Most employees working in community pharmacies are covered by the Pharmacy Award, including pharmacy assistants and pharmacists.

Pharmacy assistants who only sell retail products and have no qualifications in community pharmacy will be classified as a Pharmacy assistant level 1.

Pharmacy assistants with qualifications in community pharmacy will be classified according to the level of their qualification.

Award coverage for employees who aren’t pharmacy assistants or pharmacists will depend on:

• whether the pharmacy offers services that are part of a different industry
• the type of work they do and the qualifications they hold.

Industry award coverage

Hair & Beauty Award

The Hair and Beauty Award covers beauticians and beauty therapists working in a pharmacy.

Pharmacy assistants who give general advice on beauty products won’t be covered by the Hair & Beauty Award.

No industry award coverage

A pharmacy employee not covered by an industry award may be covered by an award on an occupational basis.

Health Services Award

Health professionals employed by community pharmacies can be covered by the Health Services Award on an occupational basis.  

Examples of health professionals who may be employed by community pharmacies include:

• naturopaths
• podiatrists
• aromatherapists.

Nurses Award

A nurse working in a community pharmacy is covered by the Nurses Award.

Give us feedback on this article

Use our Feedback form to give us feedback about the information in this article.

If you have a question about pay or entitlements or need our help with a workplace issue, you can submit an online enquiry.