There's nothing generic about our careers.
Western Health is the fastest-growing public health service in Australia, serving one of the country’s most diverse populations. Our pharmacists are an essential part of the life-changing care we provide to this community, supplying and optimising medication therapy for our patients in close consultation with their medical teams.
As our facilities and catchment area grow, our pharmacy team is set to expand rapidly. We’re creating dozens of brand-new pharmacy positions, meaning a wealth of opportunity for early career pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to hone their skills and move up the ranks within our organisation.
Working at Western Health, you’ll get the chance to provide care across a broad range of clinical settings – including oncology, respiratory, paediatrics, maternity, emergency, ICU, aged care, and community outreach programs – meeting and assisting patients from all walks of life
Make it about Education
Education is a priority in the Western Health Pharmacy Department, we foster a supportive learning environment for students, interns and pharmacists.
The pharmacy internship program is diverse, with the program offering a broad range of clinical pharmacy experiences on specialty wards and also operational rotations.
We have also been approved to offer the AdPha Pharmacy Resident Training Program from 2021. Western Health is an accredited site for the AdPha Pharmacy Resident Training Program.
Make it about Teamwork
We have a strong focus on teamwork, within the department and also collaboration within a multidisciplinary team which includes doctors, nurses and allied health professionals.
Make it about the Future
Western Health is responsible for roughly 900,000 people in the Western region of Melbourne, one of the most diverse and rapidly growing areas. Construction has begun on the new Footscray Hospital site due for completion 2025, providing further opportunities for Pharmacy Department growth.
Make it about Opportunity
The scope of Hospital Pharmacy is dynamic and diverse and Western Health supports the continual development and expansion of the role of a Hospital Pharmacist.
Make it about Pride
Be part of a Pharmacy Department that prides itself on prioritising patient centred care and is passionate about incorporating the Western Health CARES values (C-Compassion, A-Accountability, R-Respect, E-Excellence, S-Safety) into their everyday practice.
Western Health is committed to providing high quality undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and research.
The health service encourages innovations in patient care, staff professional development and research activities. Our clinicians, nurses and allied health professionals are involved in a diverse range of activities that have received recognition at a local, national and international level.
Western Health has links with The University of Melbourne, La Trobe University and Victoria University of Technology.
Pharmacy Internship Program Information
Seven intern positions are available (five government-funded, plus two hospital-funded).
Recruitment of pharmacy interns at Western Health usually occurs during the middle of each year and is overseen by Advanced Pharmacy Australia (AdPha).
Please see the AdPha website (Victorian Hospital Pharmacy Intern Program - Advanced Pharmacy Australia) for further information, including eligibility criteria, key dates and information sessions.
The Pharmacy Interns at Western Health start in the first week of January and required to have provisional registration. The interns partake in rotations across a variety of clinical (medical and surgical), manufacturing and dispensary areas.
The seven interns will rotate between Footscray and Sunshine campuses gaining exposure to different environments and health professionals. Interns are also included on our weekend roster (1 shift every 7 weeks) which contribute to the total number of supervised practice hours.
Interns are expected to develop their skillset, such that by the end of the program they meet the national entry level pharmacist competencies.
As the year progresses, interns will be given a larger patient load to self-manage while still under pharmacist supervision.
Throughout the program, interns are provided supervision by experienced pharmacists during all rotations while developing an appropriate level of competencies and responsibilities as outlined in our in-house competency framework.
The pharmacy internship program offers weekly tutorials cover a range of clinical pharmacy, primary care, and pharmacy legislation topics designed, not only to prepare the interns for their exams but become competent pharmacists.
Several practice exams are conducted under exam conditions in preparation to the final oral exam.
The Pharmacy Interns are allocated their own individual mentor who will provide education and emotional support throughout the year.
Interns are expected to be enthusiastic, hardworking and willing to engage with the Western Health Internship Program and Western Health core values.
We accept interns only enrolled in the Monash Intern Training Program. The Monash Intern Foundation Program is also highly encouraged.
Open day 2025
Are you a last year pharmacy student interested in pharmacy internship at Western Health?
Come visit us on our open day!
Date: Tuesday 24th June 2025
Time: 2pm – 3pm
Location: Sunshine Hospital
If you’re interested in attending, please send an expression of interest by Sunday 22nd of June 11:59 pm to [email protected].
Limited spots available
Contacts
Julie Vi or Kathy Phan, Senior Education Pharmacists
Phone: 03 8345 6442 or 0466377535
Email: [email protected]
Intern positions
7 total (5 DHHS funded, 2 hospital funded)
