OUR STORY
Prior to being known as Community Care Chemist, our iconic pharmacy was referred to as The Geelong United Friendly Societies Dispensary. Established in 1898, the organisation provided its members with welfare benefits of various kinds, including much needed medicines at a lower price.
WHO WE ARE TODAY? WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT?
Over 120 years later, we’re proud to still be a much-loved local icon in the Geelong and Apollo Bay regions.
Unlike other pharmacies which are owned and operated by pharmacists (or a partnership of pharmacists), we’re one of the few pharmacies in Australia that adopt the ‘friendly society’ model.
We are a mutual, not-for-profit company. We serve our members and customers with a whole health and whole heart approach. Our business structure requires that surplus funds or profits be reinvested back into our organisation and community, and that our members contribute to a common fund; our membership fee.
By becoming a member, and with your ongoing support, you ensure that we can contribute to support the communities in which we operate in with our whole health whole heart promise:
- As well as pharmacists, we have accredited diabetes educators and naturopaths, in-store, who care for your whole health
- We are your local, not-for-profit pharmacy. With whole heart we give back to our community through active sponsorship and donations.
Membership delivers quality healthcare for you, your family and the whole community.