Work Experience at National Pharmacies
National Pharmacies offers work experience for the purpose of providing an opportunity for secondary school students and university students, who are completing a bachelor degree in pharmacy, to undertake work within the pharmacy environment through practical experience.
Due to business requirements we only offer a limited number of work experience spots for each store so we generally approve applications on a first in first served basis.
While completing work experience with National Pharmacies students will be expected to carry out various tasks within the work environment which may include but are not limited to:
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Customer Service
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Housekeeping
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Stock Management
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Stock Replenishment
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Setting up Promotions
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Working in the dispensary environment (university students only)
► The information listed below is currently applicable for students looking to undertake work experience at National Pharmacies SA & WA stores only.
► For students looking for work experience opportunities in VIC or NSW , please contact Roxi on (03) 8862 5704 or email
Criteria
To be considered for a work experience placement at National Pharmacies you must meet the following criteria:
• Must be a secondary school student or university student who is completing a bachelors degree in pharmacy
• Must be at least 15 years of age
• Must be covered by your school’s/university’s Personal Accident Insurance and Public Liability Insurance
• Duration of work experience placements must be no more than 1 week duration (for secondary school students)
• Must provide a correctly completed ‘Workplace Learning Agreement Form’ (provided by the school)
• Must provide a correctly completed ‘National Pharmacies Work Experience Application Form’
• Applications for work experience must be received a minimum of 6 weeks prior to the work experience commencing
Please note, if you do not meet this criteria National Pharmacies will not be able to accommodate your request for work experience.
How to Apply
STEP 1:
Contact the manager at the store you wish to complete your work experience to confirm if they are able to accommodate your request for work experience.
When calling the store please ensure that you have information about the dates you would like to complete your work experience. We recommend that you also have possible back up dates in mind just in case the store cannot accommodate the original dates.
Please note, some stores may not be able to accommodate specific dates during the year due to business requirements such as stock take or seasonal trading.
STEP 2:
Request unable to be accommodated
If the store manager is unable to accommodate a work experience placement you may choose to contact an alternative store to see if they can accommodate your request. (Please refer to step 1 of this process)
Request can be accommodated
If the store manager is able to accommodate your request you should organise a time to visit the store and provide the manager with the completed ‘National Pharmacies Work Experience Application Form’ and a completed copy of the ‘Workplace Learning Agreement Form’ from your school.
► The National Pharmacies WORK EXPERIENCE APPLICATION FORM can be downloaded here.
It is a requirement that the completed copies of the ‘National Pharmacies Work Experience Application Form’ and the ‘Workplace Learning Agreement Form’ are provided to the store manager at least 6 weeks prior to the work experience commencing.
Please note, if the ‘National Pharmacies Work Experience Application Form’ or the ‘Workplace Learning Agreement Form’ are not completed correctly we will not be able to accommodate your request until the forms are completed.
► Changing Dates
In the event that the dates of the work experience placement are no longer suitable for you we ask that you contact the store manager to discuss alternative dates. If alternative dates can be agreed upon you are required to provide an updated ‘National Pharmacies Work Experience Application Form’ outlining the new dates. The updated form needs to be provided to the store manager at least 4 weeks prior to your work experience commencing.
If National Pharmacies are unable to accommodate the work experience placement the store manager will contact you or your nominated school contact prior to your work experience commencing.
Where possible the manager will endeavour to contact you or your nominated school contact at least two weeks prior to your work experience commencing.
If National Pharmacies is unable to contact you or your nominated school contact two weeks prior to your work experience commencing due to unforeseen circumstances we will endeavour to contact you as soon as reasonably practicable.
► Withdrawing from Work Experience
If you wish to withdraw from completing work experience we ask that you contact the store manager and advise them prior to the commencement date of your work experience placement.
In the event that National Pharmacies is no longer able to accommodate your request for work experience we will endeavour to contact you or your nominated school contact at least two weeks prior to your work experience commencing.
STEP 3:
Contact the store’s manager to confirm start date and to discuss appropriate attire for work experience at least 1 week prior to your work experience commencing
STEP 4:
The next step is to complete your work experience placement. When you arrive at the store you will be assigned a team member who will introduce you into the store environment and to help you during your first day.
As part of your work experience placement you will be required to complete the National Pharmacies' Work Experience Handbook which will give you a good understanding of the roles and tasks you may be required to undertake. The booklet will also cover some guidelines about how you are expected to present yourself while working with us and how to keep yourself safe.
Facts and Questions
What if I am unable to provide 6 weeks notice before I would like to commence my work experience placement?
Unfortunately National Pharmacies require a minimum of 6 weeks notice to ensure that we have adequate time to process your application. The 6 weeks also allows us time to ensure that we have a suitable number of team members rostered on to support you during your work experience placement.
What if I am not a secondary or university student can I still apply to undertake work experience with National Pharmacies.
Unfortunately it is National Pharmacies policy that only secondary and university students are eligible to complete work experience with us.
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