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Jessica – in the final year of a QUT Pharmacy degree - said without the scholarship, she would not be able to afford the option of completing a prescribing course to enable full scope of pharmacy practice.

“I’m extremely grateful, the scholarship is more than I would have ever thought possible,” she said.

As founders of one of Australia’s most trusted community brands, Rhonda White AO and Terry White AO have established the scholarship to equip future pharmacists with advanced clinical skills to better serve communities.

“There is nothing more rewarding than helping a young pharmacist realise their potential,” Mrs White said.

“Terry and I believe the future lies in pharmacists practising to the full extent of their education and skills.

“We hope this scholarship gives students the confidence and opportunity to embrace full scope of practice with compassion and purpose, helping shape a future where pharmacists do even more to improve access to safe, timely and high-quality care for their communities."

Jessica is an example of the life-changing, transformative impact a donor can have on a student’s journey … the sort of impact highlighted at this year’s QUT Health award ceremonies, where Jessica had the “amazing” opportunity to meet and personally thank Rhonda and Terry White.

“To see these people whose names are everywhere, who have built up a whole pharmacy franchise from nothing, was huge,” she said.

Jessica worked as a dispensary technician for four years in her hometown of Yeppoon, just outside Rockhampton, before making the move to Brisbane to study to be a pharmacist.

“I love the clinical problem-solving part of it,” she said. “Trying to match the person and their symptoms to the best treatment ... then seeing those same people get better after you've made recommendations is really nice.”

She said studying at QUT had been a practical, hands-on journey.

“It has been a good fit for me because I had that previous experience ... they teach in a very real world way here, so it was easy for me to apply everything pretty much as soon as I learned it.”

Jess has recently returned from a four-week placement at Rockhampton Hospital, where she “learnt a lot … I got to go out on to the wards, to read handwritten charts, learn the annotations and process systems; how to do discharge summaries, how to check blood tests, how to prioritise everything.”

It follows an earlier placement at Emerald, where she worked at four community pharmacies plus joined two HMRs (Home Medication Reviews) – “the sort of opportunity you just don't get in the city as a student”.

“I always thought my career would be in a community pharmacy but my hospital placement was definitely enjoyable. I will finish my internship then look to expand on pharmacy services to the best of my ability, to in turn be able to help others.”

• Among the other key scholarships celebrated at this year’s QUT Health Awards:

Garawa Nursing Scholarship, supporting third-year nursing students undertaking a placement in a regional or remote Aboriginal/Torres Strait Island community. 

Pictured right: Professor Bruce Lawford and Dr Susan Shadforth with scholarship recipients Alexander Henderson and Bianca Cobb. 

Rotary Feros Project Student Grants: established by Judith and her late husband Dr John Feros in 2015, supporting students studying a Bachelor of Paramedic Science, Nutrition and Dietetics or Radiation Therapy undertake clinical placements in regional and rural areas.

Pictured below: Ross Pitt and Judith Feros from Rotary Club Toowong with grant recipients Gabrielle Bullock, Millie Gornick, Amy Ryan and Sophia Nielsen.