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"... it's the lifestyle. I can go for a walk in a World Heritage-listed rainforest before work, and a swim at the beach on the way home. Who wouldn't love it!"

Alison Aylott

Rural Pharmacist

“As a rural pharmacist you are an integral part of the local community- you get to experience “real life pharmacy” where your customers are your community and, as their pharmacist, you are usually the most accessible health profession to them. Life as a rural pharmacist is all about the people- you see babies grow into adults; you see prosperous harvests and terrible droughts; you share with them the good and the hard times, you are trusted as their pharmacist, their source of advice and their friend. Being a rural pharmacist is a very rewarding experience- one that is definitely worth a try!”

Michael Flannery

Pharmacist

Rural pharmacy practice provides a number of challenges and rewards that cannot be found in city practice. Rural pharmacists experience high levels of satisfaction from the diverse range of work they perform and are respected members of rural communities. The purchase price of rural pharmacies is usually less than that of metropolitan pharmacies, and lower overheads result in a greater return on investment. Housing is generally less expensive in rural areas, and offers greater choice ranging from rural-residential style acreage blocks to city-style suburban street frontage.

The rural lifestyle offers many benefits, including being able to live only a few minutes away from work. The relaxed lifestyle in a rural community provides an attractive opportunity to practice pharmacy as part of a close-knit regional health team.

Rural practice is as varied as rural communities. You may wish to work in a large rural city, a small rural town, or a remote centre. Some pharmacists choose to live in a large regional centre and commute to their workplace in a nearby small town. Programs are in place to assist rural pharmacists to access CPE and professional development opportunities.

Positions for pharmacists in rural and remote areas exist in community pharmacy and hospital pharmacy, and opportunities exist for full-time, part-time and casual work.