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Support and wellbeing
If you are facing health or personal issues, you are not alone. Many doctors face their own health challenges.
If you’re struggling, we encourage you to talk to someone, whether it’s the College confidential advice line, a counsellor, psychiatrist or peer.
The College is committed to supporting all Fellows, trainees and SIMGs who are going through a difficult time at any stage of their careers. There’s no wrong door when asking for help.
Urgent help
If you or someone else is at risk of harming yourself or others:
- Dial triple zero (000) in Australia or triple one (111) in New Zealand.
- Call Lifeline on 13 11 14 in Australia or 0800 543 354 in New Zealand or chat with someone online.
- Call 13 YARN (13 92 76) for culturally safe support from an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander crisis supporter.
- Go to a hospital emergency department.
RANZCP Confidential Member Advice Line
The RANZCP Confidential Member Advice Line provides confidential advice to RANZCP members about a range of issues, including professional matters, Fellowship and training issues. The line is managed by College staff as a call-back service within business hours. It is separate to the main College telephone line.
1800 941 002 (Australia)
0800 220 728 (Aotearoa New Zealand)
support@ranzcp.org
RANZCP Member Support (EAP) Program
The RANZCP Member Support Program is a free, independent counselling service funded by the College and provided by Converge, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to all members, including trainees and SIMGs.
Training support
If you are having issues with your supervisor or another aspect of your training, start by speaking to your DOT or the College Education and Training teams.
Help with training requirements
If you’re worried about falling behind on your training trajectory, contact traininghelp@ranzcp.org. We want to help you to meet your training requirements, and you won’t be penalised for reaching out.
Reduced training load
At any point you can change your FTE to train part-time or apply for a break in training on InTrain. Speak to your supervisor or contact traininghelp@ranzcp.org for advice.
Special consideration
You can request special consideration for medical, religious, reproductive, pre- and post-natal care, or other reasons that affect your ability to complete an exam within standard timing and procedures.
Special consideration is granted on a case-by-case basis and must be requested when you apply for an exam.
Formal representation for trainees and SIMGs
To raise an issue with the College, contact your representative Committee.
The TAC provides a forum to identify and discuss concerns about training and assessment, trainee wellbeing and engagement within the College. Issues raised inform advice provided to the BCT.
The BCT represents the special interests of RANZCP trainees, including education policy, wellbeing and change implementation.
ANZPIQC provides formal representation for all overseas trained psychiatrists within the College to support and ensure fairness for psychiatrists with international qualifications.
Discrimination, bullying and harassment support
The College has a zero-tolerance policy towards discrimination, bullying and harassment. RANZCP has a formal complaint pathway and can offer free confidential advice.
Find out more about what the College can do if you have experienced discrimination, bullying or harassment in a training or College-related activity.
CPD exemptions and breaks in practice
If you are unwell or need to take a break from practice for any reason, you may apply for a temporary exemption from CPD (for up to 12 months).
If you have been non-practising for between 1 and 3 years, you will need to do the equivalent of a year of CPD before recommencing practice.
The College offers a specialist refresher program to help you rebuild your skills and knowledge after an extended break from clinical practice.
Support after patient suicide
If you have experienced the suicide of a patient, you might be experiencing a range of emotional and professional impacts.
The RANZCP has developed a set of resources for supervisors, trainees and health services to help guide you through this time.
Please consider viewing the ‘Truth about suicide and its impact on clinicians’ webinar presentation by Dr Rachel Gibbons (RCPsych, UK).
Financial support
If you are in financial hardship:
- Apply for a reduction in College fees or apply to pay your fees in instalments.
- Medical benevolent associations in New Zealand and some Australian states can offer short-term financial assistance and support to doctors, medical practitioners, and their families/whānau during periods of adversity and loss of income.
- The RANZCP offers financial support for Indigenous trainees.
Contact
If you're not sure what kind of support you need, you can contact the College for help.
