NSW industrial relations judgment

Last Friday, following months of evidence and deliberation, the New South Wales Industrial Relations Commission awarded NSW public sector psychiatrists a 20 per cent interim wage increase. In announcing the judgment, Justice David Chin acknowledged the acute shortage of psychiatry staff specialists and recognised this is causing a deterioration in both the quality of mental health care and the working conditions of psychiatrists in the public health system.

While the Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Psychiatrists was not a party in the industrial relations matter, we have a responsibility to speak about training quality, workforce sustainability, and clinical standards for psychiatrists. Many of us across jurisdictions have shared the same fears as our members in NSW: workforce shortages overwhelming the system, senior psychiatrists leaving in droves, young doctors abandoning plans for careers in public psychiatry and, most heartbreakingly, patients suffering the consequences of a system that cannot meet their needs.

The people of NSW deserve a mental health system that is well-staffed, well-connected and fit for purpose. Psychiatrists deserve to practice in conditions that are safe and sustainable, where their expertise is valued, their wellbeing protected, and they can deliver the standard of care they were trained to provide. Trainees deserve quality supervision to develop their skills in treating and caring for people, clear pathways to meaningful careers, and reason to believe that public mental health can be a place where excellent psychiatrists thrive.

It has been a long journey for our NSW members, and I'd like to acknowledge Dr Pramudie Gunaratne, NSW Branch Chair, and the many NSW psychiatrists who have worked tirelessly to advocate for both our members and the public mental health system.

There's a lot of work that lies ahead, and we will continue to advocate for the mental health workforce and the people who count on them. We will work with our NSW members, health services and the NSW Government to build an effective mental health system. You can read the RANZCP media release here.

Shaping our future

Members expect the College to provide outstanding information, services and support to Fellows, Affiliates and trainees. The College knows the important role it plays in supporting psychiatrists and the communities we serve and is currently transforming to meet these expectations.

A major rebuild is underway to bring College systems and infrastructure up to contemporary standards. This includes new IT systems and multifactor authentication to improve efficiency and security, and new finance, budgeting, human resources and payroll systems to ensure our processes are modernised for greater transparency and sustainability.

These changes are strengthened by new executive leadership, the creation of a new Dean of Education and a media and communications team restructured to enhance our strategic engagement, stakeholder and government relations, and improve member communications.

Collectively, it reflects a clear commitment to building a high-performing, future-focused organisation ready to meet emerging challenges and seize new opportunities.

RANZCP Foundation

Applications for the 2025 RANZCP Foundation scholarships are open until 20 October. The Foundation is offering three PhD scholarships (each valued at up to A$60,000), the Kinsman Research Scholarship (valued at up to A$50,000), and the Psychotherapy Research Award (valued at up to A$10,000). These opportunities are designed to support the next generation of psychiatric researchers and strengthen the academic foundations of our profession.

As highlighted in the Strengthening Academic Psychiatry report, academic psychiatry in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand is at a critical juncture. The field is facing declining funding, limited career pathways, and increasing clinical demands that constrain research and teaching. Without intervention, the profession risks a further erosion of capacity to innovate, mentor, and deliver evidence-based psychiatric care.

Now more than ever, philanthropy and targeted investment are vital to reversing this trend. RANZCP Foundation scholarships provide practical pathways for early-career psychiatrists and researchers to undertake higher degrees and advance innovative projects. They represent a crucial mechanism for building the academic workforce, sustaining research excellence, and ensuring psychiatry remains at the forefront of value-based, evidence-driven health care.

By applying for a scholarship – or by donating to the Foundation – you can directly contribute to the revitalisation of academic psychiatry.

RANZCP Awards

Too often, the remarkable work of our peers goes unrecognised. The annual RANZCP awards program allows us to celebrate the contributions of our colleagues; those who have dedicated themselves to advancing psychiatry, supporting their peers, mentoring the next generation, and improving the lives of people living with mental illness.

A range of College and subspeciality awards, grants and fellowships are on offer to acknowledge important contributions, promote research and innovations, and invest in the future of psychiatry.

They recognise excellence and help strengthen our profession by sharing stories of dedication, innovation and service.

Anyone – Fellows, trainees, SIMGs and community members – can submit a nomination.

Strategic plan

Consultation on the RANZCP 2026-2030 Strategic Plan is open until 24 October and we are keen to hear from all our stakeholders.

Your input is essential to building a forward-looking, inclusive, and responsive strategy that will guide our work, priorities, and impact over the next five years.

Members can share their feedback via the RANZCP Consultation Hub while others can send your input via email to strategicplan@ranzcp.org

Dr Astha Tomar

President