"These awards recognise the outstanding contribution of the winners alongside the critical role pharmacists provided to communities throughout Queensland over the past year," Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) Queensland branch president Shane MacDonald said.

Ms Taylor has been doing research in Mount Isa (its essentially local, national and international research) about rural pharmacists being able to expand their model of care and hoped the award could shine a light on pharmacists helping close some of the gaps in the healthcare sector.

"It was a big surprise and I'm very grateful to my nominator," Ms Taylor said.

She was awarded the PSA's Intern of the Year award in 2009 and said it was rewarding and fulfilling to still go above and beyond for the community a decade later.

"Going above and beyond is often not easy to do, so that was really exciting - a decade on to be recognised for the work we're doing out here is really humbling.

"I think what I'm most proud about is I am hoping this award will shine a spotlight on rural pharmacy practice," she said on Friday.

She said pharmacists in rural and regional areas needed more support as they were already under a lot of pressure.

"Pharmacy as a whole is under a lot of pressure in this COVID-19 time - they're vaccinating and providing those extra services."

Ms Taylor has been working on a trial around pharmacists expanding their scope with a focus on ear health.

She said she was incredibly grateful to those who have contributed the research in the last couple of years as she nears completion of a PHD into the expansion of scope for pharmacists in rural areas.

"I need to thank the Centre for Rural and Remote Health and the James Cook University as well as the pharmacies that participated in the local trial and the community that has been really supportive," she said.

She said overseas pharmacists were doing some really exciting work, while pharmacy in Australia had become largely about supply of medication.

"We have an amazing skill set and a huge amount of knowledge, but a lot of our focus is around supply,

"We want to shift that focus to utilise our skills and knowledge and address some of those gaps that there are in rural and remote communities

"I'd like to think if we can develop a really exciting scope of practice we're going to have more people who want to be part of pharmacy."

She also hoped the award might give other pharmacists in rural and regional areas the motivation to consider research in their own areas.