In our Meet the Member series, we talk to some of the hardworking healthcare professionals who are part of Wounds Australia.

Today, we're meeting new member Anna West, 36, pharmacist and pharmacy owner at TerryWhite Chemmart in Lindisfarne, Tasmania.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

I really love being an accessible healthcare professional and being able to offer advice and support to people when they need it most. If someone doesn't know what to do or where to go, they can come and see us, and we can help them or refer them to the right place.

I've worked as a pharmacist in Lindisfarne for almost 13 years, so I've had the privilege of building some wonderful relationships within the community. I've seen babies grow up, families change, and patients navigate both the good and difficult times in their lives. Being a constant for so many people is incredibly rewarding. It's especially lovely when patients tell us how much they value our pharmacy and thank us for being part of their community.

Why did you pursue this field?

I always loved science at school and knew I wanted to work in healthcare. At the time, I didn't know much about pharmacy or exactly what pharmacists did, but I applied for the course, was accepted and decided to give it a go!

I loved the degree and quickly realised that pharmacy was the right fit for me. The rest is history!

Tell us why you decided to become a Wounds Australia member. What do you hope to achieve?

We often have people come into the pharmacy with wounds that need dressing, or who need advice about which dressing would be most appropriate. I felt this was an area where I could expand my knowledge and skills so I could provide even better support to these patients.

We are open seven days a week, and until 8pm on weekdays, so patients with nowhere else to go often come in needing help straight away. I completed the TerryWhite Chemmart Wound Care course to further develop my knowledge, and becoming a Wounds Australia member has been fantastic. It gives me access to valuable resources and ongoing learning, helping me continue to build my knowledge and stay up to date with wound care.

What is your proudest achievement – personal or professional?

Without a doubt, my two beautiful children are my proudest achievement. 

Professionally, becoming a pharmacy owner at 25 years old is something I'm also incredibly proud of.

What did you want to be at 10, 18 and 30 years old?

At 10, I wanted to be a teacher, just like my mum.

At 18, I wasn't completely sure what I wanted to do, but I knew I loved science and wanted to work in healthcare. I applied to study pharmacy and, thankfully, got in!

By 30, I had just had my first baby and was learning a whole new role – becoming a mum!

How do you spend your spare time? Hobbies?

With two young children, aged two and six, spare time is definitely at a premium!

When I do get some time to myself, I love planning holidays, exploring markets and visiting beautiful gardens. I also love travelling and spending time with my family, making the most of those little moments together.

What do you wish you'd known when starting out in your career?

I wish I'd known from the beginning that there is so much more to pharmacy than dispensing medications and providing advice. There is also much more to running a pharmacy, and having great business partners is so important.

The role of the pharmacist is constantly evolving, and there are so many different areas and opportunities within the profession. You certainly don't have to know everything, and you won't love every aspect of pharmacy – and that's okay.

If I could tell my younger self one thing at the start of my career, it would be to stay curious, keep learning, and be open to where the profession takes you.