TY - GEN
T1 - UFS Dispensaries - A Friendly Society Solution to Pharmacy
AU - Mazzarol, Tim
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - Founded in 1880, United Friendly Societies Dispensaries (UFS) Ltd., is a not-for-profit, Australian Public Company, Limited by Guarantee. Headquartered in Ballarat, Victoria, UFS operates a network of nineteen pharmacies in regional Victoria, three metropolitan pharmacies in Melbourne, along with three medical centres, and two COVID clinics (testing and vaccination) in Ballarat (UFS, 2021). In addition to its pharmacies and medical clinics, UFS operates a gift shop, a day spa and wellness centre, and a Pilates and Yoga studio (BSS, 2021). UFS also provides a nursing service across 16 locations through its 24-hour pharmacies. These undertake wound care, blood pressure tests, treatments of minor injuries (e.g., sprains, burns, rashes), and illness (e.g., coughs, colds, diarrhoea), injections and immunisations. These services are provided under the Victorian State Government’s Supercare Pharmacy program, and the federal National Immunisation Program (NIP) (UFS, 2021). In 2021 UFS had an annual turnover of more than $83.5 million and employed a total of 597 people on a full-time, part-time, and casual basis, of who 88.6% were women. As a Friendly Society, UFS is a mutual enterprise, owned and controlled by its members. Throughout its long history, UFS has held numerous names including: The Ballarat United Friendly Societies Dispensaries Ltd., The Order of the Sons of Temperance National Division Friendly Society, The Order of the Sons of Temperance Friendly Society, and The Ballarat United Friendly Societies Dispensary (ASIC, 2021a).
AB - Founded in 1880, United Friendly Societies Dispensaries (UFS) Ltd., is a not-for-profit, Australian Public Company, Limited by Guarantee. Headquartered in Ballarat, Victoria, UFS operates a network of nineteen pharmacies in regional Victoria, three metropolitan pharmacies in Melbourne, along with three medical centres, and two COVID clinics (testing and vaccination) in Ballarat (UFS, 2021). In addition to its pharmacies and medical clinics, UFS operates a gift shop, a day spa and wellness centre, and a Pilates and Yoga studio (BSS, 2021). UFS also provides a nursing service across 16 locations through its 24-hour pharmacies. These undertake wound care, blood pressure tests, treatments of minor injuries (e.g., sprains, burns, rashes), and illness (e.g., coughs, colds, diarrhoea), injections and immunisations. These services are provided under the Victorian State Government’s Supercare Pharmacy program, and the federal National Immunisation Program (NIP) (UFS, 2021). In 2021 UFS had an annual turnover of more than $83.5 million and employed a total of 597 people on a full-time, part-time, and casual basis, of who 88.6% were women. As a Friendly Society, UFS is a mutual enterprise, owned and controlled by its members. Throughout its long history, UFS has held numerous names including: The Ballarat United Friendly Societies Dispensaries Ltd., The Order of the Sons of Temperance National Division Friendly Society, The Order of the Sons of Temperance Friendly Society, and The Ballarat United Friendly Societies Dispensary (ASIC, 2021a).
KW - Co-operative and Mutual Enterprise
KW - UFS Dispensaries
KW - Friendly Societies
UR - https://www.ceru.au/research/case-studies/
M3 - Article in specialist publication
JO - CEMI-CERU Case Study Research Report
JF - CEMI-CERU Case Study Research Report
SN - 2653-7036
PB - Centre for Entrepreneurial Management and Innovation (CEMI)
ER -
