Getting started in the pharmacy industry

Think of the pharmacy industry and chances are your local chemist springs to mind. After all, it’s an essential part of every Australian community and often the first port of call for everyday health concerns.

Not only are these community pharmacies a place to obtain prescribed medication, they are a trusted space to seek valuable advice and guidance about everything from wound dressing to skin care, vitamin supplements and more.

But how do you get started in the sector and what skills do you need? We spoke with Australian Vocational Academy CEO James Vial to understand the qualifications needed to work in community pharmacies, along with the career paths available.

The pharmacy industry at a glance

With an aging population and an increase in chronic disease, the Australian pharmacy industry is forecast to be a growth sector for the foreseeable future.

Each year, the average Australian visits a pharmacy 18 times, with the Pharmacy Guild of Australia noting community pharmacies are ‘the most frequently accessed and most accessible health destination’, with over 443.6 million individual patient visits annually.

Meeting this need are 5935 community pharmacies across the country in metropolitan, rural and remote locations, including 2127 pharmacies open after hours and on weekends.

Pharmacy roles and responsibilities

There are a number of specific roles within a community pharmacy, ranging from the pharmacist who oversees the business and dispenses the prescriptions to dispensary technicians and pharmacy assistants.

There are also different levels of responsibility when it comes to who is allowed to dispense, supply and assist with specific medicines stocked within a pharmacy.

Different medication levels

Within a pharmacy, there are different types of medicines available. Some you can simply grab off a shelf, others are kept behind the counter, and prescription-only medication is dispensed at the pharmacy but requires a prescription from a healthcare professional, such as your GP.

Pharmacy Medicines - These are medicines that are available on the shelf at pharmacies.

Pharmacist Only Medicines - These medicines do not need a prescription, but require pharmacist advice, and are typically kept behind the counter.

Prescription Only Medicines - These require a prescription from an authorised healthcare professional and are purchased from a pharmacy with a prescription.

Controlled Drugs - These medicines have special rules for producing, supplying, distributing, owning and using them. They may only be prescribed by an authorised healthcare professional, who may need a special prescribing permit.

Pharmacists

Pharmacists are responsible for accurately dispensing medications prescribed by doctors and other healthcare professionals.

Requiring a university degree and registration, their role involves receiving prescriptions, checking patients' medicine histories, and ensuring optimal dosage and methods of administration and drug compatibility before dispensing.

They also offer medication advice and help customers with disease prevention.

Qualification required - To become a pharmacist in Australia, you need to complete a Bachelor of Pharmacy, or equivalent degree, and then complete an internship and pass the Pharmacy Board of Australia registration exam.

Quick stats - There are currently 41,700 employed in Australia, earning a median weekly wage of $2071. The sector is growing at a rate of 2,300 positions available each year.

Pharmacy technicians

Pharmacy technicians help pharmacists prepare and dispense medicines. In a community pharmacy, technicians are also often involved in customer service duties and provide medical advice to customers under the supervision of the pharmacist on duty.

Qualification required

The Pharmacy Board of Australia has a requirement that pharmacists should ensure their dispensary assistants or dispensary technicians undertake and complete a recognised training course.

This course ‘provides them with the skills and knowledge to, under the direct personal supervision of a pharmacist, assist in the selection, processing and labelling of prescription medicines’.

The SIRSS00012 Community Pharmacy Dispensary or Certificate IV Community Pharmacy Dispensary both fulfill that requirement.

Quick stats - There are 6,900 pharmacy technicians across Australia.

Pharmacy Assistants

Pharmacy Assistants focus on customer service duties, process sales and assist in administrative tasks, such as monitoring stock levels.

If suitably trained or qualified, they may assist in preparing and dispensing medicines under the supervision of a registered pharmacist.

As a result, you can find pharmacy assistants in different areas of the pharmacy, including:

Front of house - They interact with customers, assisting with retail inquiries regarding anything from skin care products to stock availability and general pharmacy medicine advice.

Their role might also extend to restocking areas of the pharmacy and administration tasks such as inventory, and product display.

In the dispensary - Their role might also extend to restocking areas of the pharmacy and administration tasks such as inventory, and product display.

Qualification required

This training program qualifies pharmacists in Australia to supply Schedule 2 (S2) and Schedule 3 (S3) medicines.

Whether you are working in the dispensary or the retail side of a pharmacy, a pharmacy assistant’s role often involves providing advice or assisting with the supply of pharmacy and pharmacist only medicines.

As such, an S2/S3 certification is needed as part of the Quality Care Pharmacy Program (QCPP).

Under this initiative, all staff who supply Pharmacy Medicines and assist the pharmacist to supply Pharmacist Only Medicines must receive training via a recognised and accredited course. The minimum qualification required under this framework is S2/S3.

Meanwhile, pharmacy assistants involved in dispensing Prescription Only medications tend to have at least a Certificate III in Community Pharmacy.

Quick stats - There are 39,900 pharmacy sales assistants employed in Australia, earning a median weekly wage of $932. The sector is increasing by 1500 positions available each year.

Why work in a pharmacy?

James Vial, Chief Executive Officer of Australian Vocational Academy (AVA), notes that working in a community pharmacy is a great combination of healthcare and customer service, offering the opportunity to help people within your community.

“Community pharmacies are a big piece of the puzzle in the health space,” he reflects. “Often it’s the first port of call for health advice as it’s a trusted space and pharmacies are open day and night.”

There are also a variety of roles available, with pharmacies encompassing everything from health and beauty to the dispensing of medicine. According to James,  it’s an area of health retail that suits a wide array of people – from casual workers in their late teens to people returning to the workforce.

“There are great opportunities available, along with flexible working hours, so it really caters to every part of the labour market.”

As for the skills required to work in the sector, James says empathy and the ability to listen are critical for those looking to work on the retail side, while discretion and tact are also a must. “The retail side is people-focused,” he reflects. “It’s all about showing genuine empathy and care to people who might come to you with quite sensitive problems.”

Meanwhile, the dispensary area is well-suited to those with good attention to detail, who enjoy processes, procedures, consistency and repetition in a health care setting.

But regardless of which area you opt to work within, James says a career in pharmacy can be incredibly rewarding. “There are not many opportunities in retail where you work with customers right across the board and where your role is to genuinely help people by finding them a solution,” he says.

“It’s also a retail space where the focus is on quality interactions. You get to spend time with people, listening to them, understanding them and helping them as a trusted part of the community.”

How to enter the industry

S2/S3 Program

If you’re looking to enter the pharmacy industry and work in the retail and/or dispensary area of a community pharmacy, then the S2/S3 offers an ideal starting point.

Available online and completed in two days, the S2/S3 covers all the essential skills required to support the supply of pharmacy medicines and assist with pharmacist-only medications.

“As part of the QCPP, anyone working with scheduled medications and dealing with customers must have competency, and the SIRCIND002 unit in this course fulfills that requirement,” James explains.

Unlike other courses, the S2/S3 does not require the participant to already be working in the industry, making it ideal for those seeking a job in a pharmacy.

It can also help pharmacy job seekers stand out from the crowd. The S2/S3 provides pharmacy job seekers with skills, insight, and certification to work in various areas of the pharmacy, including supplying pharmacy medications and assisting the pharmacist in the dispensary with the supply of pharmacist-only medications.

“Pharmacy is an industry with low turnover, so if you’re looking to get a job in the sector, the S2/S3 can be a real gamechanger,” James says.

Meanwhile, the S2/S3 offers a great stepping stone into further pharmacy study and accreditation, including the Certificate III and IV in Community Pharmacy.

Beyond the S2/S3

While the S2/S3 provides a perfect entry point into the community pharmacy sector, further qualifications can help advance your career, allowing you to work as a senior pharmacy assistant or pharmacy technician, with greater responsibilities, including managing a team or department.

SIRSS00012 Community Pharmacy Dispensary

The SIRSS00012 Community Pharmacy Dispensary course is a great training option for those looking to support pharmacists in dispensing prescription medicines.

This course covers assisting customers with prescriptions, dispensing medications, preparing dose administration aids, and maintaining dispensary stock.

Completed online and in the workplace, the course caters to both traineeships and those already working in a community pharmacy.

Participants need to be at least 16 years of age and must work at least 7.5 hours per week in a pharmacy with access to work across the dispensary.

Certificate III in Community Pharmacy

The Certificate III in Community Pharmacy is designed for individuals already working in a pharmacy who want to become fully qualified pharmacy assistants.

This course covers both the dispensing and retail sides of community pharmacy. Students learn how to assist customers with pharmacy medicines and prescriptions while maintaining a safe and effective workplace.

It covers topics such as infection control, providing exceptional pharmacy services, and supporting customers with their healthcare needs.

Certificate IV in Community Pharmacy

The Certificate IV in Community Pharmacy is designed to help experienced pharmacy assistants step into leadership roles.

The course provides essential skills in team effectiveness, managing pharmacy medicines, and ensuring health and safety compliance.

Stock control, maintaining dispensary inventory, and pharmacy infection control standards are among the areas covered, along with expertise in dispensing prescriptions, delivering outstanding customer service, and managing employee relations.

This course equips experienced industry professionals with the knowledge and confidence to excel as a Senior Pharmacy Assistant or Pharmacy Manager.

Certificate IV in Community Pharmacy Dispensary

The Certificate IV in Community Pharmacy Dispensary helps experienced assistants further specialise in the dispensing side of the pharmacy, providing key skills in pharmacy customer service, assisting with prescriptions, and dispensing medications.

It covers maintaining dispensary stock, receiving stock, and managing safety and security within the pharmacy, along with pharmacy infection control, working safely, and applying critical thinking to improve service and efficiency.

Potential career pathways

Where can a career in community pharmacy take you? It is a growing industry, and community pharmacies can be found in every town and city across Australia, offering employment opportunities across the country.

Within community pharmacies, there are potential opportunities to advance into management and leadership positions. For some, the initial exposure to the industry might galvanise them to complete a university degree and become a pharmacist. Others may explore related industry opportunities beyond community pharmacy, including hospital pharmacy and industrial pharmacy.

Either way, community pharmacy offers a rewarding entry point into Australia’s growing healthcare sector. It’s a chance to make a real difference—serving as the first stop for health advice, everyday care, and trusted support in your local community.