QUT pharmacy student Flynn Swift will combine his 2024 university studies with a new role as president of the International Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation (IPSF) – a global body representing 500,000 pharmacy students and early career pharmacists in more than 100 countries.
Flynn was elected IPSF president late last year and is currently in Europe where he represented the federation at the 154th executive board meeting of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in January.
He spoke on maternal health and child mortality rates, and the need for equal access to essential medicines in all countries.
Flynn is studying a Bachelor of Pharmacy at QUT in Brisbane and works part-time as a pharmacy student at a TerryWhite Chemmart and the Mater Hospital.
He will graduate next year and is interested in building a career as an advocate for pharmacists and pharmacy, rather than in a traditional pharmaceutical practice.
Prior to leading the IPSF, Flynn was president of the National Australian Pharmacy Students’ Association (NAPSA) for a year, and its executive director for two years.
Flynn is travelling in Europe until mid-March, when he will attend the IPSF’s next executive board meeting – a five-day event that will discuss the federation’s plans for the rest of the year.
Later this year he will also attend the 77th World Health Assembly in Geneva, the 69th IPSF World Congress in Seoul and the 82nd International Pharmaceutical Federation World Congress in Cape Town.
Flynn said he knew in high school he wanted to be involved in health and work in healthcare.
“I originally wanted to be an optometrist as I enjoyed health and mathematics, but I got an early acceptance into pharmacy at QUT and never looked back,” he said.
“I think the biggest reward of being a pharmacist is seeing how the services and care you provide impacts not only on the person in front of you, but also has unseen impacts throughout their life. It’s amazing to be able to build friendships with regular patients, and create a safe space to better their health.”
Flynn said his varied experiences during his QUT course meant he no longer saw pharmacy as a ‘community or hospital’ choice.
“There are so many different avenues out there for a pharmacist and I think I have found my niche being a youth advocate for pharmacy and healthcare and pushing for the better future of healthcare,” he said.
Flynn has felt a bond with QUT ever since attending a robotics workshop on campus while in Year 9 and being impressed by the university’s technology strengths.
He made QUT his first preference when he applied for pharmacy, and described his course as ‘challenging but rewarding’.
“It’s a very full-on course understanding all the complexities surrounding each drug and how it interacts with not only a human but with the disease and much more,” he said.
“The required placements are tough sometimes. You have to either have enough savings to be able to fund the duration of the unpaid placement, or you have to combine full-time placements with also working weekends – which is what most of us do.
“During my university life, I have failed classes, studied full-time and part-time, and taken time off from uni. But without the progression of my degree, I wouldn't have had the capability of taking on additional duties representing students in Australia and around the world.
“This extra leadership experience means I will leave QUT with a degree and a prosperous career path.”
QUT Associate Professor of Pharmacy Andrew Hale from the School of Clinical Sciences said the school was proud of Flynn’s leadership in the national and international student community.
“There are many leadership opportunities that can come from studying at QUT – we encourage and support students taking on these roles for their own personal and professional development,” he said.
The Head of the School of Clinical Sciences, Professor Nick Brown, said these leadership opportunities were in addition to the significant technical expertise QUT pharmacy students learnt, and the practical experiences they gained in pharmacies and hospitals during their studies.
“Our pharmacy students can make a real difference, and they can have a broad impact on improving the health and wellbeing of many people in Australia and abroad,” he said.
Flynn has done many work placements while at QUT, in a variety of settings.
“My placements have spanned community pharmacies, stand-alone pharmacies, ones in shopping centres, and a hospital placement up at the Sunshine Coast University Hospital,” he said.
“I’m also hoping to take on a rural placement up in Bowen this year.”
During his executive roles with the National Australian Pharmacy Students’ Association, Flynn’s achievements included negotiating free NAPSA membership for all pharmacy students around Australia, and lobbying the Australian Government about the wages of pharmacy interns and uniform rules on students doing vaccinations under supervision.
He believes these valuable contributions helped him be elected as IPSF president, despite his lack of previous experience on international committees.
“I just wanted to put my best foot forward … I never would have thought I'd be in the position that I am in today as IPSF president and leading the federation’s policy and advocacy portfolio,” he said.
Australia currently has a shortage of pharmacists, which Flynn said it was not easy to solve.
“It’s a problem that was truly exposed during COVID-19 when the healthcare system was under immense pressure – pharmacists and pharmacies were at the forefront helping keep all communities and patients healthy amid a global pandemic,” he said.
“It showed the true potential of what the role of a pharmacist is. In the last few years we’ve seen the introduction of pilot prescribing programs and the success of pharmacist-led vaccination.
“But we need to increase remuneration for pharmacists to value these additional services and provide incentives for pharmacists to stay in the sector and not burn out.
“Australian degrees also need to be recognised internationally to provide additional career pathways.
“Hopefully the upcoming 8th Community Pharmacy Agreement and the amazing work our representatives are doing will address this, and the next few years of pharmacy will be amazing.
“We want to encourage more students to take on pharmacy – whether they are high school graduates or people looking for a career change.”
QUT Media contacts:
- Mechelle McMahon, media@qut.edu.au
- After hours, 0407 585 901 or media@qut.edu.au
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