Abstract
My role as Honorary Secretary is proving to be a varied and interesting one. In the last few months I have had the opportunity to represent the College on two very different radio programs. The first was a talkback debate on the issue of institutionalisation of mental health consumers and the second a humorous discussion generated by a study presented at the Royal College of Psychiatrists conference in Edinburgh. The study, called What's in a Name?, suggested that people with names like Wayne and Tracey receive less sympathetic treatment from medical professionals but Matthews and Fionas nearly always receive a fair hearing! Between media engagements, I have been involved in the Rural and Remote Project, the proposed functional reform of the College and other issues resulting from the first General Council meeting of the year (see report in this issue of Australasian Psychiatry).
BEHAVIOUR OF FELLOWS
The RANZCP has grown considerably over the years. From a small organisation relying on the voluntary input of its Fellows, we have become a large professional body, still relying heavily on the input and hard work of Fellows, but supported by a fine professional staff of some 35 people across the two countries. Led admirably by our Executive Director, Dr Robert Broadbent, this dedicated group is responsible for the day-to-day functioning and management of our College.
A good working relationship between Fellows and staff is essential. Staff are frequently giving of their time and energy to the College above and beyond the call of duty. It gives me no pleasure, therefore, to report that the behaviour of some Fellows towards our staff is less than acceptable. Staff are not uncommonly treated with rudeness, arrogance, disrespect or even overt aggression. This of course is very damaging to morale and reduces our efficiency.
I appeal to all Fellows to value our fine staff and treat them with the respect and dignity which they deserve.
AMWAC NATIONAL WORKFORCE REPORT
By now all Australian Fellows will have received the executive summary of the Australian Medical Workforce Advisory Committee (AMWAC) Report The Specialist Psychiatry Workforce in Australia: Supply and Requirements 1999–2010. The Executive Officers have formed a working group whose membership includes the Executive Officers, College representatives on the AMWAC Working Party and a representative of the Committee for Training to provide comment and advice on the College response to the recommendations of the report. An approach has been made to the National Mental Health Working Group seeking a meeting to discuss the College response and suggested modification to the AMWAC Report recommendations to achieve better outcomes and to enable a coordinated national approach to specific responses as advocated by College groups. I will keep you informed of College progress with implementation of the recommendations of the report.
NATIONAL DEPRESSION INITIATIVE
In March, the Australian Health Minister, Dr Michael Wooldridge, launched the National Depression Initiative with a Commonwealth commitment of $17.5m over five years. The Initiative is intended to provide a comprehensive national approach to the high personal, social and economic burden of depression. The initial focus will be on fostering greater awareness and community education, promoting professional education and training (of GPs especially), and investment in research into prevention, treatment and management approaches.
Mr Jeff Kennett, former Premier of Victoria and advocate of the idea as Premier, has been appointed Chair of the Board. Membership of the Board includes College Fellow, Prof Harvey Whiteford (formerly Director, Commonwealth Mental Health Branch and continuing mental health adviser to the World Bank), Mr John McGrath, Chair of the Mental Health Council of Australia (and a carer member of the College Board of Professional and Community Relations), Dr Paul Hemming, President Elect of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Ms Caroline Hogg, former Labor member of the Victorian Parliament from 1982–1999, Mr Garry McDonald, well-known and respected Australian actor, Ms Nova Peris-Kneebone, Olympic gold medallist, and Ms Jenny Pickworth, legal professional and consultant to the WA Health Department.
The College will continue to maintain close contact with this Initiative and seek to ensure the profession is consulted and represented in appropriate ways.
PARTNERSHIPS IN MENTAL HEALTH
In the time that I have been Honorary Secretary it has become very obvious to me that, if the College is to remain relevant in the medico-political scene, we must be willing to work in partnership with other sections of the medical profession, governments, health care providers, insurers, consumers and carers. We are just one player in the mental health care scenario and our main role is as an expert adviser on training and standards in psychiatry.
It is costly in terms of time, effort and resources for us to maintain our contribution to partnerships at all levels, but we must do so to retain the place and influence of psychiatry in the wider mental health field.
STOLEN GENERATION SUBMISSION
The Chair of the College Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health Committee, Dr Neil Phillips, prepared a submission on behalf of the College to the Senate Legal and Constitutional References Committee Inquiry into the Stolen Generations. The submission deals with the psychological impact of removal of Aboriginal children from their families and the way in which psychological factors will impinge on efforts to achieve Reconciliation. It also refers to the social, emotional, psychiatric and general health impact of these policies on individuals, families and communities. Dr Phillips and Robyn Shields, manager Central Sydney Area Aboriginal Mental Health Service, attended the Senate hearing in NSW on 12 July 2000 to present evidence on behalf of the College.
ADVANCED TRAINING IN THE PSYCHOTHERAPIES
At its recent meeting General Council approved By-laws and curriculum providing the framework and regulations to enable the introduction of College programs for Advanced Training in the Psychotherapies. The By-laws and associated curriculum have been endorsed by the Fellowships Board under a model that has been approved for all College advanced training programs. The documents were developed over a number of years by a working group of the Section of Psychotherapy in close consultation with the Board. General Council has required that commencement of any program under these Bylaws is subject to demonstration of financial feasibility and approval by the Fellowships Board that the program satisfactorily meets all requirements of the By-laws. At this stage there are no programs that have been approved, but the Interim Committee for Advanced Training in the Psychotherapies is continuing work towards programs beginning in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney.
REVIEW OF TRAINING, EXAMINATION AND CONTINUING EDUCATION
The Project is now drawing to a close with the Project Team submitting its final report to General Council in October. Prior to the report reaching General Council, input will be obtained from a recognised educational expert, and the Fellowships Board and Board of Practice Standards. The final report contains proposed changes suggesting a general direction for the College rather than the final detail of what will be put into practice. A timetable for implementation will be put to General Council once the proposed framework for change has been approved.
New Look By-laws and Curricula
Continuing the revision of College publications, the old ‘red book’ and ‘white book’ have recently been republished. The new documents now incorporate the by-laws and curricula for Fellowship and the Advanced Training Programs in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychiatry of Old Age. To reinforce the distinction between the new and the old, the colours have also been changed. The new documents include all amendments to 2000.
Training and Examination By-laws (left) Training Curricula (right)
