Abstract
As things heat up this summer and we step into 2025, there is a lot happening.
The Trainee Advisory Council (TAC) continues to meet regularly and out of session to continue to advance positive changes within the College for trainees. One of the major pieces of work the TAC is engaged in currently is optimising the process of assessment with the Psychotherapy Written Case (PWC). The updated PWC marksheet will be implemented from the upcoming May 16 marking round but will not require trainees to alter their current approach to writing the PWC. For more info see the post here. This year the TAC will be working closely with members of the Case History Subcommittee and the Education Committee on optimising and engaging trainees in the exciting world of psychotherapy. The TAC meets again on February 28 all day to discuss a range of issues from accreditation, PWC, Independent Observed Clinical Activities (IOCAs), Clinical Competency Portfolio Review (CCPR), and each jurisdictional based concerns. We continue to focus on engaging and actively working on the issues and concerns raised by our external representatives from the APT.
In December 2024 the second annual Trainee Takeover edition of Australasian Psychiatry was published. It’s an amazing edition, full of wonderful artwork and incredible academic pieces by our trainees. TAC’s very own trainee representative, Dr Luke Ciantar, designed an amazing piece that graces the front cover as well.
The Board approved a lot of work in 2024, some of which are to do with important and significant changes to policies, guidelines, position statements and clinical memorandums. I urge everyone to have a look at the list of changes that have occurred.
The board has been focussing on progressing AMC conditions and is working closely with the education team on several projects, particularly regarding IOCA, but also cultural safety and training, formal education courses, and the ongoing review of existing Entrustable professional activities (EPAs).
For those who haven’t heard, the Certificate of Postgraduate Training in Clinical Psychiatry (the Certificate) was successfully launched on September 2 2024, with the first cohort of participants commencing their first term. The purpose of the Certificate for specialised physicians such as GPs, emergency physicians, and rural practitioners to gain expertise in the foundational concepts of psychiatry, under clinical supervision by experienced psychiatrist. The College will be surveying intake and circulating to various medical practitioners that expressed interest in applying for the Certificate to assess the needs and wants of the community. Find the link for more info here.
We are pleased to report that the program was launched as planned. The Code of Ethics steering group continues to meet regularly and looks forward to presenting work to our members at the Congress on the Gold Coast.
When this is published, we will be well underway for election time for the College elected board directors and president elect. There will also be elections for trainee representative positions across the TAC and BCT as our colleagues continue to progress into exciting ventures both as registrars and as newly minted consultants; both of which are incredibly exciting. I wish everyone good luck and look forward to the AGM in May.