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Conference

PIF Retreat 2025

Applications close by Monday 27 January 2025

Date

26 - 27 March 2025

Location

RANZCP Head Office

Organised by

Psychiatry Interest Forum (PIF)

Delivery

In-person
PIF

We are excited to be hosting this year's Retreat in Naarm (Melbourne), on the lands of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong/Boon Wurrung peoples of the Kulin Nation. It will be held at the RANZCP Head office from Wednesday 26 to Thursday 27 March 2025. 

This is the third year running the two-day enrichment activity that is designed specifically for PIF members who are curious about a career in psychiatry and want to take their knowledge about the specialisation to the next level. 

The PIF Retreat will be a fantastic opportunity to meet and engage with a range of local trainees and psychiatrists, and to immerse yourself in a wide variety of activities such as offsite visits, as well as have a chance to meet and network with like-minded PIF scholars from around Australia.  

About the scholarship 

Twenty (20) scholarships will be made available to Australian-based PIF members who are medical students or junior doctors (PGY 1 and PGY 2 only). Reserve scholarship places are on offer for new and existing PIF members who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. 

* Previous PIF Retreat recipients are ineligible to apply.  

Successful applicants will receive: 

  • Financial support to cover travel expenses for air or road travel and accommodation for eligible applicants 

  • Participation in the full 2025 PIF Retreat program 

  • Invitation to participate in PIF welcome dinner Tuesday 25 March (optional) 

How to apply 

Applicants are required to submit a written statement up to a maximum of 250 words addressing the eligibility criteria as follows: 

  • Your interest and/or involvement in psychiatry and mental health. 

  • What are you hoping to learn or gain by attending the PIF Retreat. 

  • How your attendance at the PIF Retreat may benefit and/or influence your medical career aspirations. 

Apply now 

Applications will close Monday 27 January 2025. Late applications will not be accepted.  

Terms & Conditions

Eligibility

Applicants must: 

  • Be a current RANZCP Psychiatry Interest Forum (PIF) member (or have their application pending), be based in Australia, and be currently enrolled as a medical student or be a postgraduate Year 1 or 2 doctor; 

  • Demonstrate an interest in psychiatry and mental health; 

  • Demonstrate what you are hoping to learn or gain by attending the PIF Retreat.   

  • Demonstrate how the Retreat will benefit and/or influence their medical career aspirations; 

  • Commit to attending full Retreat program days and functions  

Eligibility for the scholarship will be assessed and is awarded at the discretion of the PIF Selection Panel. 

Previous PIF Retreat recipients are ineligible to apply.  

PIF members who have previously been awarded a PIF sponsorship to attend another PIF or RANZCP organised event are eligible to apply, however consideration may be given to those who have not previously received a sponsorship. 

Applicants will receive financial support relating to their travel expenses (if required) as set out in these Terms and Conditions.  

Travel expenses

For applicants residing more than 80 km from the RANZCP Head office, Naarm (Melbourne) travel expenses covered will include: 

  • hotel accommodation (including breakfast) for two nights (check-in 25 March 2025; check-out 27 March 2025) across the duration of the Retreat at the hotel accommodation selected by the RANZCP; and 

  • flights or travel costs* to/from Melbourne, including travel to/from Melbourne airport to hotel. 

*If applicants choose to travel by road or another means, this request must be submitted as part of the application along with the estimated distance for return travel. This request will be assessed and accepted by the PIF Selection Panel at its discretion. For road travel using a private motor vehicle, related commute costs to/from the Retreat including fuel, road tolls and parking costs will be covered. Travel to/and from your home address to your local airport will not be covered. 

Proof of receipts (e.g. fuel, parking, airport shuttle) will be required as evidence to claim reimbursement.  

Accommodation and flights must be booked via the dedicated PIF Retreat travel and conference organising agents. 

Applicants acknowledge that: 

  • incidental costs associated with travel and attendance at the Retreat, including additional baggage, will not be included and are the responsibility of the successful applicant; 

  • any additional nights’ accommodation outside of the Retreat dates (25-27 March 2025) are entirely the responsibility of the scholarship recipient and will not be covered by the scholarship grant; and 

  • meals and other in-hotel entertainment or other expenses outside of the Retreat program (e.g. minibar purchases) will not be covered by the scholarship grant and must be paid for by the applicant incurring that cost.  

For applicants residing within 80 km of the RANZCP Head office, Naarm (Melbourne) travel costs related to commuting to/from Retreat via public transport or private motor vehicle will be covered by their scholarship. This request must be submitted as part of the application and will be assessed and accepted by the PIF Selection Panel at its discretion. For road travel using a private motor vehicle, related commute costs to/from Retreat including mileage cost, road tolls and parking costs will be covered.  

Proof of tax invoice (e.g. fuel, parking, train ticket) will be required as evidence to claim reimbursement.  

Selection

The PIF Selection Panel will assess the applications based on the application criteria and determine the successful applicants.  

Decisions of the PIF Selection Panel are final.  

Successful applicants will be notified via email by the end of February and are expected to confirm their acceptance of a scholarship in writing by the required deadline. Scholarship recipients are expected to obtain any necessary approvals or leave they require from their university, employer or similar in order to attend the full conference program. 

The PIF Selection Panel may award additional scholarships at a later time at its absolute discretion.   

Acceptance

In the event that a successful applicant is unable to attend, or a successful applicant does not communicate their acceptance of the scholarship before the required deadline, the PIF Selection Panel may elect to award that scholarship to another eligible applicant. 

By accepting a scholarship, the recipient provides their consent to the RANZCP to publicise the names of the successful applicants, their location and their university or workplace in RANZCP communications, including notifying a student’s university of the scholarship award.  

Photography and recording

Images and/or voices of attendees and scholarship recipients may be recorded during Retreat sessions and in breaks for use in RANZCP website, communications and media, including social media. If you do not wish for your image or voice to be publicised, please email pif@ranzcp.org. 

Evaluation

All PIF Retreat 2025 attendees will be required to participate in a compulsory evaluation activity which involves a pre and post survey as a condition of accepting the scholarship. 

Insurance

Participants are strongly advised to secure appropriate health insurance. The sponsorship does not provide any such coverage. The RANZCP and PIF accept no responsibility for any loss in this regard. 

Cancellation

If you are unwell or unforeseen circumstances arise and can no longer attend, please contact us as soon as possible via email pif@ranzcp.org.  

Funding

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists has received Australian Government funding under the Psychiatry Workforce Package (PWP) to deliver this initiative.