Pharmacist
As a Pharmacist in the Army, you’ll contribute to enhancing and maintaining the personnel component of ADF operational and support capabilities. You’ll be responsible for the provision and management of the medical pharmaceutical supply system to strengthen the ADF, both on operations and in non-operational environments.
What you'll do
This role offers you variety, challenges and travel not always available in the normal hospital or pharmacy environment. You’ll work as a member of a multi-disciplinary clinical team in field hospitals and health clinics. You may also have the opportunity to work as part of the Army’s allied health personnel on board Navy ships including HMAS Canberra and HMAS Adelaide.
You’ll have opportunities that use your leadership, management and professional skills. You’ll also gain experience and skills that will be in high demand in your profession.
Your duties may include:
- filling prescriptions written by authorised officers by dispensing clinically appropriate medications and counselling patients to achieve positive health outcomes and minimise risk in a variety of environments
- supervision of pharmaceutical accounts including ordering and stock policy management of pharmaceuticals
- educating members of the ADF and patients on the appropriate use of prescriptions and over the counter medications
- providing advice to other health professionals regarding appropriate drug selection to achieve quality use of medicine principles
- providing expertise in the planning, coordination, assembly, deployment and function of an ADF pharmacy within a tri-service, multi-national operational or peacekeeping deployed health facility, using relevant doctrine and siting principles
- managing the provision of pharmaceutical supplies and equipment to support Army’s capability requirements
- assisting in the correct operation and maintenance of pharmaceutical equipment
- integrating into the multidisciplinary healthcare team to improve patient health outcomes
- developing and maintaining currency of practice to meet the requirements of Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) registration.
Opportunities for progression and upskilling continue throughout your career as an officer. As you progress, the Army will provide you with leadership, management, and specialist skills training to develop your ability to effectively manage your teams. You’ll also be provided with training opportunities to further develop your role-related expertise. This world-class training will strengthen your skillset and enable you to become an influential leader in the Army.
As an officer in the Army, you may also undertake a posting to an Any Officer role during your career, such as instructor/training roles and staff officer roles. This experience helps you broaden your skill set and prepare for more senior roles.
Following training, you could be posted to one of the many Army bases across Australia, or to a specialist facility for specific roles. You may also be deployed to temporary facilities on combat, disaster relief peacekeeping and aid provision operations.
As a Pharmacist, you’ll usually be posted to an Army health unit, primarily in Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin and Townsville. Other areas of initial employment may include detachments on HMAS Canberra or HMAS Adelaide and Medical Supply Depots. You could expect to remain in this posting for 1-4 years.
Discover where the Army operates across Australia on our base locations map.
Our role differs to civilian pharmacist, our priority is patient care and outcome which allows us to work on different skills.
Requirements and training
You must be an Australian citizen to serve in the ADF. However, Australian permanent residents may be eligible. For more details, visit the "Citizenship" tab on the Eligibility Requirements page.
You can apply for a role in the ADF from 16.5 years of age and must be at least 17 to join. The maximum age to join is 57 years.
You don’t need a driver’s licence for this role but if you have one, it can’t be suspended or cancelled.
All ADF members require a security clearance. As an ADF member, you’ll need to obtain the appropriate level of security clearance for your role. You’ll need a collection of relevant information including background checks and/or interviews so the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) can make an informed assessment to ensure the protection of Government resources and information. Your Careers Coach will explain what level of clearance is required for the career you are considering.
For more information or to learn about how security clearance will apply to you, view the eligibility requirements page.
The minimum requirement for entry into this role is a bachelor’s or master’s degree in pharmacy from a recognised tertiary institution and registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) or be undergoing pre-registration training.
You can apply if you’re in the final year of your degree and have your academic transcript. You’ll then need successful results in your final semester before your appointment to the role.
Some degree-qualified officers will start their careers at one rank higher than non-graduate officers. Please speak to your Careers Coach for further information.
To join the ADF, you must be healthy and physically fit. This is partially assessed from the completion of an extensive questionnaire covering your medical history, followed by a physical examination.
You’ll also be required to successfully pass a physical fitness assessment.
Male
- Push-ups: 8
- Sit-ups: 20
- Beep Test: 6.1.
Female
- Push-ups: 4
- Sit-ups: 20
- Beep Test: 6.1.
For further details on medical and physical fitness standards, refer to physical fitness standards for entry into the ADF and medical process for entry into the ADF.
You’ll be appointed for an Initial Minimum Period of Service (IMPS) of 4 years. Subsequent periods of service may be offered subject to the requirements of the ADF and your suitability for further service. You’ll have a Careers Coach who can advise on how IMPS will relate to your chosen occupation and personal situation.
You may request discharge at any time provided you do not have an outstanding IMPS obligation and provide a minimum of 3 months’ notice.
Course: Specialist Service Officer First Appointment Course (SSO FAC)
Duration: 25 days
Location: Royal Military College – Duntroon, Canberra, ACT
You’ll learn fundamental knowledge of:
- leadership and military justice
- weapons handling
- command and control
- unit and personnel administration
- basic military skills
- the ideals of officer behaviour
- attitudes necessary for future employment.
This course is delivered in 2 parts for both full-time and part-time (Reserve) Officers.
- Part 1 – 10 days
- Part 2 – 15 days.
Course: Logistic Officers Basic Course (LOBC) – Health
Duration: 20 days
Location: Army Logistic Training Centre (ALTC), Albury/Wodonga region
You’ll undertake this course in the first 12 months of your appointment, where you’ll learn the fundamental skills required to operate in a deployed environment. The course includes theory, practical and simulated activities.
The LOBC aims to provide Logistic and Health Officers with corps and integrated skills and knowledge to fulfil a range of command and health specialised appointments at the rank of Lieutenant in a foundation warfighting environment.
You must be an Australian citizen to serve in the ADF. However, Australian permanent residents may be eligible. For more details, visit the "Citizenship" tab on the Eligibility Requirements page.
You can apply for a role in the ADF from 16.5 years of age and must be at least 17 to join. The maximum age to join is 60 years, less the Initial Minimum Period of Service (IMPS).
You don’t need a driver’s licence for this role but if you have one, it can’t be suspended or cancelled.
All ADF members require a security clearance. As an ADF member, you’ll need to obtain the appropriate level of security clearance for your role. You’ll need a collection of relevant information including background checks and/or interviews so the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) can make an informed assessment to ensure the protection of Government resources and information. Your Careers Coach will explain what level of clearance is required for the career you are considering.
For more information or to learn about how security clearance will apply to you, view the eligibility requirements page.
With Defence University Sponsorship (DUS), you won’t incur a HELP or HECS-HELP debt as the Army will cover the cost of your course up to the Commonwealth Supported Place amount. This may also cover any necessary equipment and education materials.
For Army DUS sponsorship, you’ll need to have completed at least one year of a 3 or 4 year degree, or at least 2 years of a 5 year Australian university degree majoring in Pharmacy prior to receiving sponsorship, so it’s recommended that you apply for DUS after you’ve completed your first semester and have received your results. Your qualification must enable registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). Your sponsorship starts from the date of your appointment into the Army, it doesn’t cover any previous semesters of study.
Please note, if you’re studying a double degree, you’ll only receive funding for one degree.
To join the ADF, you must be healthy and physically fit. This is partially assessed from the completion of an extensive questionnaire covering your medical history, followed by a physical examination.
You’ll also be required to successfully pass a physical fitness assessment.
Male
- Push-ups: 8
- Sit-ups: 20
- Beep Test: 6.1.
Female
- Push-ups: 4
- Sit-ups: 20
- Beep Test: 6.1.
For further details on medical and physical fitness standards, refer to physical fitness standards for entry into the ADF and medical process for entry into the ADF.
You’ll be appointed for an Initial Minimum Period of Service (IMPS). Your IMPS will be 4 years full-time service after you have graduated and completed your sponsored university study and any required hiatus periods. Subsequent periods of service or open-ended appointment may be offered subject to the requirements of the ADF and your suitability for further service. You’ll have a Careers Coach who can advise on how IMPS will relate to your chosen occupation and personal situation.
You may request discharge at any time provided you do not have an outstanding IMPS obligation.
Course: Specialist Service Officer First Appointment Course (SSO FAC)
Duration: 25 days
Location: Royal Military College – Duntroon, Canberra, ACT
You’ll learn fundamental knowledge of:
- leadership and military justice
- weapons handling
- command and control
- unit and personnel administration
- basic military skills
- the ideals of officer behaviour
- attitudes necessary for future employment.
This course is delivered in 2 parts for both full-time and part-time (Reserve) Officers.
- Part 1 – 10 days
- Part 2 – 15 days.
Course: Logistic Officers Basic Course (LOBC) – Health
Duration: 20 days
Location: Army Logistic Training Centre (ALTC), Albury/Wodonga region
You’ll undertake this course in the first 12 months of your appointment, where you’ll learn the fundamental skills required to operate in a deployed environment. The course includes theory, practical and simulated activities.
The LOBC aims to provide Logistic and Health Officers with corps and integrated skills and knowledge to fulfil a range of command and health specialised appointments at the rank of Lieutenant in a foundation warfighting environment.