When Royal North Shore Hospital Pharmacy Technician Amanda Pollak was nominated as a finalist in the Excellence in Allied Health Awards, it’s fair to say she was happy.

“It was a total surprise – I didn’t even know, but it was very exciting,” she said.

“I felt elated – I felt really honoured and special.”

While Amanda did not go on to take out the Technician of the Year category, it was a proud moment for her and the department which has helped foster her talent and enthusiasm.

Her current position as the automatic dispensing cabinet  (ADC) manager used around the hospital, is the latest in a string of roles Amanda has held since starting as an assistant at the hospital 10 years ago.

“This is a really good department to grow in – there’s lots of opportunity,” she said.

“I’ve done many different roles within our department, learnt different processes and developed management skills which prepared me for my current role.”

Amanda’s can-do attitude held her in good stead last year, when she helped Northern Sydney Local Health District roll out the COVID-19 vaccine.

“I really enjoyed that because I was making a difference. At a time that was really very hard for a lot of people in different ways – I felt like I was able to make things a little bit easier,” she said.
 

In fact – there is only one thing Amanda cannot do; choose the favourite part of her job.

“One of the things I like the most is that I am helping patients – no one comes to hospital for fun,” she said.

“Our job is to help make sure patients have access to the medications they need, either dispensed to the patient or supplied through the ADC. Pharmacy assistants and technicians make sure this gets done safely and efficiently because at the end of the day we’re here for the patient.”

“I also genuinely enjoy spending time with people from my department – learning from them, working with them, teaching them – they’re very supportive.”