Attracting and retaining staff is a challenge for the community pharmacy industry. So too is accessing cost-effective training that is delivered in the right place at the right time. Meeting the needs of specialist staff such as dispensary assistants is an added complexity. TAFE NSW – North Coast Institute worked with the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) to come up with effective solutions.
‘I am thrilled with the success of our partnership with TAFE NSW – North Coast Institute,’ Steven Drew, the PSA’s NSW Branch Director said.
The PSA has a strong commitment to ensuring high-quality practice standards across the pharmacy profession through ongoing training and practice development. It develops and delivers a range of educational resources and supports the provision of professional healthcare services which assists pharmacists to improve the quality use of medicines and the delivery of advanced patient care.
Helyn Davison, Director Education Services, Business, North Coast Institute, said that by using the expertise of the PSA the Institute could ensure training meets the needs of the sector.
Q: |
Delivering relevant staff training causing you a headache? |
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Turn to TAFE NSW for innovative training solutions tailored to your industry needs. |
Traineeships are available to commencing and existing workers and offer qualifications at Certificate II, III and IV levels in Community Pharmacy, including Dispensary Training. Pharmacy Assistant Traineeships can be commenced at any time and are conducted with little disruption on the job.
‘I personally am very keen to see our relationship with TAFE NSW continue,’ Mr Drew said. ‘They have been incredibly professional, not to mention easy to deal with.’
The partnership has accessed funding to improve entry-level skills for people wanting to work in the industry. The funding supported the delivery of prevocational courses by North Coast Institute. Learning focuses on skills in retail, highlighting point-of-sale knowledge, promoting personal presentation appropriate to the industry and developing work readiness to improve productivity from first-time employees.
‘The training is delivered in the NSW North Coast, New England, Hunter and Western regions and in Southern Queensland,’ said Rodney Leane, Client Account Manager, North Coast Institute. ‘Work placement is an integral element of skills development and was achieved through the cooperation of many PSA member pharmacists.
‘As a result of the traineeships new workers have been attracted to the industry, more staff members have been retained with higher levels of skill and existing staff have gained formal recognition for their skills,’ he said. ‘Pharmacies have benefited through on-the-job skills development and improved productivity and investment benefits.’
