How to Get a Pharmacist Job in Australia

Let’s not kid ourselves. No pharmacy is gonna hire you without registration. So first things first—you need to be registered with the Pharmacy Board of Australia. That’s what people mean when they say you need a pharmacist license in Australia.

If you studied overseas, you’ll have to:

• Pass the OPRA exam

• Do your internship (supervised practice)

• Finish the final board exams (written + oral)

Once that’s all done, you’re in. General registration means you can apply for any pharmacist role anywhere in the country.

But even if you’re still in the process—like, say, you passed OPRA and you’re looking for an intern job—you can start applying. A lot of folks find jobs as provisional pharmacists and finish the rest while working.

You can find pharmacist jobs in Australia all over the place, but here’s where most people look:

• Seek – easily the biggest job site in Australia

• Indeed – lots of smaller pharmacy listings

• Company websites like Chemist Warehouse, TerryWhite, Ramsay Health

• Recruiters on LinkedIn (yep, they’re real and sometimes helpful)

But here’s the trick; Regional areas are way more open to hiring. If you're set on working in Sydney or Melbourne, be ready for competition. But if you’re cool with places like regional NSW or rural WA, you’ll have more options.

Some of those towns are desperate for pharmacists. They’ll even help with relocation and, in some cases, visa sponsorship.

Keep it simple. There’s no requirement for flashy formatting or designs. Ensure that all the important details are present upfront:

• Registration status (if you’ve got it, put the number)

• Intern or work experience (especially if it was in Australia)

• What pharmacy software have you used

• Languages you can speak

• One or two lines about how you work with patients

Additionally, a short cover letter for each place would be a great addition. Such efforts could make a difference

Honestly, sometimes, networking does really help. One of the best ways to find new connections is to join pharmacy groups on Facebook, Telegram, or whatever. You could also ask your intern supervisor if they know anyone. It’s all fair game.

Yep. Some Australian pharmacist jobs offer sponsorship. But mostly in areas outside the big cities.

If you’re already registered—or at least done with OPRA—and willing to go regional, your chances go way up. They’ll want your English test scores and APC documents ready. So get your paperwork tight

• Apply earlier—even before your final exam results are declared.

• Don’t wait for the “perfect” job—Just get your foot in first.

• Reach out to pharmacy managers via mail, LinkedIn, etc.

• Follow up on previous applications

A lot of it is just being persistent. Just staying in the loop also helps.

Getting a pharmacist job in Australia isn’t some mystery. It’s a process, but if you follow the steps, stay consistent, and don’t freeze up waiting for the perfect role, you’ll find something.

Start early, keep applying, and don’t be afraid to start in a small town or as an intern. That first gig opens the door. After that, it’s way easier to move up.

If you’re thinking “how to get a pharmacist job in Australia”, remember:
You’ve already done the hard part. You became a pharmacist.
This next part? Just keep moving.