Three outstanding pharmacists have recently been recognised for their impactful contributions to their communities’ healthcare.
Sobia Irfan Hashmi and Irfan Hashmi received the 2025 South Australia Local Hero Award for their dedication to culturally sensitive healthcare in remote and rural communities. Employing staff who collectively speak 21 languages, they have broadened healthcare access and supported South Australia’s multicultural community. They have also provided free webinars to prepare more than 4,000 overseas pharmacists for exams in the past year, helping to meet critical workforce needs. Reflecting on the award in a LinkedIn post, Irfan said, “This award is not just ours—it belongs to our incredible community, family, friends, and every individual who has supported us on this journey. Together, we are stronger, and together, we make a difference.”
Sobia and Irfan Hashmi proudly accepting South Australia’s ‘Local Hero’ award at the Australian of the Year ceremony.
Laura Stewart of Pharmacy 777 in Western Australia’s remote Pilbara region was recognised as a Medicare Champion in the Stronger Medicare Awards. Her outreach initiatives for Aboriginal Health and fly-in-fly-out workers highlight her commitment to rural healthcare. Like Sobia and Ifran, Laura’s mentorship of over 150 students is building a better future pharmacy workforce.
Laura Stewart from Pharmacy 777 in Western Australia has been announced as a Medicare Champion in the Stronger Medicare Awards
Congratulations to Sobia, Irfan, Laura, and Gareth Wheeldon of Capital Chemist University of Canberra, another Medicare finalist, for their inspiring achievements and dedication.
