RANZCP homepage
Date
13 - 16 August 2025
Location
Novotel on Collins, 270 Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000Organised by
RANZCP Faculty of Forensic PsychiatryDelivery
In-personI am delighted to invite you to the Bi-national Faculty of Forensic Psychiatry Conference 2025, taking place in vibrant Melbourne from 13–16 August 2025.
This year’s theme, "Bridging the Divide: Integrating Forensic Insights into General Psychiatric Practice," highlights the growing relevance of forensic psychiatry across all areas of mental health. Whether assessing risk, making treatment recommendations, or responding to crises, psychiatrists are increasingly engaging with legal, ethical, and forensic issues - often without realising it.
Beyond the criminal justice system, psychiatrists now play a key role in civil litigation, medical negligence claims, psychiatric injury assessments, workplace compensation, and insurance-related evaluations. This conference will also explore these evolving medicolegal intersections, equipping clinicians with the knowledge and skills to navigate them effectively.
To ensure broad relevance, the programme will feature dual streams, balancing specialist forensic content with integrated sessions that bring together forensic and general psychiatrists. Many sessions will foster cross-sector dialogue, including insights from legal and journalistic experts, as well as leaders in our field.
Whether you work primarily in forensic psychiatry or in a general setting and want to strengthen your forensic knowledge, this conference promises practical insights, expert discussions, and invaluable networking opportunities.
The Faculty hopes you can join us in Melbourne in August 2025 for a stimulating and highly relevant conference!
Dr Jacqueline Rakov
Conference Convenor
Program
The Organising Committee is currently curating a dynamic program which will be published online on 20 May 2025
Registration
Early bird pricing ends on 20 June 2025.
Full conference registration
Registration category | Early bird pricing | Standard pricing |
RANZCP Fellow/Affiliate | $930
| $1,025 |
Non-RANZCP Fellow- Psychiatrists and other medical practitioners | $1,050
| $1,150 |
RANZCP CPD Participant | $995
| $1,100 |
RANZCP Trainee/nurse/allied health / Retired Fellow | $670
| $730 |
University student (medicine/psychology | $570 | $630 |
Single-day registration
Registration category | Early bird pricing | Standard pricing |
RANZCP Fellow/Affiliate | $460
| $510 |
Non-RANZCP Fellow- Psychiatrists and other medical practitioners | $520
| $570 |
RANZCP CPD Participant | $490
| $550 |
RANZCP Trainee/nurse/allied health / Retired Fellow | $330
| $360 |
University student (medicine/psychology | $280 | $310 |
Post-conference half-day workshop registration
Registration category | Price |
RANZCP Fellow/Affiliate | $190 |
Non-RANZCP Fellow- Psychiatrists and other medical practitioners | $225 |
RANZCP CPD Participant | $190 |
RANZCP Trainee/nurse/allied health / Retired Fellow | $100/$150 |
University student (medicine/psychology | $150 |
Workshops
Two optional half-day workshops will take place on Saturday 16 August.
Dr Michael Epstein will convene a workshop on Issues in Civil Assessment Psychiatry and will be joined by Dr Nathan Serry, A/Prof Saji Damodaran and Dr Nigel Strauss to share insights and lead discussion on a range of important topics that those working in the field of civil psychiatry assessment regularly encounter.
Dr Calum Smith will lead a half-day workshop for trainees on report writing. Dr Smith will be joined by A/Prof Andy Carroll, A/Prof Andrew Ellis, Dr Kerri Eagle, Dr Sarah Dorrington and Mr Tim R Marsh.
This trainee workshop is complimentary for all trainees who are also attending the conference.
If you can't attend the conference you are still welcome to attend a post-conference workshop.
Social function registration
Ticket item | Price |
Guest welcome reception ticket | $80 |
Conference dinner | $180 |
Conference registration includes:
- Access to all conference sessions on Wednesday 13 - Friday 15 August 2025
- Refreshments and lunch on all conference days.
- One (1) ticket to the welcome reception on Wednesday, drinks and canapés will be served.
Note: Additional guest tickets for the welcome reception on Wednesday can be purchased as part of the registration process at a cost of $80 per person.
Dinner
This year's conference dinner will be held at the iconic Melbourne restaurant Chin Chin. Located in the heart of vibrant and historic Flinders Lane, Chin Chin is based on the intense flavours of South-East Asia. The fun and lively dining room reflects the energy of Executive Chef Benjamin Cooper’s trademark big, brash flavour combinations. Spice and sugar, heat and light. Natasha Robinson, Health Editor at The Australian will attend as our guest dinner speaker.
Welcome reception
Join your colleagues on-site for a casual welcome event.
Dinner speaker
Natasha Robinson
Natasha Robinson is The Australian’s health editor and writes across medicine, science, health policy, research, and lifestyle. Natasha has been a journalist for more than 20 years in newspapers and broadcasting, in 2024 was recognised as the National Press Club’s health journalist of the year. Natasha is also a lawyer admitted to the Supreme Court of NSW and is currently undertaking a doctorate at QUT's Centre for Health Law Research investigating the plight in forensic detention of patients on indeterminate orders who utilised the mental impairment defence.
Natasha Robinson is The Australian’s health editor and writes across medicine, science, health policy, research, and lifestyle. Natasha has been a journalist for more than 20 years in newspapers and broadcasting, in 2024 was recognised as the National Press Club’s health journalist of the year. Natasha is also a lawyer admitted to the Supreme Court of NSW and is currently undertaking a doctorate at QUT's Centre for Health Law Research investigating the plight in forensic detention of patients on indeterminate orders who utilised the mental impairment defence.
Contact
For any enquiries regarding abstract submission please contact events@ranzcp.org
Support and exhibition
The Organising Committee is pleased to offer various support and exhibition packages that will maximise your company's visibility at the conference. To discuss support opportunities please email events@ranzcp.org
Terms & conditions
Cancellation policy
Delegate cancellation - change of mind
All requests for cancellation must be made in writing and sent to events@ranzcp.org.
Cancellations received before Sunday 13 July 2025 will incur a $75.00 administration fee. No refunds will be issued after this date. However, an alternative delegate name may be submitted. All cancellations and substitutions must be made in writing to events@ranzcp.org.
Delegate cancellation - medical
The health and safety of conference attendees is our highest priority. The RANZCP is mindful of the health risks posed by COVID-19, and the importance of following official medical advice with respect to social distancing, practicing good hygiene and staying at home when unwell. The RANZCP requests that any delegate who is feeling unwell or has cold or flu-like symptoms, or who may have been in contact with someone with COVID-19, not attend the conference.
If, on medical grounds, you are unable to attend the conference, you must cancel your attendance in writing by email to events@ranzcp.org. A full refund will be provided; however, you may be asked to provide additional details.
Conference cancellation
If we are required to make any changes or cancellations to our conference due to circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including but not limited to Acts of God, terrorism, war, strikes or industrial action, fire, explosion, inevitable accident, breakdown of property, changes in law, or pandemics or global health crises, delegates will be notified by email and will be provided a full refund of their registration fee.
Health and safety
All participants at the conference will be required to comply with the Health and Safety Guidelines and protocols in place with the venue/s and the conference which will be aligned and compliant with all relevant Commonwealth and state government health advice at that time. By registering for this event, the RANZCP reserves the right to provide your contact details to authorities for the purposes of contact tracing and any other relevant government requirements. Details of any relevant protocols and requirements will be communicated to delegates who will be bound by these requirements.
Insurance
Conference participants are strongly advised to secure appropriate travel and health insurance. The RANZCP and the conference Organising Committee accept no responsibility for any loss in this regard.
Privacy policy
The RANZCP will only collect personal information from individuals when it is reasonably necessary for the activities of the RANZCP, and all such collection will be subject to the RANZCP Privacy Policy and any other notifications.
