Anna Barwick took out this year’s NSW Premier’s Woman of the Year and Regional Woman of the Year and credits a rural upbringing – growing up on the family’s Peak Hill farm, going to university in Orange – as a large part in making her who she is.
She was recognised for her start-up PharmOnline, which connects residents in remote NSW with tele-health services, a vital service aiding in reducing the physical tyranny of distance experienced by so many people living in the bush.
Here she speaks to JOHN RYAN about her life to date and what the award means to her future.
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Tell us about the award, what does it mean to you?
The award is a wonderful acknowledgement of innovative women in the bush. It is an honour to follow in the footsteps of Dr Kerry Chant and Grace Brennan, who were awarded these titles last year.
Did it come as a surprise?
It was a huge surprise! The diversity and success of all the finalists was outstanding. The women from across NSW are all contributing to causes that will improve so many lives. I feel very lucky to have been chosen amongst them.
How do you best describe PharmOnline?
PharmOnline is the first pharmacist-led telehealth service in Australia. We aim to offer 24/7 access to video and phone consultations with pharmacists where it suits you. We have an experienced team of pharmacists located across the country to help you with your medication questions, to diagnose common ailments, to triage and refer you back to local health services where appropriate.
How did you come up with that concept?
The concept first came about when I was a first-time mum. It can be a very overwhelming and anxious time. As a parent, you often think that there are things that are wrong with your baby and you often go to “Dr Google” for help. This can cause even more anxiety; it is far better to go to an experienced health professional for advice and support. When Covid-19 lockdowns hit, it became even more apparent that people needed this assistance at home, so I started up PharmOnline with the help of the University of New England Smart Region Incubator (UNE SRI).
How difficult was it to get PharmOnline off the ground?
It has been challenging. As a clinician, business and tech is not something I have been trained in, so I am learning all the time. I made sure I asked for help from colleagues, mentors and friends and then completed research myself to identify the best platform to use. Funding is an area that we are actively working on, to be able to subsidise our service and make it more accessible to all. We are working with organisations that are keen to support their staff and clients’ health and wellbeing and hope to expand this further.
Where do you see it heading into the future?
There are so many opportunities for PharmOnline in the private and public sectors. We are continually building and expanding our team to include pharmacists with specialities in particular health conditions. In the future, we may even expand into Asia, where Australian health professionals are highly valued.
How much of a boost will this recognition give when it comes to highlighting the importance of these sorts of services to rural and remote communities?
This recognition is wonderful for rural and remote communities. It demonstrates that our politicians are interested in new ways of supporting health care. It is critical to reduce the health gap between rural and metropolitan people.
Tell us about growing up on the farm, what your hobbies and interests were.
I grew up on Waratah – a 3500 acre organic and biodynamic broadacre farm at Peak Hill. It was an idyllic childhood, with plenty of freedom but also responsibilities. My mum and dad are still there, raising merino sheep, poll Hereford cattle and grain crops. I always enjoyed helping with stock work and ended up winning the National Junior Merino Fleece judging at the Sydney Royal in 2005. This would be my dad’s influence as a TAFE qualified wool-classer. During school, I played a range of team sports, including cricket, netball, soccer and softball. I also volunteered on a number of committees locally.
Where did you go to school?
I completed all of my schooling at Peak Hill Central.
Where did you go to university and why?
I studied pharmacy at Charles Sturt University in Orange. It was important to me to remain in a rural area and the Orange campus has a strong focus on agriculture. I met my husband there – Mathew and I were in the same cohort in the pharmacy program.
Tell us what sort of a role model your mum (Judi) was for you.
Mum is a wonderful role model and has always demonstrated involvement in her local community. Volunteering and giving back have been strong values in our family. Mum is definitely my biggest supporter and cheer leader!
How did you end up in Walcha?
Mathew was offered a partnership in King’s Pharmacy at Walcha. We moved there in 2010, when I was working at Tamworth Hospital Pharmacy Department after completing my training at Parkes Pharmacy. Since then, I have worked at Armidale Hospital and now at the University of New England, teaching pharmacy, medicine and nursing students. We have two children, Evie and William, who are now at school in Armidale.
