Friday 25 November 2005
Charles Sturt Pharmacy Foundation and PDL Dedicated to Future Pharmacists
Pharmaceutical Defence Limited (PDL) has announced a $50,000 commitment to the Charles Sturt Pharmacy Foundation to support upcoming and current pharmacists.
The $50,000 will be used to support two research projects being undertaken by Charles Sturt University (CSU) pharmacy students and staff on safe dispensing processes and ethical issues related to professional pharmacy practice.
Mr John Coppock, PDL Chairman said the decision to support the CSU pharmacy program was to achieve outcomes to benefit the profession and the public.
“Reduction of dispensing-related errors is an important goal for all health professionals. This relationship between CSU and PDL will work to prevent the occurrence of such errors which have negative implications for the patient and profession,” Mr Coppock said.
“This research project will also provide assistance to students studying pharmacy as they will acquire additional knowledge that will be of enormous benefit to them once they enter the workforce.”
In addition to the research project, the partnership between the Charles Sturt Pharmacy Foundation and PDL will see a program launched to encourage current and future pharmacy practitioners to act ethically in all areas of pharmacy practice.
According to Head of the School of Biomedical Sciences, Associate Professor Lyn Angel, this area of the partnership will provide various benefits for pharmacy students at CSU.
“Ethics have always been an integral part of the pharmacy program at CSU. This initiative allows greater visibility of the ethics stream and provides exciting opportunities to reach out to practitioners. Activities such as workshops and seminars will be held focusing on the ever-changing profession of pharmacy and the ethical challenges involved,” Professor Angel commented.
“On behalf of the staff, students and profession who will benefit from this relationship, I would like to thank PDL for their donation to the Charles Sturt Pharmacy Foundation.”
The donation from PDL follows a plethora of recent industry support for the Charles Sturt Pharmacy Foundation which has included backing from the CountryPharm Group, Martin Phillips Pharmacy, Lithgow Valley Healthsense Pharmacy and the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) – NSW Branch.
The donations have resulted in the establishment of a number of scholarships for undergraduate and honours pharmacy students, which will assist students to cover the costs associated with tertiary study.
One organisation to offer such assistance is the CountryPharm group of pharmacies located in central west New South Wales, who will next year offer four scholarships valued at $10,000 to CSU pharmacy students at the Wagga Wagga and Orange Campuses. Each scholarship includes the opportunity to gain valuable work experience in one of the four pharmacies in the CountryPharm group.
Martin Phillips Pharmacy at Kelso has also decided to support CSU pharmacy students with a $10,000 scholarship available to a third year student. The scholarship which is over two years is available to students at the Orange and Wagga Wagga Campuses and includes placement for the student in their pre-registration and one year as a registered pharmacist.
Lithgow Valley Healthsense Pharmacy has pledged $4,000 annually to help support pharmacy students entering their first year of study. In 2008, an additional scholarship will also be available to a fourth year student.
To assist students undertaking the honours program at CSU, the Charles Sturt Pharmacy Foundation has also received $5,000 from the New South Wales Branch of the PSA for annual honours scholarships – a vital area that has received limited industry support to date.
Chair of the Charles Sturt Pharmacy Foundation, Peter Gissing said it was encouraging to see such strong industry support for the University and the Pharmacy Foundation.
“It is great to see that supporting the Pharmacy Foundation is appealing to small business and industry groups such as the PSA [NSW Branch] and PDL,” Mr Gissing said.
“With such a wide range of support it is easy to see that the Foundation is committed to addressing the issues which affect small and large organisations in the profession.”
Businesses and individuals wishing to support CSU Pharmacy students through donations and scholarships should contact the Charles Sturt Foundation on 02 6338 4832.
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Further information: Belinda Kemp, Charles Sturt Pharmacy Foundation,
telephone (02) 6338 4832, email
or see Charles Sturt Pharmacy Foundationwebsite