Thursday 13 March marks Thank Your Pharmacist Day this year and the Hon. Maree Edwards MP visited local Bendigo UFS Pharmacies Health Precinct – Health @Hargreaves on 13 March to thank her local pharmacists.

Bendigo’s member-owned pharmacy group boasts more than 150 years of expertise within the community and they recently received the 2025 flu vaccines to complement their growing scope of practice.

Pharmacists can now vaccinate a large number of vaccinations from 5 years of age including, whooping cough, the flu, pneumonia, RSV, Shingles and more. Additionally, pharmacists can inject medications to increase accessibility when you cannot get back into your doctor – simple get your prescription dispensed and injected all at the one time! Not only are pharmacist prescribing vaccines they are now prescribing for other acute conditions such as UTI and shingles – taking the pressure of the health care system when we need it most.

Susan Randall, General Manager of Allied Health & Engagement said “Bendigo UFS is driving a strategy for personalised care alongside the highest quality and safety with a focus on increased scope of practice to meet our community’s needs” She also said “We are partnering with other likeminded groups such as Bendigo Community Health Services, Murray PHN, La Trobe University and Bendigo Primary Care Clinic to work towards a more integrated approach to healthcare.”

#ThankYourPharmacistDay annually in March bringing together patients, community leaders and stakeholders from across the health sector to acknowledge the vital work of our pharmacists.

From supporting patients with medicine use to lifesaving interventions, pharmacists are stepping up to meet the growing demands of our healthcare system. Whether it’s delivering accessible care for acute illnesses, administering vaccinations, championing Quality Use of Medicines and medicine safety in aged care, or helping patients manage chronic conditions, pharmacists are an increasingly critical part of the health care team.