Caution
Copyright © Monash University 1996
ISBN 1037-0919
Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996
The college was initially established in the Melbourne Technological Museum, moved to Fitzroy for a short period, and was ultimately housed in the County Court building at 360 Swanston Street. The Pharmaceutical Society had purchased the building in 1882 and had carried out adequate renovations to commence classes at that site in 1884.
The first classes were established under an apprenticeship system which involved attendance at the college for tuition in chemistry, botany, materia medica and pharmacy. Students could enter the course at any date and pursue an independent course of study leading to a registration examination conducted by the Pharmacy Board of Victoria. A compulsory syllabus was formalised within the Medical Act 1915 and subsequently led to a four-year apprenticeship and study requirement for registration.
In 1960 great changes took place in pharmacy education. The college, still as the School of the Pharmaceutical Society of Victoria, moved to new premises in Parkville. In the same year the Pharmacy Board approved a full-time three-year course in pharmacy and abandoned the apprenticeship system of training.
The college affiliated with the Victoria Institute of Colleges in 1966 and was granted permission to award the Bachelor of Pharmacy degree in 1967. The college thus became the first non-university school in Australia to offer a bachelors degree. A Master of Pharmacy degree followed in 1970.
Prior to 1967 the college had run as a private institution. It was funded primarily from student fees with some government assistance and the generosity of benefactors. In 1967, by an agreement between the Federal and State governments, the college received its first appreciable government financial assistance which supplemented student fees. In 1974 the Federal Government abolished fees in tertiary institutions and took over the full responsibility for funding post-secondary education.
The Swanston Street building and the original development at Parkville were funded by the Pharmaceutical Society through the generosity of its members, the pharmaceutical industry, various benefactors and with large State Government assistance. A new laboratory block on the Parkville site was opened in 1971. Although built from government funds, it was furnished and equipped by the Pharmaceutical Society of Victoria by way of an appeal to its members and to the pharmaceutical and allied industries.
In accordance with government requirements the college became an independent organisation in 1977. It became a company limited by guarantee, the Victorian College of Pharmacy Ltd, and operated under the Companies Act. The academic activities of the college were governed by the Medical Act, the Pharmacists Act and the Victoria Institute of Colleges Act.
Through the repeal of the Victoria Institute of Colleges Act in 1980 the college was then accountable to the Victorian Post-Secondary Education Commission and required to operate in accordance with the Post-Secondary Education Act 1978. In 1984 the college became a `declared institution' and was able to accredit its full range of courses through a process similar to that adopted by universities.
A major restructuring commenced in 1988 in the wake of the Commonwealth Government's white paper on higher education. Essentially the so-called binary system of having separate but parallel sectors of universities and colleges of advanced education was abolished. Several of the larger institutes of higher education were upgraded to university status. Smaller colleges such as the Victorian College of Pharmacy were encouraged to amalgamate with larger institutions. A new unified national system of higher education emerged.
Initially the college explored the possibility of a link with the University of Melbourne, through affiliation in 1988 and a heads of agreement in 1989. However, in the face of unresolved difficulties, amalgamation negotiations between the two institutions broke down in 1990.
Later in 1990 discussions were commenced with Monash University. An affiliation agreement and heads of agreement were entered into as the first steps towards amalgamation.
Government approval was given to the merger with Monash University in 1990. The assets and liabilities of the Victorian College of Pharmacy (Monash University) Ltd were transferred to Monash University on 1 July 1992. This was achieved by the successful passage through the Victorian Parliament of the Monash University (Pharmacy College) Act 1992. The college was managed by an Interim Management Committee pending the liquidation of the college company being completed and pending the making of appropriate legislation by the Monash University Council.
In December 1992 and February 1993 the Victorian College of Pharmacy Statute and Regulations were made by the University Council. This legislation established the college as the equivalent of a faculty of Monash University and provided for its academic affairs to be governed by a college board chaired by the dean and director.
In 1994, the honours degree of Bachelor of Pharmacy was commenced as a direct entry into the college's graduate research programs. A revised and retitled Graduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy was readied for introduction in 1995. New regulations were drafted and approved to govern the BPharm and MPharm degrees. The college board also redesignated the college's three schools into four departments of Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Biology and Pharmacology, Pharmaceutics and Pharmacy Practice.
1839 - First pharmacy (Cotter's) established in Melbourne.
1842 - London School of Pharmacy established.
1843 - Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain received charter.
1857 - Pharmaceutical Society of Victoria founded.
1876 - Pharmacy Board of Victoria established through the Medical Act.
1877 - First meeting of the Pharmacy Board of Victoria.
1881 - Victorian College of Pharmacy established as the School of the Pharmaceutical Society of Victoria; first lectures given at the Technological Museum.
1882 - J Kruze appointed director; classes transferred to 60 Hanover Street, Fitzroy.
1882 - County Court Building, 360 Swanston Street, purchased from the Government (#400).
1884 - Classes started at Swanston Street; H Shillinglaw appointed first secretary/registrar.
1886 - First issue, Australian Journal of Pharmacy.
1887 - A H Jackson appointed college director.
1887 - Compulsory pharmacy course introduced for medical students.
1890 - S Plowman appointed college director.
1895 - Major building additions at Swanston Street.
1897 - First female graduate.
1910 - Cyril Tonkin awarded his second gold medal.
1913 - C L Butchers appointed secretary/registrar.
1913 - Major additions to Swanston Street building.
1915 - Four-year apprenticeship system commenced in accordance with the Medical Act.
1920 - A T S Sissons appointed first dean; retired 1962.
1927 - Pharmacy Guild of Australia established.
1928 - Further building additions at Swanston Street site.
1929 - Fellowship course introduced (FPS by examination).
1936 - The last of the major building alterations made at Swanston Street.
1941 - F C Kent appointed secretary/registrar.
1941 - Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia established.
1943 - C L Butchers Library established.
1951 - Property at Parkville purchased.
1957 - Centenary, Pharmaceutical Society of Victoria.
1958 - War Memorial Building Appeal launched.
1960 - Full-time three-year course commenced.
1960 - College moved to new War Memorial Building, Royal Parade, Parkville.
1962 - Completion of the Sissons Mural.
1963 - N C Manning appointed dean; retired 1978.
1963 - Three autonomous schools established within the college (Pharmaceutics, Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Chemistry).
1965 - A H Kelly appointed secretary/registrar.
1965 - Further Parkville property purchased.
1966 - College affiliated with the Victoria Institute of Colleges.
1967 - Federal Government finance received.
1967 - Furnish and Equipment Appeal.
1968 - Bachelor of Pharmacy degree awarded as the first non-university degree in Australia.
1969 - H V Feehan appointed secretary/registrar.
1970 - Master of Pharmacy degree approved.
1970 - Intersearch program established with the University of Kansas.
1970 - Graduate School founded.
1971 - Further Parkville property purchased
1971 - New laboratory block opened.
1972 - Commonwealth Pharmaceutical Association Conference, Melbourne.
1973 - R Burnet appointed registrar of college; resigned 1993.
1974 - Pharmacists Act replaced Part III of the Medical Act (1958).
1975 - Institute of Drug Technology founded.
1976 - College incorporated as a company to become an independent, autonomous college of advanced education.
1976 - Pharmaceutical Society of Australia founded.
1977 - Centenary, Pharmacy Board of Victoria.
1978 - Graduate Diploma in Hospital Pharmacy commenced.
1978 - Victorian Post-Secondary Education Act.
1979 - G N Vaughan appointed dean; resigned 1987.
1981 - Centenary, Victorian College of Pharmacy Centenary Banquet, 23 May 1981, Great Hall, National Gallery of Victoria.
1982 - Centenary Plaque installed.
1982 - Sigma School of Pharmacy Practice established.
1983 - Graduate Diploma in Community Pharmacy commenced.
1984 - Buildings on Parkville campus named `Sissons', `Scott' and `Manning'.
1984 - College became a `declared institution', thus accrediting its own courses.
1985 - Reader position included in the academic staff establishment.
1986 - College established as the Department of Pharmaceutical Science of the University of Melbourne for postgraduate studies.
1986 - 1851 Scholarship awarded to Jennifer Martin, MPharm.
1986 - Institute of Drug Technology Ltd changed its structure and management to become the Institute of Drug Technology (Aust.) Pty Ltd with college holding a substantial equity.
1988 - T R Watson appointed dean and director; retired 1991.
1988 - Affiliation Agreement signed between the college and the University of Melbourne. The two institutions thereby agreed to examine the possibility of a closer association.
1989 - R Burnet appointed deputy director; resigned 1993.
1989 - Heads of Agreement signed between the college and the University of Melbourne. The two institutions thereby agreed to pursue the aim of an amalgamation scheduled for 1 January 1991.
1990 - Amalgamation negotiations with the University of Melbourne terminated.
1990 - Affiliation Agreement and Heads of Agreement signed between the college and Monash University whereby the institutions agreed to pursue the aim of an amalgamation.
1991 - C B Chapman appointed dean and director.
1992 - Passage of the Monash University (Pharmacy College) Act formalised the merger of the college with Monash University.
1992 - The college company, established in 1976, was liquidated.
1992 - Victorian College of Pharmacy Statute and Regulations made by the Monash University Council came into force. The college board was established to govern the academic affairs of the college.
1993 - M D Watson appointed registrar.
1994 - Commencement of the honours degree of Bachelor of Pharmacy. New BPharm and MPharm regulations approved by the college board.
+ to foster the advancement of knowledge and understanding of the pharmaceutical sciences, and to achieve standards of excellence in teaching and research in those areas;
+ to ensure that the quality and number of college graduates satisfy community needs;
+ to provide an environment for its students that will encourage them to develop an attitude to learning that will continue throughout their professional career;
+ in conjunction with the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (Victorian Branch) Ltd, to provide continuing education programs directed towards enabling pharmacists in all areas of professional practice to keep abreast of the developments in pharmaceutical science to meet the needs of the community;
+ to interact and cooperate effectively with other educational institutions, governments and their instrumentalities, industry, professional associations, and other sections of the community for the benefit of the community.
+ to maintain a high level of professional practice through the provision of continuing education programs designed to meet the particular needs of the generalist and specialist branches of the profession;
+ to maintain and expand the research function of the college through collaboration with established industrial research groups and to foster the development of Australian-based research in the pharmaceutical and medical sciences;
+ to ensure that the college is able to continue to acquire and maintain major items of scientific equipment and expertise in scientific techniques, and thus remain in the forefront of research in the pharmaceutical sciences;
+ to act as a research resource centre for industry and research institutes involved in the pharmaceutical and medical sciences;
+ to identify disadvantaged students and provide appropriate assistance;
+ to provide bridging/summer-school/refresher courses to meet the needs of students seeking entry to the undergraduate or postgraduate schools, and for those overseas-qualified immigrant pharmacists seeking registration to practise in Australia;
+ to develop specialist postgraduate courses in pharmacy and the related sciences to meet the needs of the community;
+ to encourage an attitude of commitment to the college and the profession, and to recognise and reward excellence in teaching, research, administration and professional involvement, appropriately;
+ to achieve efficiency and effectiveness through devolution of responsibilities to senior staff;
+ to provide senior staff with the means to gain access to development programs to assist them with their managerial responsibilities;
+ to be constantly aware of its accountability to the community and the profession of pharmacy;
+ to evaluate efficiency and effectiveness in teaching, research and administration;
26 Australia Day - college closed
11 Labour Day - college open, lectures continue
13 Opening address and prize-giving
15 Lectures resume after Easter recess
25 Anzac Day - college closed
20 Non-teaching period (first-year students only)
23 Progress examinations begin
27 Lectures resume after non-teaching period (first-year students only)
27 Final examination begins
21 First semester ends
27 Pharmacy II mid-year examinations begin
27 Pharmacy III forensic pharmacy examination
22 Second semester begins
26 Last day for withdrawal from Bachelor of Pharmacy course without penalty
27 Non-teaching period
30 Last day of entry for final examination
18 Second semester ends
21 Final examination begins
28 Pharmacy I, II and III examinations begin
8 Pharmacy I, II and III examinations end; last day for return of locker keys and removal of apparatus
30 Applications for admission to Graduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy course close