On Friday 25 October, the College submitted our 2024 annual progress report to the Australian Medical Council, showcasing the breadth of work underway to meet all accreditation conditions by 2026. We have made substantial progress towards meeting many of our conditions, including those related to trainee communication and engagement, assessment reform, cultural safety, and psychiatry workforce advocacy. I thank all College members and staff involved in advancing this significant piece of work. The full report will be available on the accreditation webpage in the coming days.

In other news, the College continues to advocate for the Raise the Age campaign. Earlier this month, we submitted a response to the Senate inquiry into Australia’s youth justice and incarceration system, advocating for several key measures including raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility to 14 to align with developmental consensus and international human rights standards. The College emphasised the need for diversion programs to prevent youth from entering the justice system, and culturally-safe, Indigenous-led programs to reduce the overrepresentation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth. The submission also advocates for enforceable national minimum standards for youth justice, a ban on harmful practices like spit hoods, and expanded access to mental health services.

Moving on, after a successful launch and inaugural intake in September, applications are now open for the second intake of the College’s Certificate of Postgraduate Training in Clinical Psychiatry, due to commence in March 2025. College Fellows are invited to get involved as Certificate supervisors, reviewers and peer group facilitators. 

On the events front, we had a successful turnout at the 2024 conference of the Faculty of Forensic Psychiatry and the Section of Child and Adolescent Forensic Psychiatry, as well as the 2024 International Congress on Neuropsychiatry, both of which received excellent feedback from attendees. Work is in full swing to confirm our events calendar for 2025, and early bird registration for RANZCP 2025 Congress is now open.

In case you missed it, the RANZCP Foundation is offering two PhD scholarships to support research in psychiatry. Funding of up to A$60,000 is available to RANZCP Fellows, Affiliates or trainees pursuing PhD research in psychiatry.

And lastly, I’d like to take a moment to celebrate the remarkable achievements of some of our members. Professor Manjula O’Connor has been honoured with the prestigious 2024 Premier’s Award for Victorian Senior of the Year for her tireless work in raising awareness about dowry abuse and family violence in Victoria. Professor Michael Berk has received the 2024 Australian Mental Health Prize in the professional category, in recognition of his exceptional leadership in mental health.  And our very own Board Director Dr Ava Carter has been awarded a 2024 Churchill Fellowship for her innovative project focused on dedicated dental care units for psychiatric patients. These outstanding individuals represent just a few of our many dedicated members who are making a significant impact in the lives of others through their work.

Dr Elizabeth Moore
 RANZCP President