Ellen Jones
Class of 2009
Ellen has pursued a career as a Pharmacist in the outback, working in a new and incredibly rewarding space.
After becoming a Pharmacist in 2013, Ellen packed her bags and moved to North West QLD where she works to provide comprehensive and holistic primary health services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
What did you do directly after school?
Straight from school I moved to Brisbane and went to University. I started studying a Bachelor of Science for one year and then moved into the Accelerated Bachelor of Pharmacy program.
If applicable, What are you doing since graduation?
I became a Pharmacist in 2013 after finishing my studies. Not long after that I’ve moved to Mount Isa in North West QLD and I am loving my outback life. I work as a Pharmacist in an organisation that provides comprehensive and holistic primary health services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This is a new space for pharmacists to work in and it is very rewarding to be part of.
What were your interests during school… sport, music etc and are you still involved?
At school I played netball and played the saxophone in Concert Band and Jazz Band.
What are your long-term goals now that you have graduated?
I hope to continue to create and work in innovative roles for pharmacists, especially in rural areas.
What challenges you faced post-school, and even post-uni?
I am currently doing postgraduate study which is challenging on top of full time work.
What are your highlights from school, teachers, programs etc?
I have fond memories of all my teachers at St Andrew's and loved my time there. It was really nice to catch up with everyone at our 10 year reunion a few years ago and see what everyone has been up to! It’s great to see all the new facilities that have been built since my time. The highlights were definitely the people, both staff and students.
Do you stay in touch with friends from school?
Yes, I stay in touch with friends from school. We were all really close at school and are all still really good friends now, even when we all live at opposite ends of the country!