When Manveer, or Mav, Singh came to Australia and studied the Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours), he hoped to make a real difference to people’s lives.
“Seeing [my profession] actually make a change for the better is my main outcome, coming from a really underprivileged background,” he said.
“I grew up in India where healthcare wasn't something that was always there. If you were privileged, yes, you could see a doctor, but the healthcare structure that they had wasn't at the same standard as what we have here.
“That to me stood out quite a bit, because coming from that place and then being able to experience [Australia’s healthcare system]... it was kind of an eye-opener. That's why I've pursued what I pursued and I've always wanted to help everyone out.”
After graduating, Mav purchased the Union Road Pharmacy in Ascot Vale with the goal of connecting with locals. He does this by talking to patients about their medications and also through involvement with community projects and fundraisers.
Mav said his time at RMIT helped shape how he works in a community setting.
“I think RMIT did play a big role in the way that I practised, just because they've always taught us to be more hands on and encouraged us to communicate with the patients and not just shy away from having a conversation,” he said.
“So that's played a big role in how I practise and how I push my pharmacists to practise.”
