Broome pharmacist top of her class

Broome’s Shanae Hancey has been named as the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia’s 2015 Student of the Year, picking up the prestigious award earlier this month at a high-brow event in Sydney.

The accolade pitted the best young medicinally minded students from across the nation to answer questions on specific pharmacy based scenarios.

Ms Hancey, who is seven weeks away from completing her Master of Pharmacy at Curtin University in Perth, was named as WA’s winner and hence took on the frontrunners from other States.

A former Broome Senior High School student, Ms Hancey has worked at Broome Pharmacy on and off since she was 16.

She initially travelled to the State capital to complete a Bachelor of Psychology, but after obtaining her degree decided to follow her passion, pharmacy.

Ms Hancey said she had no regrets over the career change.

“I always really enjoyed it and that’s what fuelled my passion – it is one of those things where I wake up every day and I love going to work,” she said.

Along with working in Broome, Ms Hancey has also gained invaluable experience at pharmacies in Perth, Port Hedland and Denmark.

Upon finishing her studies, the Kimberley whizz is set to undertake an internship at St John of God in Subiaco.

However, Ms Hancey admitted that her ultimate goal was to work as a clinical pharmacist in a hospital and would be more than open to a return home to Broome if the opportunity arose.