Austin Health
Austin Health is renowned for delivering high-quality, safe, and person-centred care, and for being a leader in teaching and research. Our commitment to excellence makes us a place where both staff and volunteers take pride in their work. Austin Health is recognized for a range of specialist expertise in areas such as cancer care, transplantation, infectious diseases, obesity, sleep medicine, intensive care, neurology, endocrinology, mental health, and rehabilitation.
Austin Health has three campuses: Austin Hospital, Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital and Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre. Pharmacy interns work across all three campuses; however, the majority of time is spent at the Austin hospital campus.
Intern program information
7 Intern positions are available (DHHS funded).
About the Austin Health Pharmacy Department
Austin Health's pharmacy department consists of approximately 120 pharmacists, 7 intern pharmacists, and 30 support staff across three hospital sites. We offer a wide range of specialty services, including inpatient and outpatient clinical pharmacy, clinical trials, hospital in the home, medicines information, sterile and non-sterile manufacturing and clinical education.
Our supportive, dynamic team, comprising both experienced senior pharmacists and newer professionals, provides an excellent learning environment. Clinical Support Pharmacists offer one-on-one guidance to newly qualified pharmacists, ensuring ongoing development.
We maintain a strong focus on education, with weekly half-hour Continuing Education lectures and clinical training sessions every 8 weeks. Staff are encouraged to attend various training sessions, including medical grand rounds and specialist unit meetings.
There are also numerous opportunities for research involvement and professional growth, with support for attending conferences and engaging in organizations such as Advanced Pharmacy Australia (AdPha). Additionally, the department offers opportunities for completing a residency program.
For those interested, there are plenty of opportunities to become involved in research work within the Austin Health Pharmacy, as it is regularly undertaken and strongly encouraged.
The department supports a number of staff to attend conferences and seminars. It also encourages staff to participate in shaping the future of pharmacy practice through engagement in professional organisations such as AdPha and International Pharmaceutical Federation etc.
There are staff car parking options on all campuses that can be paid for directly from your salary. There are complimentary shuttle buses that run between Austin and Heidelberg Repatriation Campuses. There is also limited all-day parking available in nearby streets, within approximately ten minutes walking distance. The Austin hospital is well serviced by public transport with a major bus and train hub immediately opposite the hospital.
Our clinical pharmacists work collaboratively from three satellite pharmacies at the Austin Hospital, providing services across diverse areas, including the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre. Pharmacy services at the Repatriation Hospital support subacute care, surgery, and outpatient access, while at the Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre, we support spinal, non-geriatric, acquired brain injury, rehabilitation, and psychiatric services.
About the Austin Health pharmacy intern program
Austin Health provides a dynamic and comprehensive 12-month intern program. Pharmacy interns will be expected to engage and participate in the intern-training program, which includes attending and presenting tutorials, completion of practice examinations and regular assessments by their allocated preceptor or by the intern coordinator. Intern pharmacists will rotate through a range of clinical areas, working under supervision of skilled pharmacists.
Clinical rotations
- Ward Rotation - 70%
Most ward rotations are approximately five weeks long and vary in-patient demographic and clinical pharmacy exposure. A unique part of the program involves a rotation on the intern ward where interns work independently, with limited supervision to provide pharmaceutical care to the patients on the ward. This process enables them to develop skills for managing a ward alone and provides insight into their future role as clinical pharmacists.
Dispensary (Outpatients and inpatients, including satellites) – 10%
Other areas of pharmacy practice – 20%
- Retail Exchange at a pharmacy of your choice (1 week)
- 1 day exchange to Mercy Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
- Sterile & non-sterile manufacturing, Medicines Information, ICU, Infectious disease/Anti-microbial stewardship, Quality use of Medicines and Medication Safety unit
Educational activities:
Twice-weekly tutorials given by either interns or staff within and outside the pharmacy department:
- Clinical topics
- Over the counter (OTC) topics
- Pharmacy law
Exam preparation: extensive exam preparation is incorporated into the intern training program, this includes:
- Practice forensic/calculation exams under exam conditions
- Prescription problem solving practice
- Practice oral exams within the intern group and one-on-one
Contacts
Miss Dalia Findakly
Austin Intern Program Co-ordinator
Email dalia.findakly@austin.org.au
Ph: 9496 5000
Intern positions
7 DHHS funded