Introduction
Australia is a big country where over 20 million live in an area 150% the size of Europe. Most Australians live in coastal cities like Sydney, Melbourne and Perth leaving vast virtually empty areas. Australia is a federation of six states and two territories ruled by states’ government and a Commonwealth (Federal Government). The Australian HealthCare system has its roots in the British system; however, in recent years the American system had a noticeable influence in shaping Australian HealthCare. The system is administered by local and commonwealth governments and is funded by the health insurance system, Medicare. There are over 14000 pharmacists in Australia, nearly 80% are working in community (independent pharmacies), and all Australian pharmacists graduate after four years in college, and have compulsory one-year training before registered as practicing pharmacists.
Main Text
Since the trends in Australian pharmacy are changing because of age population demography, rapid expansion and the need for new services, and the redistribution of workforce, the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC) implemented a post graduation one year internship. The aim of which is to develop working functional areas in generic and occupation-specific skills. Australian Pharmacy schools look at experiential placements as a chance to support undergraduate pharmacy students to build skills preparing them to join the profession.
Because of the need to change pharmacy practice behavior linked to dispensing non-prescription medicines, the University of South Australia developed a training program for community pharmacists on counseling techniques and monitoring the use of these drugs. Another methodology adopted by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, the New South Wales branch is the pseudo-customer technique; where after workshops, a pseudo-customer visit is carried out to apply the principles displayed at the workshop who reports the feedback to the pharmacy educator, who waits away monitoring the whole process.
Rotation is a chance for pharmacy students to broaden their experiences and gain knowledge and skills of many various views the practice of pharmacy provides. Besides, it is an opportunity to learn diverse multicultural aspects practicing pharmacy profession. Further, experiencing knowledge and skills fro two different outlooks is an educational aim of rotation, and will have a positive impact on a student when goes on board to start a professional career.
The Academic Practice Partnership Initiative (AAPI) recognized, in 2005, the challenges for pharmacy education in USA as working in disciplinary teams. Besides, the initiative identified that much of what undergraduates learn comes from sources other than academic coursework. The initiative background paper also identified that experiential education has a significant role in training pharmacy students as it provides an understanding of patient centered care, experience in working within interdisciplinary teams. Experiential rotation also provides the skill of how to use evidence in making decisions; besides, effective use of information technology. Therefore, the initiative recommended to overcome barriers and to improve experiential training.
The WHO, in a 2005 report, identified as there is an increasing awareness of the link between health professionals and the pharmaceutical industry, experiential rotation can play a significant role in preparing future pharmacy practitioners to respond suitably to medicines promotion.
The next question should be where to get experiential rotation in Australia, Dr. Susanne Owen, and Dr. Ieva Stupans from the University of South Australia prepared a report in 2008 addressing the experiential placements in pharmacy. In this report Owen, and Stupans mentioned 14 Australian universities joined experiential placement in pharmacy including the University of Sydney, University of Queensland, University of Canberra, and many others. Most Australian hospitals do not use locum or other agencies to recruit pharmacy staff. This has the disadvantage of missing agency benefits as housing, financial aid for flight tickets; however, university hospitals usually provide help with accommodation.
Next is why Australia, Marriott and colleagues from the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, Australia, praised the system of pharmacy practice in Australia as advanced, provides good quality service. They also stated that Australian pharmacy education programs produce pharmacists of high quality with suitable skills and knowledge to practice the profession and to adapt to future changes.
Australia has been an attraction to many overseas visitors, possibly because of the weaker Australian Dollar; thus, it can be a shopping enjoyment, the outdoor lifestyle, and variable climate pattern because of its area. In addition, the one of a kind of wildlife, the beautiful, diverse landscape, living in and communicating with a multicultural society that expands a trainee scope of knowledge. Another cultural attraction is to know the ancient Aboriginal culture of the original Australian inhabitants who lived long before the British settled in Australia. This culture is an ancient one characterized by linking deeply land.
Conclusion
Thus, training in Australia is learning a different type of good practice, enjoying a new climate pattern with amazing experiences like enjoying Christmas in summer, with a general atmosphere echoes that of the UK. I believe success of experiential training depends on organizational and students’ commitment, consultation with stakeholders about the suitability of various programs provide a better outcome.