The Pharmacists’ Support Service (PSS) and Pharmaceutical Defence Limited (PDL) are pleased to announce the inaugural winner of the John Coppock Pharmacist Wellbeing Award. Announcing the Award, PSS President, Curtis Ruhnau said “We were very pleased by the depth and quality of the nominations and although it was a difficult choice, there was one which aligns closely with the PSS ethos of helping people through their most difficult days, and that nomination was The Dignity Project led by Tasmanian pharmacist Marika Castrisios.
The Dignity Project, was established in the Royal Hobart Hospital Pharmacy Department, by Marika following her own traumatic miscarriage, when it was identified that there was a lack of resources including sanitary products and support for staff experiencing sensitive personal health issues at work. The program encompasses education, local protocols and guidelines and the provision of products in dignity cabinets in both female and male toilets to cater for unexpected events including pregnancy loss, menstruation and incontinence. Having necessary items readily available alleviates embarrassment and discomfort and normalises such events occurring in the workplace. Staff feedback has been overwhelmingly positive and the dignity cupboards have been introduced into other hospital departments with a plan to expand the project across the Tasmanian Health Service.
Curtis noted the high calibre of the 15 nominations received and said “It is so pleasing to hear about the various initiatives being undertaken across Australia from remote rural pharmacies to major metropolitan hospital pharmacy departments to improve the wellbeing of pharmacists and pharmacy staff.” He noted that the judging panel, comprising representatives from PSS and PDL and also John Coppock, congratulate all those nominated for the work they are doing to improve the wellbeing of their colleagues and the pharmacy profession.
The nature of nominations ranged from individual pharmacists who go above and beyond to support their colleagues, to the use of social media to support interns and early career pharmacists in rural locations, to individual pharmacists making a difference through mentoring or peer support groups, to projects which increase professional satisfaction, to comprehensive wellbeing programs within hospital pharmacy departments providing peer support and building teamwork through social activities and wellbeing resources.
PDL Professional Officer Gary West, who sat on the judging panel along with PDL CEO David Brown, commends all applicants on their valuable and positive efforts to support the wellbeing of their pharmacy team and the profession. “All submissions demonstrated an awareness of the many challenges that can impact individuals and teams. The empathy displayed by the support and wellbeing programs aligns with the aspirations of the award to champion individuals and groups who seek to improve the wellbeing of colleagues,” said Gary.
“While it was a very difficult decision to select the winner, the PDL judges agreed that the Dignity Project was the program that best represented the ethos of the John Coppock Wellbeing Award. It was innovative, impactful and engaging with the team and has demonstrated through feedback that it has achieved a positive outcome for everyone involved.
“PDL commends PSS for developing this recognition of the efforts made by many individuals and teams to improve the wellbeing of their colleagues. PDL encourages pharmacists to consider and implement wellbeing programs in their locations and we look forward to hearing about other valuable initiatives,” he added.
The Award aims to honour the significant contribution of John Coppock to the wellbeing of pharmacists and will be awarded annually, during October which is Mental Health Month in Australia, to a pharmacist or a pharmacy team who contribute significantly to the wellbeing of members of the pharmacy profession. The Award is made possible through generous sponsorship by PDL.
