Health Workforce Spotlight: Jaana Harris

Tell us about your role and what a typical day looks like? 

As the Aged Care Onsite Pharmacist (ACOP) at Mount Kooyong, I’m part of the multidisciplinary team supporting safe, effective, and person-centred medication use. No two days are the same – I might review a resident’s medicines, collaborate with doctors and nurses, provide education, or contribute to clinical governance and quality improvement. My background in nutrition, diabetes education, medication reviews, and full-scope pharmacy practice brings a broad, holistic perspective to resident care. My role reflects a simple belief: wherever medicines are used, pharmacists should be part of the team. 

What do you enjoy most about your job?  

I most enjoy getting to know the residents and using my clinical skills to make a meaningful difference. It is incredibly rewarding to see a medication change improve someone’s comfort, wellbeing, or quality of life. I also love creating staff workshops and clinical newsletters – sharing knowledge while continuing to expand my own. It’s a role that keeps both my brain and heart engaged. 

Is there a particular patient story or experience that has stuck with you?  

One experience that will always stay with me was supporting a resident with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD. Through reviewing his medicines, developing an action plan, and helping with his inhalers, I came to know him as a person – not simply a patient. When he later entered palliative care, I helped ensure his medicines supported his comfort and had the opportunity to see him shortly before he passed away. Although deeply sad, I felt honoured to have played a part in his care. The continuity offered by the ACOP role reminded me that healthcare is as much about dignity and human connection as it is about clinical expertise. 

Why do you choose to work in a regional, rural, or remote area? 

Mount Kooyong is nestled among the lush gardens and rainforest of Julatten – there aren’t many workplaces with a setting quite like it! Working regionally allows me to improve access to care for vulnerable communities, including older people and Indigenous Australians, while practicing across a broad clinical scope. It encourages resourcefulness, collaboration, and thinking outside the box. Most of all, I love the lifestyle, familiar faces and genuine sense of connection that comes with being part of a regional community.