Before completing a Master of Pharmacy at the University of Sydney, Riza studied pharmacy at an Indonesian university and worked at a government psychiatric hospital.
His experience with patients at the hospital, paired with his studies in Sydney, inspired him to introduce a new discipline in Pharmacy in Indonesia: psychiatric pharmacy.
Working at the hospital, Riza realised that more could and should be available through pharmaceutical services for patients with mental disorders. He saw a gap in pharmacy education concerning psychiatric pharmacy in Indonesia, so he has been using his experience and knowledge gained through his Master's degree to train pharmacists in his local area in this vital role.
What inspired you to advance your career in pharmacy at the University of Sydney?
My personal experience of interacting with patients made me want to advance pharmaceutical services for patients with mental disorders in Indonesia.
Many of them experience problems related to drug use, and some of them are at a severe level. The role of pharmacists is essential to assist patients in ensuring the safety and efficacy of their medications.
The University of Sydney is one of the best universities in the world, with many experts and researchers, especially in pharmacy. The staff at the University were very open in helping answer my questions, even after I returned to Indonesia. This was important to gain a broader insight into what I faced in the working world and the development plans I wanted to achieve.
Tell us about your project to introduce a new discipline in pharmacy (psychiatric pharmacy) in Indonesia.
Pharmaceutical services for patients with mental disorders are not optimally performed by pharmacists in Indonesia. This is due to various factors, one of which is the lack of knowledge about psychiatric pharmacy during pharmacy education.
I have begun networking with pharmacists in mental health services in hospitals, community health centres and clinics. Together with my colleagues at the hospital, I have organised several psychiatric pharmacy training sessions. These included speakers from Australian mental health researchers and practitioners (University of New South Wales and University of South Australia) - and I hope that in the future lecturers and researchers from the University of Sydney School of Pharmacy will also be available to share their knowledge at our training sessions.
So far, my team and I have conducted online and offline training sessions to introduce the important role pharmacists play in providing health services to patients with mental health problems.
How do you believe increased knowledge of psychiatric pharmacy will benefit people in Indonesia?
I anticipate these training sessions will increase the awareness to the pharmaceutical world in Indonesia to improve pharmaceutical services for patients with mental disorders so finally there is a quality standard for Indonesian pharmacists in providing pharmaceutical services to patients with mental disorders.
I hope that there will be an Indonesian pharmacist organisation that focuses on mental health so that it can become a government partner in improving the quality of mental health services in Indonesia.
With more pharmacists who have the ability to deal with issues related to patients with mental disorders, more patients will be helped without feeling stigmatised.
How has your degree and the Australia Awards sponsorship helped you achieve your career goals?
My education at the University of Sydney has given me the opportunity and confidence to collaborate with mental health experts from other countries. Networking with experts from different countries has given me a unique position in the eyes of my fellow pharmacists in Indonesia.
During my studies at the University of Sydney, the Australia Awards and the International Office were very helpful., especially in the early days when I first lived and studied in Sydney. I always advise all Indonesian students studying at the University of Sydney to be open to receiving help and support from all parties, especially the International Office.
What advice would you give to students beginning a career in pharmacy?
Have lots of discussions with lecturers and practitioners while studying. Don't forget to maintain connections with various parties after graduation.
This is because pharmacy is a world that is always evolving and there are many opportunities for development that can be obtained by interacting and gaining experience from others.
What is your fondest memory of your time at the University of Sydney?
My most memorable experience at the University of Sydney was my interaction with the late Dr. Erica Sainsbury. I asked her regularly about practical things that are often done by health workers in Indonesia that I never encountered in Australia. Her answers made me realise the importance of wisdom in the practice of pharmaceutical services.
Another experience that I will remember is when I did my clinical placement in a hospital in Western Sydney. The way Australian pharmacists work and the systems in place in that hospital gave me valuable experience in developing technical and strategic methods in my current work.