The RANZCP’s Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan 2024–2026, launched during our annual Congress in May 2024, marks a significant step in our dedication to reconciliation. It sets out 20 actions with 91 deliverables to be achieved over three years. By the end of 2024, 37 deliverables have been completed with 18 more in progress.

Both Te Kaunihera and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health Committee have provided input into the Cultural Safety Training Plan Steering Group which is a foundational step in the College’s progression of developing and implementing appropriate cultural safety components within the training program.

The committees have also worked closely to develop a proposal to update the wording in the RANZCP Constitution to recognise their communities and their mental health needs, and the ongoing work of First Nations’ psychiatrists.

Te Kaunihera has focused on increasing support for Māori trainees by providing regular group cultural supervision sessions. We currently have 31 Māori psychiatrists and 32 Māori trainees. 

Last year in November, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Mental Health Committee hosted the College’s first annual cultural immersion event in Melbourne. The session brought together 20 people from the College’s three partnership committees to learn about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture.

The addition of two culturally-focused roles within the College in April increased the connection to First Nations communities. In Aotearoa New Zealand, our Kaiārahi Māori Mahue Albert, works closely with Te Kaunihera, our kaumatua, and other staff to help everyone involved with the College gain and grow their understanding of tikanga. In Australia, the College’s first Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health Liaison Officer, Chanelle Martin, is creating new pathways and connections between First Nations trainees, Fellows and the College. 

Last November, Chanelle and Mahue led a cultural awareness training session for College staff to deepen our understanding of cultural practices, with a focus on Acknowledgement of Country and the respectful pronunciation of traditional place names and languages. It was a valuable opportunity to help staff feel more confident when incorporating these practices.

We continue to fulfill our commitments in the Public Statement: Combatting racism in psychiatry through the work of the Racism Awareness Steering Group, and are engaging with the Raise the Age campaign with a focus on the impact of incarceration on Indigenous youth. 

As we continue to take action and progress this work, our priorities for the rest of this year include:

• Developing a learning journey for College staff to build skills, knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture
• Advocating for additional funding to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to enter the psychiatry profession and develop throughout their career
• Developing an event guide that can formalise the inclusion of cultural protocols in College events to ensure ongoing practice
• Creating wellbeing resources that are culturally safe
• Providing First Nations trainees with tailored support options, and scope the creation of a career-long learning journey for psychiatrists to build an understanding of culturally safe practice and the Social and Emotional Wellbeing Framework in psychiatry.