CDU EXPERT: Tackling pharmacy workforce shortages in regional and remote Australia
FRIDAY 1st AUGUST 2025
Who: Charles Darwin University (CDU) Associate Professor - Discipline Lead Pharmacy (Faculty of Health), Heather Volk.
Topics:
- Causes behind pharmacist and dispensary technician shortages in the NT,
- The impacts of these workforce gaps on healthcare delivery, and
- How CDU is addressing the issue through education and training.
Contact details: Call +61 8 8946 6721 or email [email protected] to arrange an interview.
Quotes attributable to Associate Professor Heather Volk:
“Pharmacy workforce shortages in the Northern Territory are driven by a complex mix of national and local issues. Australia is facing a widespread shortage of pharmacists in regional and remote areas, with most concentrated along the east coast.
“Pharmacist remuneration often doesn’t reflect the depth of training or the critical role they play in patient safety and care.
“When pharmacists are stretched thin, they’re forced to focus on medicine supply rather than spending time with patients - screening for potential medication issues, providing education, and supporting informed decision-making.
“This shift compromises patient care and increases the risk of burnout for pharmacists.
“The Northern Territory’s public health system struggles to compete with the private sector on flexibility and pay, making it harder to attract and retain pharmacists.
“High travel costs and limited flight options to the NT add another barrier to attracting interstate pharmacists - particularly those considering remote or regional placements.
“Evidence shows that training health professionals from rural or remote areas, and offering them practical placements in those settings, significantly increases the chance they’ll stay and work in those communities post-graduation.
“CDU’s Doctor of Pharmacy program is designed to address these barriers, offering online delivery and rural placements so students can train in their communities. Earlier this year, CDU became the first Australian university to graduate Doctors of Pharmacy, helping to build a locally trained, future-ready workforce.”
Contact details:
Alyce Mokrzycki
Media and Communications Officer
Marketing, Media and Communications
E: [email protected]
W: cdu.edu.au
