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MELBOURNE
BRUNSWICK
BUNDOORA
FISHERMANS BEND
POINT COOK
HAMILTON
HO CHI MINH CITY
HANOI
RMIT launches new Pharmacy degree in 2011
RMIT University’s School of Medical Sciences is launching a Bachelor of
Pharmacy degree – the first new Pharmacy degree in Melbourne in 129 years.
From 2011, students will be provided with a traditional education leading to
registration as pharmacists, as well as access to an array of career opportunities
within biomedical research and the wider pharmaceuticals sector.
The program provides cutting-edge training in areas of increasing demand such as
pharmacovigilance and clinical trials, offering graduates a wider range of
pharmacy-related skills and outcomes in research and the pharmaceutical industry.
Graduates will also have access to research opportunities through RMIT’s Health
Innovations Research Institute.
Newly appointed Discipline Head of Pharmacy at RMIT, Professor Peter Little, is
excited by the prospect of educating a new generation of pharmacists. “Our
students will be provided with a traditional education leading to registration as
pharmacists, as well as access to an array of career opportunities within
biomedical research and the wider pharmaceuticals sector.”
The program will be based at RMIT’s Bundoora campus, with an intake of about 40
students. “We have consciously kept our intake to only a small number of students
to allow the development of an innovative and intimate program that focuses on
patient interaction,” Professor Little said
“RMIT looks forward to contributing to the health of Victorians through the activities
of its students and staff, and subsequently through the provision of pharmacists for
the many roles that we envisage for these specialist health professionals.”
With newly-developed and modern teaching modules that prepare pharmacists
using an integrated study platform, the degree features clinical placement
opportunities in both hospital and community pharmacies, as well as the
pharmaceutical industry.
The Australian Pharmacy Council (APC) has granted RMIT preliminary approval
for the program as a qualification intended to lead to becoming a pharmacist in
Australia and New Zealand. Recognition of the degree as an appropriate
qualification is subject to the granting of provisional accreditation. RMIT becomes
eligible to apply for provisional accreditation after about 12 months of teaching.
For interviews: Professor Peter Little, Head of Pharmacy, 0417 530 981, or
Professor Harry Majewski, Head of the School of Medical Sciences, 0437 585
249 or (03) 9925 7062.
For general media enquiries: University Communications, David Glanz, (03)
9925 2807 or 0438 547 723.
18 October, 2010
NEWS 
