Grace Orr-Young from Pharmacy 777 in Western Australia was announced as the recipient of the inaugural $50,000 Australia Health Minister Young Pharmacist Global Exchange Scholarship (Scholarship) during the Judy Liauw Address at Pharmacy Connect, which was delivered by Hon Emma McBride MP, Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention and Assistant Minister for Rural and Regional Health.

The Scholarship is an initiative of the Commonwealth’s 7th Community Pharmacy Agreement that will be administered by the World Pharmacy Council and the Australasian College of Pharmacy.

The Hon Mark Butler, MP Minister for Health and Aged Care congratulated Grace as the first ever recipient of the Australia Health Minister Young Pharmacist Global Exchange Scholarship.

“The Scholarship was created to facilitate the exchange of knowledge between Australian and United Kingdom early career pharmacists,” Minister Butler said.

“A sincere congratulations to Grace. Her application showed her interest in continually expanding her knowledge.”

“She is a worthy recipient for the inaugural Australia Health Minister Young Pharmacist Global Exchange Scholarship.”

The Vice President of the World Pharmacy Council, Professor Trent Twomey and The Australasian College of Pharmacy President, Ms Michelle Bou-Samra, congratulated Grace on her successful submission.

“The inaugural Scholarship received overwhelming interest from early career pharmacists across the country,” Professor Twomey said.

“All nominations were of such a high calibre. However, Grace’s keen interest in being a self-motivated lifelong learner throughout her pharmacy career was a standout,” Ms Bou-Samra said.

“There’s a lifetime of information out there that I get to learn. I love studying. I know that I will be able to continue studying throughout my career and that will add value to the services that I provide,” Grace said in her video submission.

Grace has completed the Australasian College of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine (ACNEM) Foundations, Stage 1 Medication Management Review (MMR) accreditation and is currently undertaking Stage 2 MMR. She is interested in enrolling in a medicines optimisation course while in the United Kingdom on exchange.

Her experience has included working as an intern pharmacist during the peak of the coronavirus pandemic and working throughout regional and remote Australian locations including Bridgetown in Western Australia, Broken Hill in New South Wales, and Christmas Island.

“I’m incredibly grateful for being chosen for the global exchange scholarship,” Grace said, “I’m excited to experience community pharmacy in the United Kingdom firsthand and to share my new experiences with my colleagues and other early career pharmacists back here in Australia.”

Through the Scholarship, Grace has the opportunity to spend up to 12-months in the United Kingdom working in community pharmacy. Oliver Williams, the Scholarship recipient from the United Kingdom, will commence his Australian exchange experience next year and will present at APP2023.