow Pharmacy graduates, who are now work ready and equipped with the skills and confidence needed to work across Australia and beyond.
“Our program prepares students to integrate their professional knowledge in health provision models appropriate to rural, remote, indigenous and tropical contexts,” Dr Bellingan said.
“JCU Pharmacy graduates enjoy good employment rates, and demand for their skills is particularly strong in rural and regional Australia,” she said.
“Working in rural and remote communities provides a rewarding and diverse career pathway for our graduates, many of whom will now go on to work in northern Queensland, including both coastal and inland regional centres, rural towns and even as far afield as Weipa.”
The JCU Bachelor of Pharmacy has a national reputation for the quality of its program and graduates. As a true interdisciplinary field, pharmacy provides a strong foothold in both the science and healthcare industries.
The degree is completed over four years on a full-time basis from the Townsville campus. Students gain experience through clinical placements in pharmacies throughout Northern Queensland, and at public health facilities in regional, rural and remote communities.
Find out more at www.jcu.edu.au