Australian Bureau of Statistics

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UNIT GROUP 2515 PHARMACISTS

PHARMACISTS ensure safe and quality use of medicines, and optimise health outcomes by contributing to selecting, prescribing, monitoring and evaluating medicine therapy, and researching, testing and developing pharmaceuticals and medical products.

Indicative Skill Level:
In Australia and New Zealand:

Occupations in this unit group have a level of skill commensurate with a bachelor degree or higher qualification and a one year traineeship (ANZSCO Skill Level 1).

Registration or licensing is required.

Tasks Include:

• receiving prescriptions, checking patients' medicine histories, and ensuring optimal dosage and methods of administration and drug compatibility before dispensing
• preparing or supervising the preparation and labelling of liquid medicines, ointments, powders, tablets and other medications to fill prescriptions
• advising prescribers on drug incompatibility and contra-indications
• reviewing and monitoring the medicine therapy of individual patients, and assessing the effectiveness of the total medicine therapy
• maintaining prescription files and recording issue of narcotics, poisons and habit-forming drugs
• storing and preserving vaccines, serums and other drugs subject to deterioration
• supplying non-prescription medicines, and diagnostic and therapeutic aids
• supervising and coordinating the work of Pharmacy Technicians, pharmacy interns and Pharmacy Sales Assistants
• conducting research to develop and improve pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and related chemical products
• conferring with Chemists, Engineering Professionals and other professionals about manufacturing techniques and ingredients
• testing and analysing drugs to determine their identity, purity and strength in relation to specified standards
• developing standards for drugs used in pharmaceuticals

Occupations:
251511 Hospital Pharmacist
251512 Industrial Pharmacist
251513 Retail Pharmacist

Prepares and dispenses pharmaceuticals, drugs and medicines in a hospital pharmacy. Registration or licensing is required.

Skill Level: 1

Specialisation:

Pharmaceutical Officer (Army)

Undertakes research, testing and analysis related to the development, production, storage, quality control and distribution of drugs and related supplies. Registration or licensing is required.

Skill Level: 1

Alternative Title:
Community Pharmacist

Dispenses prescribed pharmaceuticals to the public, educates customers on health promotion, disease prevention and the proper use of medicines, and sells non-prescription medicines and related goods in a community pharmacy. Registration or licensing is required.

Skill Level: 1