Community Care Dream Realised

JCU Bachelor of Pharmacy graduate and Queensland Student Pharmacist of the Year, Abbey Marshall has transitioned seamlessly from university campus to pharmacy counter, soaking up the opportunity to bring her healthcare expertise to the Townsville community.

The high-achieving graduate secured full-time work at Townsville pharmacy, United Chemist Northshore, prior to graduation last year and says she is looking ahead to the next stage of her journey — one shaped by a strong commitment to community health, leadership and passion for the pharmacy profession.

Abbey says she is excited to complete her pharmacy internship at the Northshore chemist. “It is such a beautiful and supportive workplace, and it will be perfect to complete my internship,” she says. Beyond her internship, Abbey hopes to pursue her long-term goal of working in rural pharmacy, bringing high-quality, accessible healthcare to regional communities.

“I decided to study pharmacy because I have always been interested in health care. I have always enjoyed community programs and talking to people every day, which is why community pharmacy really aligned with the type of career I wanted to have,” she says.

“There is also a large level of clinical knowledge needed as a pharmacist, which drew me to the course. I believe front-line health care workers have so much potential to help people and change how accessible services are, and I wanted to be a part of that.”

Abbey grew up in a small rural town in New South Wales and says she noted healthcare access and equity didn’t always align in smaller areas. This culminated into a desire to work in rural and regional health from a young aged, shaping Abbey’s decision to study pharmacy at James Cook University.

It was JCU’s focus on rural and tropical health that set the university apart, according to Abbey. “The smaller class sizes and the level of support and resources at JCU really helped my journey as a student,” she says. “I chose JCU for its focus on rural and tropical health, which is something I wanted to focus my career as a pharmacist on.”

Abbey achieved outstanding academic results throughout her degree. Her enthusiasm for the course content played a significant role in her success.

“I love learning how drugs interact within the body to help people feel better,” she explains.

Even when faced with topics she found more challenging, Abbey says she made a conscious effort to connect theory to practice. “I found ways to make it relatable to everyday pharmacy work.” One of her academic highlights was completing a research honours project focused on multidisciplinary care for chronic conditions, set on Thursday Island — an experience that reinforced her interest in collaborative, community-based healthcare.

She also held representative roles with the JCU Pharmacy Student Association and the National Australian Pharmacy Students’ Association (NAPSA), including serving as NAPSA Rural and Indigenous Chair. “Being involved with NAPSA was such a great experience,” she says. “It taught me the importance of being surrounded by like-minded people and how uncomfortable situations allows for personal growth.

“It was important to me as a student to become involved in anything that was advocating for rural and Indigenous health. Growing up in a small rural town in NSW is where the passion for this area of healthcare stems from. NAPSA allowed me to meet important people in the pharmacy space, that listened to what I had to say and enjoyed listening to the experiences I have had as a student. “

Abbey made sure her university experience was enriched by a wide range of opportunities. Living on campus in her first year allowed her to build strong friendships, while involvement in conferences, NAPSA congresses across Australia and New Zealand, volunteering, and student mentoring helped shape her confidence and professional identity. She also served as President of the JCU Pharmacy Student Association, further developing her leadership skills.

“I would really encourage students to take every opportunity that comes their way,” Abbey says. “You never know what you might gain from it.”

One of the most significant highlights of Abbey’s journey came just before she graduated, she was named Pharmacy Guild of Australia Queensland Pharmacy Student of the Year — a fitting recognition for the recent graduate.

Abbey’s story is a powerful example of the diverse opportunities available to James Cook University pharmacy graduates — from leadership and research to community impact and career success. For future students considering pharmacy at JCU, her journey demonstrates how passion, engagement and a strong regional focus can open doors to a rewarding and meaningful career.