Western Health
Western Health is one of the largest healthcare providers in Victoria, serving a rapidly growing and culturally diverse community. We provide care to a catchment of over one million people who speak more than 150 languages and dialects. The service delivers complex care across the lifespan, from neonates to geriatrics patients.
Western Health manages several acute public hospitals: Sunshine Hospital (including Joan Kirner Women's and Children's), Footscray Hospital, Williamstown Hospital, Bacchus Marsh Hospital, Melton Hospital and Sunbury Day Hospital. Footscray Hospital, opened in February 2026, is Victoria’s newest hospital, featuring modern and advanced facilities to support high-quality healthcare.
Western Health also delivers a wide-range of community-based services, including mental health, alcohol and other drug services, and custodial health care at Dame Phyllis Frost Centre, along with many other services supporting communities across Melbourne’s west.
Western Health is fast becoming known as a vibrant, progressive organisation committed to excellence in delivering best patient care, education, staff professional development and research. Our clinicians and allied health professionals are recognised locally, nationally and internationally. Western Health maintains strong academic partnership with The University of Melbourne, La Trobe University and Victoria University of Technology.
The Western Health Pharmacy Department consists of over 250 pharmacists and support staff providing a range of clinical, operational and other support services to emergency, inpatients, specialist outpatients’ clinics and home therapies.
Intern program information
About the hospital’s pharmacy intern program information - CLICK HERE
7 intern positions are available in 2027 (5 government-funded and 2 hospital-funded).
The Western Health Pharmacy Intern Training Program is dedicated to supporting and empowering pharmacy graduates as they transition into professional practice. To achieve this, our program includes:
Orientation:
All pharmacy interns undergo a structured three-week orientation at the start of internship. This includes general orientation to Western Health, hospital tours of our Sunshine and Footscray hospitals, followed by clinical and dispensary orientation. The goal of orientation is to provide pharmacy interns foundational knowledge in clinical pharmacy and dispensary processes whilst also learning about the workplace.
Rotations:
The Western Health Pharmacy Intern Training Program offers a variety of rotations across Sunshine and Footscray campuses that include:
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Clinical |
Surgical (the Intern-led Clinical Ward): 10 weeks General Medicine: 5 weeks Cardiology: 4 weeks Neurology: 4 weeks Maternity: 4 weeks Aged Care: 4 weeks |
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Operational |
Dispensary (Inpatient and Outpatient): 8 weeks Manufacturing (Non-sterile): 2 weeks |
|
Elective (including but not limited to)
|
Emergency Medicine: 4 weeks Paediatrics: 4 weeks Mental Health: 4 weeks Clinical Trials: 2 weeks Medical Specialties (e.g. Renal, Oncology): 4 weeks |
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Quality and Informatics |
Medication Safety: 1 week Medicines Information: 3 days |
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Other activities (variable durations) |
Antimicrobial Stewardship Ward Rounds Acute Pain Management Service Ward Rounds WesternHealth@Home |
Interns are also included on our weekend roster (one shift every seven to eight weeks) which contribute to the total number of supervised practice hours.
Support:
- Intern Co-ordinator: Oversees intern rosters, education, and progress
- Intern Mentor: Each pharmacy intern is allocated a dedicated pharmacist mentor for additional support and guidance throughout their intern year
- Research Supervisor: Each pharmacy intern is allocated a senior pharmacist as their research mentor to support the development and completion of a research project
- Department support: Ongoing support from all members of the pharmacy department, including Senior Pharmacists and the Pharmacy Education Team
Research Project:
Each intern will complete a research project. This opportunity provides interns hands on experience in developing core project and administrative skills specific to conducting research. Pharmacy interns are provided a dedicated 1-week research rotation to support them in completing their project.
Educational activities:
- Tutorials: Once-weekly tutorials covering clinical, primary healthcare, research, and exam preparation topics
- Exam preparation: Several oral practice exams are offered under strict exam conditions to simulate the formal environment
Contacts
Ms Julie Vi (Senior Pharmacist - Education)
Email: educationpharmacy@wh.org.au
T: 0466 377 535/ 8345 0015
Intern positions
7 total (5 DH funded, 2 hospital funded)
Other resources
Pharmacy Intern Program Brochure
Pharmacy Intern Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
For further information about Western Health Pharmacy and our intern program, please visit the Pharmacy – Frontline Career website or scan the QR code below
