A pharmacy graduate from Charles Sturt University (CSU), described as enthusiastic and passionate, has received the MIMS Australia 2012 NSW Intern of the Year Award.

 

Ms Olivia Cocks, from the Karen Carter Chemist in Gunnedah, received her award from MIMS Australia Business Development Manager, Ms Dinah Graham, and Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) NSW Branch President, Mr John Bronger, during a dinner at Terrigal earlier this month.

 

Mr Bronger praised Ms Cocks on her enthusiasm and her commitment to a wide range of disciplines within the pharmacy.

 

“Olivia has written competency guidelines for staff at an aged-care facility and assisted in the ongoing improvement of the Quality Care Pharmacy Program by improving wound care, Webster and intervention procedures,” Mr Bronger said.

 

CSU Pharmacy discipline leader, Associate Professor Maree Simpson, said, “It is very exciting to hear of Olivia’s success and of her return home where she can once again engage with her local community bringing with her all the skills of a trained health care professional.

 

“A key objective of the Charles Sturt University pharmacy program as the first non-metropolitan course in Australia was to see graduates practice in rural communities where the need for most health professions is still strong.”

 

It is not the first time a CSU graduate has been named the Pharmaceutical Society’s NSW Pharmacy Intern of the Year.

 

In 2011 Ms Jane Smithard was named NSW Intern of the Year, and in 2010, Ms Sally Whiting won the same honour.

 

Originally from Gunnedah, Ms Cocks worked on the weekends at the Karen Carter Chemist while finishing high school before moving to Wagga Wagga to complete the four-year pharmacy degree.

“I'm very excited to be named NSW Intern of the Year by MIMS and the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia. It's such a great honour. I worked hard during my intern year, but I know all the other interns did too, so I was very surprised and feel very honoured to receive it.

“Being a pharmacist in a rural setting is challenging but very rewarding. We have a lot of regular customers that you get to know by first name; you know their health conditions, their medicines, their families and you go through their ups and downs with them. This is all part of being a pharmacist in a rural area.

 

Ms Cocks said, “The pharmacy is often the first place people go for health advice due to difficulties getting in to see a local doctor in country areas.

 

“That's something we take very seriously,” she said.

 

“I think what makes a good pharmacist is someone who is caring, who listens well, is a good communicator and who likes to keep their knowledge up-to-date.