Setting a good example for her children, following her ambition, and taking in a pep-talk or two have been key motivators for the many sacrifices Tiffany Findlay has made along the way to becoming another step closer to her dream of becoming a pharmacist.

The Dubbo mother-of-two has commenced her 12-month pharmacy internship at Orana Mall Pharmacy (OMP) after completing a Bachelor of Pharmacy with the University of New England (UNE).

The final step in her professional journey follows five years of online study, navigating a global pandemic and juggling life as a working mum and mature-age student.

Tiffany began her studies when youngest daughter, Isla, had started pre-school. She had previously been a stay-at-home mother and thought it was time to do something for herself, so signed up online to study a Bachelor of Pharmacy with the University of New England.

Not long after starting her degree, COVID-19 hit. Tiffany had to juggle online study and homeschooling of her two children, Maisie, 12, and Isla, 10.

During the second year of her online studies, Tiffany had noticed other pharmacy students were working in pharmacies.

Feeling that they had an advantage from their experience, she thought it was time to get a job to consolidate her learning. She started working at Orana Mall Pharmacy a couple days a week as a pharmacy assistant.

“When someone comes in looking for a pharmacist, most of the time now they are referred to me, so I can get the opportunity to see as many things as possible and become confident in putting into practice what I’ve learned at university,” Tiffany said.

She is now applying the theory learned at UNE to real-life situations, providing one-on-one care in patient consultations and conducting many services offered within the pharmacy.

Once the 12-month internship is complete, more exams follow and if she passes all those tests, Tiffany can register to be a fully accredited pharmacist.

Across the journey, Tiffany mentioned her mother-in-law Anne and sister-in-law Margaret have been very supportive with looking after Tiffany’s children so she can study.

She also had to attend intensive schools in Armidale regularly, meaning time away from the family.

“In 2021, during (COVID-19) lockdown, I was working, home schooling and studying. I just have a very understanding husband, and good helpers,” Tiffany added.

Tiffany’s husband John owns his own business in town.

Tiffany’s uncle Ian has also been a constant source of support for Tiffany. “Every time I’d say I couldn’t do it, he’d tell me, ‘Of course you can do it’,” she recalled.

“It takes a village, and I have a good one,” she said.

“It has been an effort, a combined effort – but we got here.

“When I finally submitted that last assignment and got the results, I cried happy tears. I felt like I had actually made it. I finished.”

Aside from constant support and encouragement, Tiffany felt just having “life experience and knowing a bit more about who you are and what you want” was an advantage over younger peers.

And the family, long-term residents of Dubbo, plan to stay.

“Pharmacy is what I wanted to do when I finished school, but I had to work, and to be honest I don’t know if I would have been as committed at 18,” Tiffany said.

“My husband has a business here, so we’re settled. I was already working at OMP, and love the team, so we’re staying.”

Tiffany is no stranger to the healthcare industry with numerous members of her family working with the NSW Ambulance service.

“It is hard to get into a doctor or specialist in areas like Dubbo. Community pharmacies are easy to access, and we offer many services,” Tiffany said.

“This has also been a great example for my children as well. When we went to my graduation recently, my aunty sat my children down and asked what they had learned from this process.

“The takeaway was, even if people say you can’t do something, you can do hard things, and you should. It doesn’t matter when – if you want to do something, and have your heart set on it, you can do it.”

Industry figures show more than 2700 full time equivalent pharmacists will be needed across Australia in 2025.