Colbie Diek – 2023

Now at: Craignish Pharmacy, QLD

Community pharmacy has undergone significant change in recent years, and for Colbie Diek, winning the PharmacyAssistant of the Year Award provided the confidence to embrace the changes and recognise the opportunities ahead.Winning the national title boosted her confidence and reaffirmed the value of the work pharmacy assistants undertake every day.

Since her win, Colbie has continued to grow both personally and professionally, embracing new opportunities while balancing a busy family life.

The recognition also reinforced her belief that pharmacy assistants are integral members of the healthcare team and deserve greater acknowledgement for the contribution they make to patient care and their communities.

Stepping forward

Importantly, the confidence gained through the award empowered Colbie to step forward during periods of significant change for the profession.

Following the announcement of 60‑day dispensing reforms, Colbie recognised the uncertainty many pharmacies were facing and used her knowledge and training to demonstrate the opportunities that still existed within community pharmacy.

“After the announcement of 60‑day dispensing, pharmacies were facing financial losses and possible closure,” she says.“I used the MedAdvisor platform to prove the revenue was there to be had and especially with full scope coming into practice and how pharmacy could and would survive in the future.”

Personal impact

Personally, winning the award also had a profound impact.

“To me personally it meant that I had finally been recognised and seen as a valued member of the industry. I felt I had achieved something meaningful in my career and it inspired me to want to do more, to strive for more.”

Her story serves as a reminder that recognising pharmacy assistants not only celebrates individual achievement but also empowers future leaders who are willing to champion innovation and help guide community pharmacy through periods of change.