Prepares and dispenses pharmaceuticals, drugs and medicines in a hospital pharmacy. Registration or licensing is required.

• Receives prescriptions, checks patients' medicine histories, and ensures optimal dosage and methods of administration and drug compatibility before dispensing; prepares or supervises the preparation and labelling of liquid medicines, ointments, powders, tablets and other medications to fill prescriptions; advises patients on drug incompatibility and contra-indications; maintains prescription files and records issue of narcotics, poisons and habit-forming drugs; stores and preserves vaccines, serums and other drugs subject to deterioration; supervises and coordinates the work of pharmacy technicians, pharmacy interns and pharmacy sales assistants.

• Works indoors in hospital pharmacies to prepare and assemble prescriptions for delivery to hospital patients.

• Works in adequately heated, ventilated, clean, well maintained, lit and sterile workspaces.

• Occasional contact with hazardous chemicals and medicines is possible and therefore at times gloves and other protective equipmentwill need to be used along with adherence to safety and security procedures in relationship to access and storage of drugs.

• Sedentary to light physical demand.

• Sits when counting or mixing medications and using a computer to research or prepare labels. Frequently stands and walks within the dispensary to gather medicines and other pharmaceutical tools.

• Occasional stretching, reaching, bending movements and light lifting, pulling or carrying may be required to unpack and shelve supplies.

• Occasional repetitive hand and arm movements are required when counting or mixing medications and using a computer.

• Frequent use and operation of equipment including a range of hand held dispensing items such as pill-counting, fluid-measuring and powder-weighing devices. There is frequent use of office machines.

• Mental skills necessary include a high level of cognitive functioning including preparation of medications to prescribed formulas, research, observation, attention to detail, practical, communication and organisational skills.

• A relevant tertiary qualification (ANZSCO Skill Level 1). In some instances particular experience and/or on-the-job training may be required.

• Registration is required.

There are opportunities for flexibility of movement.