Amy Williams from Albion Park Pharmacy 777 has been named the 2027 Student Pharmacist of the Year at the annual Pharmacy Guild of NSW Pharmacy Awards.
The awards were presented by The Hon. Ryan Park MP, NSW Minister for Health and The Hon. Sarah Mitchell MLC, Shadow Minister for Health, Regional Health and Mental Health at the Pharmacy Guild NSW Branch Parliamentary Reception on Wednesday 21st October at NSW Parliament House.
It was a remarkable evening to celebrate the exceptional contributions of community pharmacies, pharmacists and students who go above and beyond to support patients and strengthen primary health care.
Amy Williams - Opens in new tab was recognised for her dedication to patient care, leadership and commitment to the future of the Pharmacist’s role.
“Great news and so happy for Amy for this wonderful achievement!” said Stefan Vrankovic - Opens in new tab, Proprietor at Albion Park Pharmacy 777, NSW. “Amy is hard working and so passionate about pharmacy as a profession.
She is doing amazing work and is years ahead of her time. I know as she continues her career journey that she will be an amazing Pharmacist.”
Amy has spent six years in community pharmacy in her hometown of Albion Park. Her contributions include responsibilities across compounding, dose administration aids, liaising with prescribers, patient counselling as well as implementing a COVID-safe plan during the pandemic and triaging patients through the vaccination rollout.
Beyond pharmacy, Amy’s involvement with the Shellharbour City Youth Council led her to also receiving the Young Citizen of the Year Award in 2023, a recognition Amy personally values because it reflects the community that shaped her.
Her commitment to support the Albion Park and wider Illawarra community has allowed Amy to provide continuity of care with patients across years and generations. In addition, she is involved in fundraising, local events and connecting with her peers to advance the profession.
“It's such a privilege to be recognised as the NSW Student Pharmacist of the Year. Thank you to my family, mentors, colleagues and peers for supporting me along my journey so far,” Amy said.
“I have a massive passion for community pharmacy and the patients and community I serve. My path into pharmacy began as a patient. For years I lived with a rare medical condition that went undiagnosed, moving through a system that often listened without hearing. That distinction between being acknowledged and being understood is what drew me to community pharmacy.
These experiences gave me a clear sense of the Pharmacist I want to be. One who listens carefully, hears what patients are actually asking, and treats every interaction as clinically meaningful, because I know first-hand how much it matters when someone does.”
Alongside her role in pharmacy, Amy is balancing studying full-time at the University of Sydney, with a two-hour commute each way and mentoring first-year pharmacy students, regularly checking in to support and guide them.
This year she will also undertake a rural placement as an opportunity to see how Pharmacists practice where access to other healthcare professionals is more limited and the role of the Pharmacist necessarily stretches further.
Pharmacy 777 Group Founder and Director, Kim Brotherson - Opens in new tab said, “On behalf of 777 Group, we are so proud of Amy. Not only for her well-deserved award of NSW Guild Student Pharmacist of the Year but also as a representee and role model for the next generation of future Pharmacists who will help shape the future of the industry.
She demonstrates passion combined with purpose to make a true difference to the patients and community she serves.”
The 2027 NSW Pharmacy Guild - Opens in new tab Awards recognised five very deserving winners, we extend our congratulations to our fellow award recipients:
- Community Pharmacy of the Year: Plunkett's TerryWhite Chemmart Port Macquarie
- Community Pharmacist of the Year: Timothy Cush, Docs Megasave Chemist
- Intern Pharmacist of the Year: Tayler Holdman, Dodd Family Capital Chemist Merimbula
- Student Pharmacist of the Year: Amy Williams, Pharmacy 777 Albion Park
- Community Pharmacy Assistant of the Year: Kendal Birmingham, Lismore Pharmacy