Abstract
The RANZCP has significantly added to its agenda during the last few years.
Whereas the key focus in the past was on the training and examination of registrars, the running of congresses and continuing medical education, the college is now involved in a broad range of issues.
They include:
Health policy
Standards of health service delivery and clinical practice
Partnership-based models of care
Connection with the community
The health service needs of indigenous people
Working more closely with patients and their families - greater interaction with carers and consumers
Delivery of high quality project outcomes related to the college's key objectives.
Through college publications we aim to highlight examples of the high quality work our Fellows are undertaking in the community on both sides of the Tasman.
Psychiatrists have often raised concerns with me regarding the degree of stereotypical views that that exist in the public domain about psychiatrists.
Our new direction should go a long way towards creating a fresh, vital and involved image of psychiatry – one that reinforces the changing roles and the broad nature of the various forms of specialty psychiatry.
One of the key planks in the new agenda is the college's decision to strengthen the New Zealand and Australian branch structure to ensure that the branches play a significant role in policy and community issues at a national level in New Zealand and at a State and Territory level in Australia.
One of our priorities was to expand the role of branches in broader college activities, leading to higher-level relationships with government.
In New Zealand, we have further developed key relationships with government and government agencies, which has led to beneficial outcomes for consumers and carers.
The government has indicated that it is prepared to fund a reprint of the New Zealand version of the college's very successful consumer and carer guidelines. The demand for the New Zealand guidelines and the Australian versions remains very high.
In another development, the New Zealand branch has received official support for the development of an online orientation program for international medical graduates following the successful launch of the Australian website (see separate report).
We also expect to have a greater impact on mental health policy development in New Zealand following the appointment of a project and policy officer in the branch office in Wellington.).
A part time policy and research position has been created in the college's Adelaide office to support the South Australian branch.).
The need to become more influential in mental health policy development in South Australia and to raise the branch's profile were identified as opportunities in a review of the branch as part of the strengthening the branches project.).
Both the New Zealand and South Australian positions will be responsible for research and the development of mental health policies relevant to the college's functions and the broader health agenda.).
In Western Australia, the college is playing a key role in the Support Scheme for Rural Specialists (SSRS), which this year has expanded into a national forum.).
The national component has involved a series of national seminars by videoconference to enable interactive participation between rural psychiatrists and specialists who have been identified as prominent in the management of specific disorders in Australia. The Western Australian component of the project also extended into interactive sessions with peer review group meetings and case discussions. The projects are managed by Ms Rachael Williams.).
The videoconferences are conducted through the RANZCP's Rural Special Interest Group (see RSIG update).).
The scheme is a joint program of the Committee of Presidents of Medical Colleges and the Office of Rural Health of the Department of Health and Ageing. The program is designed to improve access to continuing professional development activities for specialist medical practitioners (relevant to their areas of practice) living and working in regional, rural and remote Australia, using a variety of conferencing technologies.).
Another priority of the strengthening the branches project was the implementation of changes to reporting relationships to ensure better integration and more management attention.
To this end, the New South Wales Branch Manager, Ms Pam Allen, was appointed Operations Coordinator – Branches. (Ms Allen was awarded a College Citation last year to recognise her meritorious service to the college over 25 years).
One task that is common to all branches is to improve services to members. This is being tackled with enthusiasm. In Tasmania, the branch acknowledged the contribution to the college and psychiatry by seven Tasmanian Fellows who had been awarded the College Medal of Honour or acknowledged in the Australian honours.
The college achieved a further milestone with the official opening of the Australian Capital Territory branch. The branch office is staffed on Mondays.
These initiatives are a clear demonstration that the college accepts the challenges of the emerging mental health agenda and is preparing to meet these challenges head on.