From the Secretary's Desk

Website

The College website has proven an important tool for dissemination of information and we are looking at reviewing its current resource arrangements. The Executive is gathering together a small group of interested College Fellows who will provide advice on the editorial and management aspects of the website, pending a more formal editorial structure in the future.

Awards

At its recent meeting, General Council discussed the range of College awards including the College Medal of Honour and the College Citation. Such awards are important in recognising the achievement of College Fellows, and for boosting collegiate morale. Too often nominations are not forthcoming for these awards and therefore no awards are made, when there are no doubt suitable candidates who deserve recognition. The Executive has urged Councillors to keep in mind the need to nominate suitable Fellows for awards, and to remind Branches of this need as well. Similarly, the Australian and New Zealand honours list should be kept in mind for a wider community recognition of prominent College Fellows who have contributed above and beyond the call of duty. OPEN IN VIEWER

DON GRANT

Gender Balance

The meeting also discussed the issue of gender balance on Council and on College bodies such as Branch, Faculty and Section Executives. Councillors commented on the lack of gender balance on Council, on which four females have positions. It was recognised that the social factors behind the issue are very influential however, as a professional organisation, it is simply not good enough to remain reactive to the social conditions of the day.

The privilege of our professional status should translate into the culture of the College and ensure that gender balance is applied throughout its structures. Earlier this year the Executive met with trainee representatives to discuss their representation within the College. From the outset it was stressed that gender balance is an active policy of the College and for some time General Council reflected this with strong female representation. However, the situation has changed. Consequently, the Executive will be giving the issue of gender balance in the College high priority in the review of the Strategic Plan 1996–2000 and report further from the next few meetings of General Council.

Strategic Plan

The review of the Strategic Plan 1996–2000 will occur within the next twelve months. For now, some key tasks have been identified for action as follows:

Medicare Relative Value Study

RVS matters are rapidly and intensively drawing to their conclusion for finalisation by the RVS Board in March 2000. Many thanks to those Fellows who responded at very short notice to the fax survey seeking information for the RVS Practice Costs Study. The survey generated data that support the earlier College submission for a substantial upward revision of the consultant's estimate of the cost of running a psychiatric practice. The Professional Relativities Study has scheduled meetings in November and December to finalise this component.

Meeting with the Commonwealth Mental Health Branch

The President and Executive Director held a very positive meeting in Canberra on 20 October with Dermot Casey, Asst Secretary, Mental Health Branch, CDHAC. Matters discussed included current Branch priorities, potential Branch interest in a College initiative to advance services to rural and remote areas, telepsychiatry, clinical care pathways, clinical practice guidelines and progress with the national demonstration projects on integrated mental health services.

There was interest also in the College suggestion of a national initiative to focus community debate on issues of violence in the community. The Branch indicated its intention to respond to the draft report of the College Clinical Care Pathways scoping project by developing with the College a plan of action to take matters forward and to accompany publication of the report in the form of a discussion paper. These meetings will be held on a regular basis throughout 2000.

National Survey of Mental Health and Well Being

Following the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) “National Survey on the Mental Health and Wellbeing: Profile of Adults, Australia 1997” further analyses have been undertaken by a consortium of expert centres and Report 2 has just been released from this work. Report 2 provides a thorough account of how much of the Australian adult population is affected by mental disorders and the practical implications of these findings, including burden of disability, service use and prevention and treatment.

The College sought comment from General Councillors, Branches, Boards, Faculties and Sections and by the time this issue has gone to press will have developed a College response to the Report. The low prevalence study (People living with psychotic illness) has also been released and the President joined in support of SANE Australia's call for a renewed commitment to implementing effective programs for this disadvantaged group by way of media release on 15 October 1999. The President commented that ‘… not enough people have access to the modern treatments and social supports that they need…’ and that ‘… what we have been lacking is dedication to a clear view about how to achieve this outcome [increased access and support] that is shared between governments, providers, consumers, carers and social services.’

College Congress and the Annual General Meeting for 2000

We hope that all Fellows, Affiliates and Trainees will have set aside the dates 27–30 April 2000 to attend next year's College Congress in Adelaide.

An interesting and exciting program with some novel features is being planned by the Organising Committee chaired by Prof. Rob Barrett. The Congress Theme is “Looking Outward: Culture, Creativity & Psychiatry”. Details and updated information are available on the Congress website address http://www.ranzcp.org/congress. The College Annual Meeting will be held on the Wednesday of the Congress, so please come along.