Entries open: Tuesday 11 June 2024 

Entries close: Friday 26 July 2024 

Shortlist for Heats announced: by Friday 9 August 2024 

Heats: Week of 2 September to 6 September 2024 (will occur via Zoom - exact date and times to be announced) 

Finalists announced: by end of September 2024 

Finals at MM2024: Friday 15 November 2024 

The 2024 ROTY award is open to Resident candidates and Residents who: 

• are SHPA members 

• are in the second year of the Resident Training Program, or 

• completed their Resident Training Program between July 2023 and June 2024. 

NOTE: To take part, Residents will also need confirmation from their Director of Pharmacy or their delegate that, should they be selected as a finalist, they will be able to attend MM2024. 

Application link: https://forms.shpa.org.au/2024-shpa-resident-registrar-of-the-year-award/  

Participating Residents will give a 10-minute presentation that can be on any of the following topics: 

• The research project or audit undertaken during their Resident Training Program 

• A case presentation 

• A significant learning experience encountered during their Resident Training Program 

Heats will be held via Zoom webinar on separate dates (to be announced) in September 2024.  

Presentations will be judged by members of the Training Program Advisory Committee and graduates of the Registrar Training Program. The finalists will be selected by the judging panel and will compete at the National Finals for the title of Resident of the Year 2024.  

Six finalists will present at the MM2024 conference during the presentation sessions (Friday am). 

Finalists will receive complimentary registration to MM2024. Travel and accommodation are to be arranged by the Resident (it is up to the training program sites to provide any funding/reimbursement based on their local policies). 

The Resident of the Year 2024 winner will be announced at the Gala Dinner. 

If you have questions about any aspects of the ROTY 2024 award, please contact the SHPA Training Program team via residency@shpa.org.au 

2023 SHPA Resident of the Year 

Emma Dall'Alba

Senior Pharmacist - Townsville Rehabilitation Unit, Townsville University Hospital, Townsville

Presentation: Assessing the health literacy of patients prescribed SGLT2 Inhibitors, and impacts on the health service 

2022 SHPA Resident of the Year 

Rhiannon Froude

Clinical Pharmacist, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne

Presentation: Hospital pharmacists’ understanding of and attitudes towards beta-lactam allergies and de-labelling

2021 SHPA Resident of the Year 

James Ford

Clinical Pharmacist, Austin Health, Melbourne

Presentation: Hospital outreach medication review to reduce opioid use following surgery.

'Throughout my residency I have had a number of opportunities to work in variety of different areas within the pharmacy department and developed a range of skills during a very difficult time to work in healthcare. 

One such experience that stand outs for me was having the opportunity to trial managing a ward remotely during the first wave of COVID-19. This then presented the opportunity to publish an editorial (GRIT 2020-21 Summer Edition) discussing my opinions and experiences providing a clinical pharmacy service remotely.   

I also have had the opportunity to work within the Emergency Department, which was a fantastic experience to work in a high-paced, critical care environment during a pandemic.  I learned a great deal about working as a clinical pharmacist in this area and this has certainly become an area of interest which I hope to pursue in the future.'

2020 SHPA Resident of the Year 

Mika Varitimos 
Medication Safety Pharmacist/Post-Resident Pharmacist, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane

Presentation: The time is now: ensuring timely and appropriate medications for patients with Parkinson's disease.

'I thoroughly enjoyed being able to rotate through the Neurology/Stroke ward during my time with the Medical team. The highly experienced multidisciplinary team was brilliant. They included me on ward rounds and helped me to learn so much during this foundation period. I think Neurology represents an area of relatively untapped potential for pharmacists. It was powerful to see how much could be achieved with the right medicines in patients with conditions like epilepsy and Parkinson’s disease.'

2019 SHPA Resident of the Year

Jacinta Castello 
Renal Pharmacist, Austin Health, Melbourne

Presentation: Opioid use following total knee and hip arthroplasty – not always a case of oversupply. 

Jacinta said, ‘I applied for a residency position at the end of my internship, and at the time the key things that appealed to me was having an experienced pharmacist as a mentor for each rotation and looking into the ‘why’ behind therapeutic recommendations. Looking back now, the residency program at the Austin definitely delivered on both aspects.’

Nominations (stage 1) open: Tuesday 11 June 2024 

Nominations (stage 1) close: Friday 26 July 2024 

Nominee submits required documentation (stage 2): by Friday 9 August 2024 

Selection Panel: August 2024 

Winner announced: end of September 2024 

Presentation of Award at MM2024: 14 - 16 November 2024 

Submissions for the Registrar of the Year Award can be made via nomination, either self-nominated or from a staff member of the Pharmacist Registrars training program site. Nominations will be called for annually.  

All nominees must: 

• Be a current SHPA member and 

• Completed their Registrar Training Program before August 2024 

Nominations must be received via the online nomination form available on the SHPA Training Program website by the advertised due date. The nomination process now consists of two stages: 

Stage 1: Nomination submitted online 

• Either self-nomination or from a staff member at the Registrar Training Program site 

Nomination link: https://forms.shpa.org.au/2024-shpa-resident-registrar-of-the-year-award/ 

Stage 2: Nominee will be notified of their nomination and required to provide the supporting documentation  

• Acceptance of the nomination 

• Two (2) signed letter of support from a senior pharmacy or inter-professional colleague in support of the nomination 

• A copy of the nominee’s curriculum vitae (CV) 

• Completed Registrar Training Program portfolio (or equivalent evidence) outlining examples of the nominees' contributions and practice as a Pharmacist Registrar 

• Confirmation from their Director of Pharmacy or their delegate that, should they be selected as the winner, they will be able to attend MM2024. 

Nominations shall be considered by a selection panel consisting of the SHPA Training Program Advisory Committee. 

The Registrar of the Year award will be presented at a SHPA Medicines Management Conference in Adalaide in November 2024. 

The recipient will be financially supported to attend the Medicines Management Conference to accept their award with free conference registration.  

If you have questions about any aspects of the Registrar of the Year 2024 award, please contact the SHPA Training Program team via residency@shpa.org.au