National Pharmacy Awards - South Australia Winners
South Australia’s PGA branch announced the winners of the National Pharmacy Awards at a special event on Wednesday evening October 29 at the Hilton hotel in Adelaide.
South Australia Branch President Matt Gillespie said the awards reflect the shift moving pharmacists beyond dispensing into more clinical roles.
“They’re managing chronic conditions, supporting aged care, and providing care when other services are stretched or unavailable,” Mr Gillespie said.
Community Pharmacy of the Year
Staff at Adelaide’s Amcal St Clair Pharmacy are dedicated to creating a pharmacy which feels like family.
The team at Adelaide’s Amcal St Clair Pharmacy are dedicated to creating a pharmacy which feels like family
Jono Gill and Nam Nguyen, who have owned the metropolitan pharmacy since 2018, said personalised care is how they stay competitive in an area that is home to many community pharmacies.
“We want to be relatable — we are humans just like our patients,” Jono said.
“We want our patients to feel like they can approach us on any level.
“I have two young children, and I know the challenges young families face when they come to us for help.”
Small things like prefilling safety net refund forms and instant webster changes build customer loyalty, he said.
His team is proud of its ‘front-dispensing’ model where pharmacists are always visible and accessible.
They work closely with GPs, aged care facilities, and local organisations to deliver services such as vaccinations, MedsChecks, UTIs and contraceptive care, and chronic disease support.
Since purchasing the pharmacy, Jono and Nam have increased its turnover sixfold.
But the real value lies in the people they are proud to work with.
“Our team — they are everything,” Jono said.
“I feel our store is special because we are a small family.”
When asked about their hopes for the pharmacy profession, Jono said: “I hope pharmacists will be practising full scope nationwide”.
Jono also said he hopes for a future where pharmacists, GPs, nurses and other allied health work genuinely in integrated teams.
“It would lead to better patient outcomes, less fragmentation and a system that values each profession’s strengths.”
Community Pharmacist of the Year
South Australian Pharmacist of the Year Tim Siv credits much of his success to his father, who encouraged him to work hard and get an education.
Tim arrived in Australia as a refugee aged just three, after his family fled the genocide in Cambodia under the rule of the Khmer Rouge.
His father, who was a school teacher, taught Tim the importance of education in breaking the poverty cycle.
Today, Tim owns five pharmacists across South Australia’s Clare and Barossa Valley regions, which service some 30,000
people, as well as another pharmacy in Tasmania.
Early in his career, Tim discovered a passion for rural pharmacy, shaping services that meet the needs of agricultural workers
who often face irregular and demanding hours.
At TerryWhite Chemmart Clare Compounding Pharmacy, his forward-thinking approach has introduced a suite of innovations: one of Australia’s first outdoor after‑hours medicine pickup terminals, advanced V-motion screens, a dedicated mother-and-baby room, modern consulting spaces, a cutting-edge compounding laboratory, an automated packing robot, and electronic shelf labels — each designed to elevate and transform the patient experience.
Community Pharmacist of the Year Timothy Siv
“Investing in technology addresses many of the challenges faced by both patients and staff,” he said.
“The biggest challenge of rural communities is opening hours and accessibility. I’ve got farmers who are on tractors and headers all day, they go 24-7 for about three months while they’re harvesting. And so, they can only get to the pharmacy at night,” he said.
“Another big challenge in regional areas is finding a safe place for mums to feed their babies.
“I’ve created a feeding room with a play area next door, so that mums with multiple children have somewhere comfortable to
feed their baby whilst watching their other children play.”
Tim has also trained dozens of interns over this career, eager to pass on the same values he learnt from his father.
“I believe in giving [interns] my time and encouraging them to keep striving to be better because of those values that I’ve always instilled.”
Student Pharmacist of the Year
Living with a chronic illness inspires Erin Fawcett to help others who have life-altering health conditions.
“I’m drawn to pharmacy because it offers a unique blend of science and human connection,” Erin said.
“Supporting people during some of their most vulnerable moments is incredibly meaningful to me.”
Despite only being in her fourth year at the University of South Australia, Erin has already clocked up a long list of achievements.
She won the 2025 PDL Student Grant and UniSA Vacation Research Scholarship, choosing to study the accessibility
of medicine over the recent summer break.
“I plan to move to a rural location for my internship, as my current research focuses on medication shortages, which directly relate to medication accessibility.”
Erin Fawcett and partner, Chloe Weigall (left) enjoying the evening in Adelaide
She has also served as president of the university’s association and an executive at the National Pharmacy Students’ Association, where she revitalised mentorship programs, lead charity fundraising, and developed AI-based study tools.
One of her proudest achievements is resurrecting the Pharmacy Profession Awareness Day — which was attended by more than 300 students — after the event was cancelled for several years due to COVID-19.
Winning South Australia’s Student Pharmacist of the Year has been a humbling experience, she said.
“Living with a chronic illness myself has given me firsthand experience on the impact pharmacists can and do have on people’s lives.”
