It gives me great pleasure to update the membership on the work of the Education Committee (EC). I took on this portfolio in January, and I can truly say that Education is undergoing an exciting and forward-thinking transformation. It is wonderful to be part of this and to inform membership where we are in this journey. Of course, there is much business as usual that continues while we navigate new waters.

A fundamental purpose of the College is education and training, with the pathways to Fellowship being overseen by the EC.

Member engagement surveys show that a robust Fellowship program, and a CPD program once admitted to the Fellowship, are the services most valued by Fellows and trainees. Education and training is a complex area. It relies on the commitment and support of members through supervision of trainees in the workplace and supporting the activities of the EC and its committees.

The key focus areas for the Committee include:

• Training of the next generations of consultant psychiatrists in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, primarily through workplace-based training.
• Providing pathways to Fellowship for specialist international medical graduates (SIMGs).
• Conducting a robust assessment process, ensuring the standard of care expected by the communities of Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.
• Accrediting training posts and programs to ensure that trainees meet the requirements of their training in a safe environment.
• Ensuring that the College meets its regulatory and compliance obligations including its accreditation with the Australian Medical Council and the Medical Council of New Zealand.
• Oversight of the Australian Government Funded Training Programs, which provide funding for over 100 training posts in settings including private practice, rural and remote mental health services and not for profit services.
• Supporting all members meet their CPD obligations by providing the recertification program for psychiatrists in Aotearoa New Zealand.

While carrying out this work, the EC has committed to reform of the Fellowship program, informed by the outcomes of the many reviews carried out over the last few years and what we have heard from our members. The EC acknowledges that there have been many changes to the 2012 program over recent years, and that this change has occurred in a somewhat piecemeal manner. The Board’s New Fellowship Program Taskforce has been authorised to design a prototype for the next iteration of the training program, adopting a green field approach and addressing the complexity and fragmentation of the 2012 program.

The New Fellowship Program Taskforce, chaired by Associate Professor Simon Stafrace, has begun the work of considering a model for training that we hope can be in place for 2030. The model will go out to consultation in 2026. Reform of the Fellowship program is a priority for the EC. The program needs to change to meet the challenges of the 21^st century. Since the curriculum improvement project in the early 2000s, which introduced competency-based training, the environment has changed. There is a workforce crisis, with too few psychiatrists to meet the needs of the communities of Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. The expectations of new Fellows have changed, with more moving to private psychiatry and fewer working full time. There is an increasing imperative to provide culturally safe care, and to embed the voices of those with lived and living experience to meet the expectations of the communities. The place, or not, of externally marked examinations is being reviewed.

Another significant change is the creation of the Executive Dean of Education position to replace the Executive Manager, Education and Training. We’re in the final stages of recruitment and the appointment will be confirmed in the coming weeks. This position will play a pivotal role in leading the College’s education portfolio, including the development and delivery of innovative programs, strategies, and policies. Working closely with the Board, CEO, committees, and the education taskforce, the Executive Dean will drive the revision of the Fellowship program and ensure the College’s education programs are contemporary, inclusive, sustainable, and responsive to the needs of trainees, Fellows, and the wider profession.

Recognising the central role that trainees play in shaping the future of the profession, we will ensure that trainee voices actively inform all stages of educational design and decision making. Their lived experience within our programs provides essential insights to help guide curriculum development, assessment reform, and the creation of sustainable education pathways.

Over the coming months you can expect many opportunities to provide feedback and input, and I urge you to take up the invitation to mould the next Fellowship program.

The commitment of so many members to the education of our future psychiatrists is vital. The Board thanks every member who has supervised a trainee or SIMG, sat on a committee, marked an examination, reviewed a scholarly project proposal, or provided independent feedback to trainees through the I-OCA.

Without your enthusiasm and dedication, there would be no Fellowship program.