RANZCP homepage
What the College does
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) is responsible for training, educating and representing psychiatrists in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.
The College is accredited by the Australian Medical Council (AMC) and the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ) to deliver specialist medical education and training, and professional development programs.
Sets professional standards
The RANZCP develops and promotes clinical standards in the practice of psychiatry in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.
More about the RANZCP's role in assessing quality and standards in training
Conducts training and exams
The Fellowship Training Program takes a minimum of 5 years (after medical training and registration), during which time trainees work in hospitals and clinics, under the supervision of experienced psychiatrists. The College also oversees training and accreditation for overseas-trained psychiatrists.
Administers the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program
Once qualified, psychiatrists must continue to participate in medical education activities each year to ensure that they maintain high levels of skills and knowledge and to maintain their medical registration.
Represents psychiatrists
The College works with government, community and health worker groups in the interests of psychiatrists, patients and the general community.
Holds conferences and meetings
The College's major scientific meeting is its annual congress. There are also a number of specialist conferences, educational evenings, lectures, webinars and branch events each year.
Publishes two scientific journals
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry (ANZJP) and Australasian Psychiatry. These peer-reviewed journals discuss research and developments in psychiatry. ANZJP is the leading psychiatry journal of the Asia–Pacific region.
Publishes guidelines and policy documents
The College publishes practice guidelines for psychiatrists, and produces position statements, submissions and reports.
Commits to improving health outcomes for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples and Māori
The College is working to increase the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Māori workforce, teaching culturally appropriate care, reviewing and implementing our Reconciliation Action Plan and furthering our commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Our vision
Leading the transformation of how mental illness is understood, experienced and treated.
The RANZCP is committed to addressing the longstanding and unacceptable inequities experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia, and Māori in Aotearoa New Zealand, in health outcomes and access to culturally safe mental health care. These inequities reflect the enduring impacts of colonisation, structural disadvantage, systemic racism, and barriers to appropriate and accessible services. Addressing them is central to the College’s vision of equitable mental health care and to its responsibility as a professional and system leader.
The College will advance this commitment by strengthening and sustaining the Indigenous psychiatric workforce, embedding cultural safety across training and professional practice, and ensuring its policy, advocacy and service leadership are grounded in culturally responsive and accountable approaches. This includes increasing the representation of Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori peoples across College structures, strengthening education in culturally safe care, and progressing the College’s commitments through its Reconciliation Action Plan and responsibilities in relation to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
