Alumni Award 2026: Brooke Shelly 

Growing up in Mildura, Brooke was drawn to study pharmacy after recognising its potential through her part-time job. “[Working in a pharmacy], I really loved that the pharmacist was the focal point of the community. It was a moment where I recognised that I wanted to help people, and I think my degree really gave me the language to do that.”

The La Trobe difference

Studying her Bachelor of Pharmacy at La Trobe Bendigo, Brooke says the University’s approach set it apart. “In those final two years at La Trobe, the focus is not just on the science, calculations and medicine, but also on how you impart that knowledge to patients and make a real impact on their lives,” she says.

Brooke still sees this people-first approach in La Trobe graduates today, and it’s a key reason she maintains a strong connection with the University. “Although pharmacy wasn’t offered in Mildura when I studied, La Trobe Mildura has certainly grown, and that is an essential part of strengthening rural communities.”

As a local centre for research and education, it’s also a vital resource to her as a health professional. “I feel confident I can pick up the phone and say, ‘Hey, we have a problem in this area. How can La Trobe help me and our community to solve it?’”

A passion for impact

Throughout her career, Brooke has focused on finding new ways to improve patient outcomes, particularly for those living regionally. As a pharmacist within a general practice, she brings medicines expertise to the primary healthcare team – working alongside GPs, nurses and other health professionals. The work reflects her long-held belief that pharmacists should be wherever medicines are.

A recognised thought leader in pharmacy and rural health, Brooke is helping shape the future of the profession through innovation in clinical practice, healthcare governance, mentoring and national advocacy.

In July 2026, she was appointed Lead Negotiator for the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, leading national negotiations with the Australian Government on Australia's First Pharmacy Programs Agreement. In that role, she helps strengthen medicines safety programs and improve access to pharmacists' expertise, particularly in rural and regional communities.

Addressing the rural health equity gap

Living and working in Mildura, Brooke has seen first-hand the complexities of rural healthcare. Australians in remote communities often have poorer health outcomes, can face long wait-times to see a doctor, and are forced to travel further for care.

“Being a healthcare professional in a small town has its challenges,” she says, “But I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love that every day I’m likely to run into someone I know, because I’m not just treating patients, I’m treating my community.”

In 2026, Brooke was a finalist in the Rural Workforce Agency Victoria Awards for two awards – Outstanding Contribution to Rural Allied Health and Outstanding Contribution by a Mentor or Supervisor – acknowledging her commitment to advancing rural healthcare and supporting the next generation of health professionals.

“I’m very uncomfortable accepting that people in my community will statistically have shorter lifespans than those that live in Metro areas,” she says. “That's unacceptable to me, and it's something that should be unacceptable to all of us.”

Leading the profession forward

As Australia’s healthcare needs  continue to evolve, Brooke is optimistic about the future of pharmacy. Normalising the GP pharmacist role is just one aspect of that.

"My advice to anyone considering pharmacy is that it's so much more than you imagine. Most people picture a pharmacist in a white coat at their local pharmacy, and for good reason. Community pharmacy is the public face of our profession, and for many Australians it's a trusted healthcare relationship that lasts a lifetime,” she says. “But that's only one part of what pharmacy has to offer. My own career has taken me from community pharmacy to general practice, academia, healthcare governance and national advocacy."

“Pharmacy has given me opportunities I could never have imagined when I first started. It's a profession that teaches you to think critically, solve complex problems and, most importantly, improve people's lives."

As Australia’s population ages and healthcare becomes more complex, she sees pharmacists playing a greater role than ever. “I’m eager to support and to mentor others and make a real impact on Australia’s health,” she says. “I think the profession is really just getting started.”

Brooke completed a Bachelor of Pharmacy (2010) at La Trobe University Bendigo.