PIF Retreat 2026

Applicants must: 

• Be a current RANZCP Psychiatry Interest Forum (PIF) member (or have their application pending), be based in Australia, and be currently enrolled as a medical student or be a postgraduate Year 1 or 2 doctor;
• Demonstrate an interest and should have foundational knowledge in psychiatry and mental health;
• Commit to attending full PIF Retreat program days and functions
• Not be recipients of previous PIF Retreat scholarship 

Eligibility for the scholarship will be assessed and is awarded at the discretion of the PIF Selection Panel. 

PIF members who have previously been awarded a PIF sponsorship to attend another PIF or RANZCP organised event are eligible to apply, however consideration may be given to those who have not previously received a sponsorship. 

Submitted entries must be the original work and written solely by an eligible applicant, not generated by any artificial intelligence (AI) tools, machine learning systems, or automated writing software.  

Applicants will receive financial support relating to their travel expenses (if required) as set out in these Terms and Conditions.  

For applicants residing more than 60 km one-way from Sydney, travel expenses covered will include: 

• hotel accommodation (including breakfast) for two nights (check-in 21 April; check-out 23 April 2026) across the duration of the PIF Retreat at the hotel accommodation selected by the RANZCP; and 
• flights or travel costs* to/from Sydney, including travel to/from Sydney airport to hotel. 

If there are no suitable options for flights on 23 April, an additional night of accommodation may be covered. This must be assessed and approved and is at the discretion of the PIF Selection Panel.  

*If applicants choose to travel by road or another means, this request must be submitted as part of the application along with the estimated distance for return travel. This request will be assessed and accepted by the PIF Selection Panel at its discretion.  

For road travel using a private motor vehicle, related commute costs to/from the PIF Retreat including mileage costs, road tolls and parking costs will be covered.  

Important notes

• Travel to/and from your home address to your local airport will not be covered. Please make sure you make necessary arrangements from your home address to your local airport   
• Proof of receipts (e.g. fuel, parking, airport shuttle) will be required as evidence to claim reimbursement.  
• Accommodation and flights must be booked via the dedicated PIF Retreat travel and conference organising agents at a later stage. 

Applicants acknowledge that:

• incidental costs associated with travel and attendance at the Retreat, including additional baggage, will not be included and are the responsibility of the successful applicant;
• any additional nights’ accommodation outside of the Retreat dates (21-22 April 2026) are entirely the responsibility of the scholarship recipient and will not be covered by the scholarship grant; and
• meals and other in-hotel entertainment or other expenses outside of the Retreat program (e.g. minibar purchases) will not be covered by the scholarship grant and must be paid for by the applicant incurring that cost. 

For applicants residing within 60 km of Sydney travel costs related to commuting to/from Retreat via public transport or private motor vehicle will be covered by their scholarship. This request must be submitted as part of the application and will be assessed and accepted by the PIF Selection Panel at its discretion. For road travel using a private motor vehicle, related commute costs to/from Retreat including mileage cost, road tolls and parking costs will be covered.  

Proof of tax invoice (e.g. fuel, parking, train ticket) will be required as evidence to claim reimbursement.  

• The PIF Selection Panel will assess the applications based on the application criteria and determine the successful applicants. 
• Decisions of the PIF Selection Panel are final. 
• Successful applicants will be notified via email by the mid-Marchand are expected to confirm their acceptance of a scholarship in writing by the required deadline. Scholarship recipients are expected to obtain any necessary approvals or leave they require from their university, employer or similar in order to attend the full conference program.
• The PIF Selection Panel may award additional scholarships at a later time at its absolute discretion.

In the event that a successful applicant is unable to attend, or a successful applicant does not communicate their acceptance of the scholarship before the required deadline, the PIF Selection Panel may elect to award that scholarship to another eligible applicant. 

By accepting a scholarship, the recipient provides their consent to the RANZCP to publicise the names of the successful applicants, their location and their university or workplace in RANZCP communications, including notifying a student’s university of the scholarship award.  

Images and/or voices of attendees and scholarship recipients may be recorded during PIF Retreat sessions and in breaks for use in RANZCP website, communications and media, including social media. If you do not wish for your image or voice to be publicised, please email pif@ranzcp.org. 

All PIF Retreat 2026 attendees will be required to participate in a compulsory evaluation activity which involves a pre and post-event survey as a condition of accepting the scholarship. 

Participants are strongly advised to secure appropriate health insurance. The sponsorship does not provide any such coverage. The RANZCP and PIF accept no responsibility for any loss in this regard. 

If you are unwell or unforeseen circumstances arise and can no longer attend, please contact us as soon as possible via email pif@ranzcp.org.  

The RANZCP has received Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing funding under the Psychiatry Workforce Program (PWP) to deliver the PIF Australia program.