“I love my job. I like working with the public, and the work is satisfying and varied. Even though the procedures and everyday tasks are the same, each person you deal with has their own needs. It’s busy and energetic work.”

Mandy Robertson had worked in a pharmacy from the age of 18, and after taking a break from the workforce to have a family, she was looking for a new challenge. “I had worked as a pharmacy shop assistant then a cosmetic counter manager. I wanted to advance myself and this role seemed perfect for me.

“My training was a mix of studying at home via correspondence and on-the-job training. Going back to study had its own challenges, like getting up at five every morning to get some study in before my kids woke up!”

Mandy is now a pharmacy technician working at a busy retail pharmacy. The nature of the work demands the ability to pay attention to detail, follow procedures and take instructions from the pharmacist, says Mandy. “It’s a job that comes with a lot of responsibility. For some people their medications are about life or death. There are set procedures to follow from the moment you take the prescription from the customer, and nothing leaves the pharmacy without the pharmacist seeing it.”

Being able to deal with people is a crucial skill, says Mandy, who comments that the most satisfying moments in her job are about solving problems for her customers. “People skills are really important because you interact with the public a lot, so you need to be friendly and professional. Often people are sick and have spent hours waiting at the doctors or are in pain, so it’s important to deal with them well.

“We once had a regular customer who was having real difficulty putting in eye drops. I contacted the suppliers and arranged for delivery of a special applicator to help. It was such a success that a number of our customers now use it. It’s great to know that you can help in that way.”