Community
31 October, 2025
High honour for pharmacy
CAMPERDOWN Pharmacy has been recognised on the state stage this week, with the Pharmacy Guild of Australia naming them the Victorian Community Pharmacy of the Year on Wednesday.
The National Pharmacy Awards celebrate the exceptional contribution of community pharmacies, pharmacists and students across Australia who go above and beyond in supporting patients and strengthening primary healthcare.
Pharmacy owners Sarah Venn and Sarah Baker attended a special morning tea at Parliament House in Melbourne on Wednesday, where they discovered they took home the award.
Ms Baker said she could not be happier for the recognition and was proud of the staff at the pharmacy.
“It’s to recognise pharmacies who have displayed some form of innovation within their pharmacy, such as our automation with our dispensing robot, or those pharmacies who are choosing to provide as much scope of practice within the pharmacy profession as they can,” she said.
“What that means is we are vaccinating, doing blood pressure monitoring, doing UTI and shingle consults within the pharmacy, and are we practicing to the scope of our practice?
“We try to tick off most of those things – as they roll out, we try to say yes to everything and get involved.
“We were nominated by someone anonymously, so we still have no idea who nominated us, but we couldn’t be happier.
“Our plans are to keep doing what we’re doing and do them better and bigger every day.”
Pharmacy Guild of Australia Victoria Branch president George Tambassis congratulated all winners and finalists for their leadership and innovation.
“Regional pharmacies like Camperdown are doing far more than dispensing medicines – they’re delivering frontline healthcare, supporting aged care, managing chronic conditions, and stepping in when other services are stretched or unavailable,” he said.
“These awards recognise the deep commitment of pharmacists to their communities and the evolving role they play in keeping Australians healthy.
“Our regional community pharmacies show us every day why increasing the range of healthcare services in community pharmacy is so important.
“Patients trust us to meet their needs and pharmacists are ready and willing to do more.”
Mr Tambassis said the scope and practice of pharmacies was key to their role in their communities.
“Community pharmacies are health hubs,” he said.
“They’re accessible, trusted, and deeply embedded in the lives of their patients.
“I congratulate all our winners and finalists for their vision, resilience and dedication to delivering high-quality care across Victoria.”
The National Pharmacy Awards recognise excellence across all states and territories, with winners from each region progressing to the national stage to be celebrated at the finals, held at the Australasian Pharmacy Professional Conference and Trade Exhibition (APP) on March 12, 2026.
Read More: Camperdown