Last year, in response to member feedback, the RANZCP commissioned an independent review into the evidence for long-term psychodynamic psychotherapy in the treatment of mood disorders. The final report from that review was released last week along with FAQs that delve into its development, findings, and next steps. This significant piece of work spanned many months and involved commendable collaboration between our members, researchers from the Anna Freud Centre, as well as those with lived experience. I thank everyone involved for your vital contributions to this work.

My time on the RANZCP Board has been a rewarding and meaningful experience. It has allowed me to engage with a great number of peers and colleagues, tackle complex challenges, and advocate for important issues; I have also enjoyed working with great staff at the College! As I reflect on this valuable experience, I encourage Fellows to consider stepping into the role of President-Elect on the RANZCP Board. It is a great opportunity for those with a minimum 5 years of Fellowship, who meet the basic requirements of a director, and possess either prior board experience or a demonstrated understanding of the duties and responsibilities of board members. Nominations are now open and will close on Tuesday 17 December.

Earlier this month, the RANZCP Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health Committee hosted our first annual cultural immersion event in Melbourne. This is a College commitment under our Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members in their role in the College. I thank members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health Committee who developed the program with the support of College staff. The reciprocal immersion event will be hosted by Te Kaunihera in Tamaki Makaurau (Auckland) in 2025.

At the start of this year, over 1,200 members shared their feedback and reflections on how they relate to and interact with the College, the services they value and use, College communications, and ideas for changes and improvements. Findings from the 2024 RANZCP membership engagement survey are now available in two reports – Fellows and Affiliates and Trainees – and will inform College priorities in 2025 and beyond. A big thanks to everyone who took the time to respond and share your feedback with us.

As members would know, the College recently completed a roll out of multifactor authentication (MFA) for all online user accounts to improve security and protect your information. As we approach the end of the year and 2024 CPD period, now is good time to log in to your CPD account and make sure everything is in order. At this stage, the College has introduced MFA via email, and we will continue to review and enhance our security controls in future stages. If you experience any issues, please contact memberhelp@ranzcp.org.

Lastly, Sharon McGowan AM will be finishing her role as the College’s Chief Executive Officer on 17 December. On behalf of the Board, members and staff, I express my sincere appreciation to Sharon for her passion, energy and commitment to advancing our vision. Her leadership has been greatly valued, and I wish her the very best for her future endeavours.

Dr Elizabeth Moore
RANZCP President