Pharmacy careers
Overview
Western Health is the fastest-growing public health service in Australia, caring for one of the country’s most diverse communities. Our pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are essential to the life-changing care we provide – working closely with medical teams to supply and optimise safe, effective medication therapy.
As we continue to grow, so does our Pharmacy Department – bringing new opportunities for early career professionals to gain experience, develop their expertise and advance their careers.
Apply now
Visit our Careers webpage to explore current pharmacy vacancies.
Career opportunities in pharmacy
We’re creating dozens of new pharmacy roles across our expanding service. Whether you’re a pharmacy intern, recent graduate or experienced clinician, you’ll find career pathways in a broad range of areas, including:
- oncology
- respiratory medicine
- paediatrics
- maternity care
- emergency and ICU
- aged care
- community outreach.
Education and training
Education is a key priority at Western Health. Our Pharmacy Department offers a supportive learning environment for students, interns and pharmacists.
We offer:
- a diverse pharmacy internship program with clinical and operational rotations
- access to specialist ward experiences
- accreditation for the AdPha Pharmacy Resident Training Program (approved since 2021)
- a strong focus on continuous learning and professional growth.
Working in multidisciplinary teams
Pharmacists at Western Health are key members of multidisciplinary teams, working side-by-side with doctors, nurses and allied health professionals to deliver integrated, patient-centred care.
We support:
- a collaborative, team-first approach
- shared decision-making in clinical practice
- strong communication across departments.
Expanding services
We care for over 900,000 people in Melbourne’s west, one of Australia’s fastest growing regions. With the new Footscray Hospital opening in 2025, our services – and our Pharmacy Department – are expanding to meet growing demand.
Our values and culture
Our pharmacy team is united by a shared commitment to:
- compassion, accountability, respect, excellence and safety (our CARES values)
- delivering patient-centred, evidence-based care
- contributing to a culture of excellence in teaching, research and innovation.
We’re proud of our partnerships with the University of Melbourne, La Trobe University and Victoria University, and actively engage in undergraduate and postgraduate education and research that’s recognised nationally and internationally.
Pharmacy internship program
Each year, Western Health offers 7 pharmacy intern positions, including:
- 5 government-funded positions
- 2 hospital-funded positions.
Intern recruitment is coordinated by Advanced Pharmacy Australia (AdPha) and typically takes place in mid-year. For eligibility requirements, application timelines and information sessions, visit the AdPha website.
Internship structure
The internship begins in the first week of January, and interns must hold provisional registration with AHPRA by this time.
Interns complete structured rotations across:
- medical and surgical wards
- manufacturing services
- inpatient and outpatient dispensaries.
Rotations take place at both Footscray and Sunshine campuses, offering exposure to different patient populations and clinical environments. Interns also join the weekend roster (1 shift every 7 weeks), which contributes to their required supervised practice hours.
Supervision and development
Throughout the year, interns are:
- supervised by experienced clinical pharmacists
- supported by a dedicated mentor for educational and emotional guidance
- expected to progressively manage more complex patient cases under supervision.
Interns follow an in-house competency framework designed to build toward the national entry-level pharmacist standards by the end of the year.
Learning and exam preparation
Interns attend weekly tutorials covering:
- clinical pharmacy practice
- primary care
- pharmacy legislation.
They also complete practice exams under exam conditions to prepare for their final oral exam.
Program expectations
We’re looking for interns who are:
- enthusiastic and motivated
- eager to learn and develop professionally
- committed to delivering patient-centred care aligned with Western Health’s CARES values.
Please note: Western Health only accepts interns enrolled in the Monash University Intern Training Program. Participation in the Monash Intern Foundation Program (MIFP) is strongly encouraged.
Contact us
If you have any questions about the Pharmacy Department at Western Health, including our internship program, feel free to reach out to our friendly team.
Julie Vi or Kathy Phan, Senior Education Pharmacists
Phone: (03) 8345 6442
Email: [email protected]