The Psychiatry Interest Forum (PIF) has completed its first year in New Zealand Aotearoa, delivering over 16 events attended by 120+ PIF members.

The 2023 highlights included webinars, Introduction to Psychiatry Short Courses, tailored programs at Congress and the New Zealand Conference, as well as sponsorships to student associations, career expos and Pasifika Medical Association Conference. The program now has over 590 members, including 90 Māori and Pasifika members.

Over 120 members, including 23 Māori and Pasifika members, participated in PIF activities during the year to gain insights into psychiatry careers and its diverse subspecialties, to learn about the RANZCP Fellowship program, and to network with College Fellows and trainees. 

The PIF team would like to also thank College President, Dr Elizabeth Moore; President-Elect and Chair of the PIF Advisory Group, Dr Astha Tomar; members of the PIF Advisory Group, Te Kaunihera and Tu Te Akaaka Roa for their continued guidance. Special thanks also to all the members who contributed and supported the PIF New Zealand program in 2023.

De-identified feedback received from members about their experience at Congress and the New Zealand Conference include:

“Networking with SMO’s and registrars, especially from NZ. This gave a varied range of doctors with different subspeciality and experiences to learn more from. My favourite talk was the MH treatment in rural area. This opened my eyes to an area of psychiatry I wasn’t considering prior”.

“The workshops on rural psychiatry further highlighted the barriers faced by individuals in remote areas in accessing mental health services. As an attendee, I couldn't help but draw parallels between the insights shared in these workshops and the context of rural and Māori mental health in Aotearoa.

“Increased my eagerness, passion, interest and love for psychiatry. Shift my focus towards providing holistic multi-disciplinary care, as opposed to narrowing on medical management”.

“I found this [Wānanga] to be a very valuable experience in not only connecting with Māori registrars and consultants but to also learn about the land in which the conference was being held on. This was a great opportunity to connect and learn about current problems faced within this sphere.”