Pharmacy Daily | PATY awarded to Jessica Brown of Vic

JESSICA Brown, from Emerald Village Pharmacy in Melbourne, has been named the Pharmacy Guild of Australia/Maxigesic 2025 Pharmacy Assistant of the Year (PATY).

Brown (pictured, with Guild National President Trent Twomey) received her award at the Pharmacy Connect cocktail party aboard a Sydney Harbour cruise on Thursday night.

She told Pharmacy Daily she was "proud and honoured to be awarded the national winner for pharmacy assistant of the year".

"The trophy and the title are great, but to me it's more about the recognition of my hard work and dedication to the pharmacy industry," she said.

"I am looking forward to jumping in the deep end of the next 12 months," she enthused.

The Glucojel runner-up award went to Yasmin Elmawey from Hammondville Discount Pharmacy in New South Wales.

The PATY award celebrates excellence in community pharmacy by recognising pharmacy assistants who demonstrate exceptional leadership, innovation and commitment to patient care within their communities.

Chosen from among eight state and territory finalists, Brown was a stand-out among the finalists representing their jurisdiction, said Professor Twomey.

"This award was the culmination of months of preparation and competition," he said.

"Finalists participated in a series of rigorous assessments that tested their expertise, leadership abilities, and contributions to the pharmacy industry."

The award judges, Artie Kalogeropoulos and Daniel Shalhoub from AFT Pharmaceuticals, said they were impressed by the calibre of the finalists, and selecting a winner gets harder each year.

"The finalists' talent and dedication keep raising the standard for winning," Shalhoub said.

"Jessica truly embodies what the PATY award represents.

"Congratulations to Jessica on this well-deserved recognition."

Brown received a $5,000 cash prize, along with travel and accommodation packages to attend Guild events to further her career and professional development. KB