National pharmacy competition dispenses prize to students

Three Pharmacy students at Charles Darwin University have been recognised for their business acumen in a national competition.

The students represented CDU in the National Student Business Plan Competition semi-finals and were highly commended in the “Local Pharmacy” category for their efforts.

Students Dzung Tran, Jaya Krissette De Ala and Amy Chin presented a 17-page business plan and were grilled by potential investors in a mock teleconference.

Judges were impressed by the students’ proposal to create a pharmacy in Alice Springs that targeted the Indigenous population, focused on culturally appropriate conduct and included a drive-through facility.

Pharmacy practice lecturer Mary Bushell said the award recognised the students’ exceptional skills and the hard work they put into presenting such a unique proposal.

“We certainly have very strong students studying Pharmacy at CDU,” she said.

Ms Bushell was a mentor to the students during the competition, along with registered pharmacists Samuel Keitaanpaa and Leigh Moore.

Their achievement follows CDU Pharmacy student Julia Shatursky’s “2015 Pharmacy Student of the Year South Australia/Northern Territory” win, after student Sarira El Den won the title in 2012.