Chastina Anderson is an Indigenous pharmacist, and was a recipient of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Undergraduate Pharmacy Scholarship, a program of the Rural and Remote Pharmacy Workforce Development Program (RRPWDP).The RRPWDP is managed by the Pharmacy Guild of Australia and funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. Chastina completed two placements in remote Aboriginal communities in far north Queensland, and is now fi nishing her pre-registration year in a hospital pharmacy.

I studied Pharmacy at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, completing my degree in 2005. For the last two years of the degree I received a scholarship from The Pharmacy Guild of Australia, as an indigenous student. The extra money meant I wasn’t pressured into working long hours that would compromise studies. It also enabled me to do placements in Indigenous communities which I otherwise could not have afforded. During my fi rst two years at university I couldn’t afford many textbooks which made studying diffi cult. Once I received the scholarship however I was able to purchase textbooks,reference texts as well as a new computer. My grades improved dramatically, along with my enthusiasm for the profession.

My first placement was at Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Health Service. I spent four weeks at the clinic and on outreach clinics to Happy Valley and the rehabilitation centre. Here I conducted a Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) project which looked at the supply of medicines to the indigenous community through Community Controlled Health Services. It was a very rewarding experience as I was also able to attend outreach clinics and felt that my contribution to the service of medication supply was valued highly. I am still in touch with the Practice Manager at TAIHS and inform him of any studies they can be involved in, regarding medication supply.