Asad Mehmood is a Pharmacist, a Medicinal Chemist, a Pharmacy Trainer and a KAPS Coach and in this episode of the Pharmacy View Podcast, talks to host Scott Carpenter, EVBC about the journey as a OS Pharmacist coming to Australia, the work being done with the Pharmacy Guild of Australia and as a KAPS Coach.
Asad hails from Pakistan and moved to Australia to study and successfully complete a Masters degree. Having faced many challenges including the personal journey of being a student, then working and settling in Australia, Asad wanted to make the same process easier for other aspiring Overseas Pharmacists. That is why Asad chose to become a KAPS Coach and Pharmacy Trainer.
Asad believes managing these expectations of Overseas Pharmacists is key to ensuring their loyalty with any Australian Pharmacy business.
Having gone through the process, Asad understood that there was a gap in the understanding of Overseas Pharmacists as well as the Pharmacy Owners in Australia. While the Overseas Pharmacists did not understand the basics of working as a Pharmacist in Australia (as the work differs from their home country), Australian Pharmacy Owners did not trust Overseas Pharmacists enough to invest in their training, the situation was not in favour of both parties.
Asad’s platforms fill that gap by:
- making Australia’s first Australian Pharmacy Course with regards to Overseas Pharmacists. That course will teach the Overseas Pharmacists the basics of Australian laws, and the basics of Australian Pharmacy practices.
Asad believes that Australia can become an ideal place for Overseas Pharmacists and through combined efforts help as many Overseas Pharmacists live a better life and immigrate to Australia.
Topics Covered
- Asad’s Immigration Journey to Australia
- Asad’s goal to help Overseas Pharmacists
- Use of Facebook to start and run a business
- Connecting Australian Pharmacy Owners and Overseas Pharmacists
- Journey of an Overseas Pharmacist
- How Pharmacy owners in Australia can use Asad’s services
- Managing needs and expectations of Overseas Pharmacists
- Use of technology
Key Quotes (Time Stamps)
- “Through these different platforms, we are helping Overseas Pharmacists as well—how can they pass KAPS exam, how can they immigrate to Australia and help the Australian health professionals here. At the moment, there’s a serious shortage of Pharmacists. So, I am using all of these platforms to help the Overseas Pharmacists to come here because 84% of the Australian adults trust the advice of the Pharmacists.” (5:03 – 5:25)
- “So, what I did after passing the KAPS exam and after arriving in Australia was make a Facebook page. That was the starting point. Many people demotivated me and said it doesn’t work; nobody helps each other, don’t worry about it, everyone has access to the website, everyone can go online and check the Pharmacy Council website and they can pass the exam and all that, don’t worry about it. But the thing is—this is my belief—I am a teacher; I was a teacher at a university. So, I knew that majority of the people—more than 80% of the people don’t always follow a simple website. They want someone who can just train them. They want someone who can just teach them the straight way.” (7:03 – 7:39)
- “I made a Facebook page. That was my starting point and then I knew that the first 100 followers were the most difficult ones. People have no trust in you and all that. And then, slowly and gradually, now I have got 15,000 Overseas Pharmacists followers on that Facebook page. And now I have two more team members with me and we are trying to help Overseas Pharmacists and trying to answer their queries.” (7:50 – 8:14)
- “This is basic technology. Simple. People use Facebook for regular purposes but I use Facebook to help people and do business.” (13:30 – 13:40)
- “Just because a number of people would join the page organically, I have been contacted by different recruiters who refer them to the Pharmacies. As you know that there’s a severe shortage going on at the moment. So, people contact me because I have got an influx of Overseas Pharmacists. They want me to refer them to Pharmacies. Then, of course, I have to interview them first. I use Zoom and Meetings and all these kinds of technologies, first of all. I try to interview them—first interview, second interview and then when I feel confident about the candidate, I refer that candidate to the recruiters and different companies.” (13:46 – 14:16)
- “We are making Australia’s first Australian Pharmacy Course with regards to Overseas Pharmacists. And I am writing that course with my other colleague as well. So, we are two people who are writing that course. What will that course be? That course will teach the Overseas Pharmacists the basics of Australian laws, the basics of Australian Pharmacy practices.” (15:14 – 15:33)
- “So, what we are doing is that we are making a course now. And that course will help the Overseas Pharmacists to have basic knowledge so that owners are comfortable in hiring them. And they don’t have to spend the extra money and extra time within the Pharmacy to train them.” (16:12 – 16:25)
- “We are making a portal as well with the Guild. And that portal will connect the Overseas Pharmacists with the employer.” (16:32 – 16:38)
- “This is just all about addressing the expectation from the Overseas Pharmacists.” (18:33 – 18:36)
Social Media Clips (Time Stamps)
- Who is Asad? (1:47 – 3:55)
- Work that Asad does with Pharmacy Guild and as a KAPS Coach (5:01 – 5:51)
- How Asad helps Overseas Pharmacists (6:09 – 9:32)
- Use of technology (12:58 – 14:42)
- How Asad helps Australian Pharmacy Owners (15:04 – 17:21)
- Addressing expectations (18:31 – 20:02)
- Two things Overseas Pharmacists need from Australian Pharmacy Owners (20:42 – 21:36)
Useful Links
KAPS exam guide and sample papers | Australian Pharmacy Council
Pharmacy Guild of Australia: Overview | LinkedIn
Home – Pharmacy Guild of Australia
Scott Carpenter, EVBC | LinkedIn
Shopfront Solutions: Overview | LinkedIn
Aerion Technologies: Overview | LinkedIn
Aerion Technologies | Helping Non-Techs Build Better Tech
