PIF Australia Scholarship - 2024 RANZCP Congress
Up to thirty (30) scholarships to attend the RANZCP 2024 Congress at the National Convention Centre Canberra from Sunday 19 May to Thursday 23 May 2024 will be available to RANZCP Psychiatry Interest Forum (PIF) Australian members who are either currently enrolled as medical students, or who are postgraduate Year 1 or 2 doctors (PGY1 and PGY2).
Dedicated scholarship places are available to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander PIF members.
Successful applicants will receive:
- full conference registration to attend the RANZCP 2024 Congress scientific program including the Welcome Reception;
- access to a dedicated parallel PIF Congress program, including the PIF pre-Congress workshop and social events;
- financial support to cover travel expenses for air or road travel and accommodation for eligible applicants.
Eligibility
Applicants must:
- Be a current RANZCP PIF member (or have their application pending);
- Be based in Australia;
- Be currently enrolled as a medical student or be a postgraduate Year 1 or 2 doctor;
- Have not previously received a RANZCP Congress scholarship;
- Demonstrate an interest in psychiatry and mental health;
- Demonstrate how the Congress will benefit and/or influence their medical career aspirations;
- Commit to attending full Congress days and the entire PIF program of activities, commencing at 11.00 am AEST Sunday 19 May until 1.00 pm AEST Thursday 23 May 2024, including evening events and activities.
How to apply
Applicants are required to submit a written statement up to a maximum of 250 words addressing the eligibility criteria as follows:
- Why you would like to attend Congress, including any Congress program highlights.
- Your interest and/or involvement in psychiatry and mental health.
- How your attendance at Congress may benefit and/or influence your medical career aspirations.
Terms and conditions
Selection
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 late March 2024 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 conference program.
The PIF Selection Panel may award further scholarships at a later time at its discretion.
Acceptance
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.
Travel
For applicants residing more than 80 km (interstate and Canberra local) from the National Convention Centre Canberra, travel expenses covered will include:
- hotel accommodation (including breakfast) for five nights* (check-in 19 May 2024; check-out 23 May 2024) across the duration of Congress at the Novotel Canberra (or similar); and
- flights or travel costs** to/from Canberra, including reimbursement of the travel costs to/from Canberra airport to their accommodation. Travel costs to/from home to departure city airport are not covered, unless approved prior.
*If there are no suitable options for flights on 19 May and/or on 23 May, an additional night of accommodation may be covered. This will be assessed and approved 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 Congress including fuel, road tolls and parking costs will be covered.
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 RANZCP Congress travel and conference organising agents.
Applicants acknowledge that:
- incidental costs associated with travel and attendance at Congress, including additional baggage, will not be included and are the responsibility of the successful applicant;
- any additional nights’ accommodation outside of the Congress dates (19 May – 23 May 2024) are entirely the responsibility of the scholarship recipient and will not be covered by the scholarship grant unless approved prior; and
- meals and other in-hotel entertainment or other expenses outside of the Congress 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 local applicants residing within 80 km of the National Convention Centre Canberra, reimbursement of travel costs related to commuting to/from Congress 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 Congress 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.
Insurance
PIF attendees are strongly advised to secure an appropriate travel and medical insurance. The PIF scholarship does not provide any such insurance coverage. The RANZCP and the Congress Office accept no responsibility for any loss in this regard.
Photography and recording
Images and/or voices of attendees and scholarship recipients may be recorded during Congress 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.
Evaluation
All RANZCP 2024 Congress PIF attendees will be required to participate in a compulsory evaluation activity as a condition of accepting the scholarship. This will include a pre-Congress survey, and a post-Congress survey.
Funding
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists has received Australian Government funding under the Psychiatry Workforce Package (PWP) to deliver this initiative.