Education & Training
Education
The Pharmacy Department has developed dynamic, supportive and challenging programs in paediatric pharmacy practice for pharmacy interns and students.
Pharmacy Interns
For more information about the Pharmacy Intern program, click here.
The Pharmacy Intern program is reviewed and modified each year to ensure that the training provided is consistent with the Competency Standards for Pharmacists in Australia.
Pharmacy Students
The pharmacy department accepts students from the Victorian College of Pharmacy and La Trobe University, Bendigo as part of their practical experience programs.
Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University
The pharmacy department participates in the Practical Experience Placement (PEP) Program offering both Hospital 1 and Hospital 2 student placements throughout the year. Our PEP program is frequently reviewed and the pharmacy department is represented on the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA) PEP Working Party.
La Trobe University, Bendigo
The pharmacy department participates in the Metropolitan Hospital Pharmacy Placement for fourth year pharmacy students from La Trobe University, Bendigo. This program is reviewed annually and the pharmacy department provides feedback to La Trobe University.
Summer Holiday Placements
Pharmacy students can apply through the SHPA (Vic branch) to undertake a three week placement at the RCH Pharmacy Department during their summer holiday period. This placement aims to give students an introduction to the different areas of paediatric hospital pharmacy services.
Training of Work Experience Students and Other Visitors
The pharmacy department coordinates the yearly visits of a group of students from the University of Tennessee, USA who are studying their Doctor of Pharmacy. Also, many visitors from pharmaceutical, medical or nursing backgrounds request to observe the department's functioning and facilities. Visitors are accepted, when possible. The department also accepts work experience students occasionally.
Further Education
Masters of Clinical Pharmacy
Departmental pharmacists may choose to further their clinical training by applying to study Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, or Master in Clinical Pharmacy. Run by the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, the courses are conducted over up to 2 years on a part-time basis, and covers topics such as Therapeutics, Pathophysiology, Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacokinetics. Currently the department has one pharmacist enrolled in the Master of Clinical Pharmacy degree.
Staff Training
Pharmacy department staff attend training courses and educational meetings both within and outside the hospital. Examples include:
- Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia conferences
- Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia monthly lectures
- Pharmaceutical Society of Australia monthly lectures
- International conferences
- Grand Rounds
- Unit Meetings
- Various research and divisional meetings
- Computer training courses
- Departmental training and 'team building' exercises
Representatives from drug companies also provide educational sessions to pharmacy department staff.
Pharmacy Department Continuing Education Program
Meetings on various topics of interest or a series of lectures on a particular theme are conducted on a fortnightly basis. The lectures are presented by invited guests or by members of the Pharmacy Department.