May 21, 2020
Getting to know RUM Project Manager Toni Riley
1. How long have you worked with the RUM project?
I’m the newbie at RUM having only been there for almost 5 years
2. What do you do at the RUM project?
As one of the two people who are involved in running the RUM Project, I do almost anything that needs to be done! Clara and I really share the work. In the past year or so I have spent a lot of my time working with the new manufacturer developing a new one way entry RUM bin! Now hopefully we will have RUM bins to provide all the wholesalers when needed – shortages will be a thing of the past. As the project manager, I get to answer most of the queries we receive – sometimes quite unusual questions and often from people living in other countries wanting us to collect their unwanted medicines! One of the challenges has been to increase awareness of the RUM Project – we were horrified to learn that so many Australians had not even heard of the RUM Project.
3. What do you love about working at the RUM project?
I guess the fact that we provide such a useful service to the community in providing an easy and safe way to dispose of any unwanted medicines but it’s not an easy message to get out there when we have limited funds available to “promote” our service
4. Why is the RUM project so important?
Too many unintentional poisonings occur in homes, so having an accessible disposal method that everyone knows about is essential
5. What is your dream/vision for the RUM project?
I would like to think that sometime in the future the RUM Project could be expanded to include the collection of sharps – so many people using insulin and many other injectable medicines at home don’t have a safe way of disposing of their used needles.
6. What is your go-to office snack?
We’re not great snackers in the office! But if I had to pick something I would say a flat white would do the trick!
The Return of Unwanted Medicines Project is a free service that offers a way to dispose of unwanted or expired medicines safely and conveniently at your local community pharmacy. Find out more about the service here.