Pharmacy assistants can work within a hospital or community pharmacy.

Hospital Pharmacy Assistant roles include:    

• Preparing, dispensing and supplying medicines from a prescription under the supervision of a pharmacist
• Maintaining and reviewing stock levels of medicines
• Assist in the preparation of medicines
• Assisting with inventory management including ordering, receiving, storage, distribution and stocktake of medicines
• Assisting with customer service and patient care with relation to pharmaceutical healthcare.

Community pharmacy assistants have sound knowledge of a range of health and wellbeing products and healthcare support services. They assist in the day-to-day running of the pharmacy and some pharmacy assistants may be involved in assisting pharmacists with a limited range of dispensary activities.

• Community pharmacy assistants who have completed a Certificate III qualification provide excellent customer service and operational support within community pharmacies.
• Senior community pharmacy assistants who have completed a Certificate IV qualification may have a leadership role or develop more advanced skills in a particular aspect of community pharmacy.

Becoming a pharmacist requires a university qualification, generally a Bachelor or Masters degree.

Below is a pathway that gives you some options if you are interested in working in community pharmacy. Everyone has their own journey. Where you start and where you end is up to you!

Other roles you could consider as a pharmacy assistant is working as a pharmacy retail manager or dispensary assistant. These positions require study at the Certificate IV level.