PIF Introduction to Psychiatry Rural Short Course (Mt Gambier, SA)

Applicants must:

• Be a current RANZCP PIF member (or have their application pending); 
• Be based in South Australia;
• Be currently enrolled as a medical student or be a postgraduate Year 1 or 2 doctor;
• Demonstrate an interest in psychiatry and mental health;
• Demonstrate how the short course will benefit and/or influence their medical career aspirations;
• Must not be a trainee or Fellow of another specialty.
• Commit to attending the full short course, commencing at 9 am AEDT until 5.00 pm AEDT Saturday 11 October 2025.   

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

For applicants residing more than 60 km from the Mt Gambier, travel expenses covered will include:

• hotel accommodation for one night (check-in 10 October 2025; check-out* 11 October 2025); *An extra night of accommodation will be provided to those scholarship recipients travelling by flights, as there are no return flight options on Saturday 11 October and
• flights or road travel costs** to/from Mt Gambier, including taxi or ride share to travel to/from Mt Gambier airport to hotel. Travel costs to/from home to departure city airport are not covered, unless approved prior.

**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 short course including fuel, road tolls and parking costs will be covered.

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

Accommodation and flights must be booked via the dedicated RANZCP travel agents. Details of the nominated travel agent will be provided to the successful scholars.

Applicants acknowledge that:

• incidental costs associated with travel and attendance at short course, including additional baggage, will not be included and are the responsibility of the successful applicant;
• any additional nights’ accommodation outside of the short course date (one night with check-in 10 October 2025) are entirely the responsibility of the scholarship recipient and will not be covered by the scholarship grant, unless approved otherwise; and
• meals and other in-hotel entertainment or other expenses outside of the short course program (e.g. minibar purchases) will not be covered by the scholarship grant and must be paid for by the applicant incurring that cost. 

Applicants are required to submit a written statement up to a maximum of 200 words addressing the eligibility criteria as follows:

• Their interest and/or involvement in psychiatry and mental health.
• How attendance at the short course may benefit and/or influence their medical career aspirations.

Applications must be submitted electronically via the online application form.

Applications will close on Sunday 17 August 2025. Late applications will not be accepted. 

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 in September 2025 and 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 course program.

The PIF Selection Panel may award further scholarships at a later time at its 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.

PIF attendees are strongly advised to secure appropriate travel and medical insurance. The PIF scholarship does not provide any such insurance coverage. The RANZCP and the PIF accept no responsibility for any loss in this regard. 

Images and/or voices of attendees and scholarship recipients may be recorded during the short course 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 short course attendees will be required to participate in a compulsory evaluation activity, including pre- and post-event surveys, as a condition of accepting the scholarship.

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.

The RANZCP reserves the right to cancel or postpone the course if deemed necessary and in such an event will endeavour to communicate the decision in advance to attendees to avoid any inconvenience. The RANZCP will not accept any liability for any inconvenience or expense incurred as a consequence of cancellation or postponement.