I am very much looking forward to welcoming many of you to the RANZCP 2026 Congress in just a few short days. This year’s theme, Reform and Renewal: Towards Healing, Equity and Trust, speaks to both the challenges and opportunities before us as a profession. The program is shaping up to be one of our most engaging yet, bringing together diverse perspectives from across clinical practice, research, education, policy and lived experience. Beyond the formal sessions, Congress offers the opportunity to reconnect with friends and colleagues and build the relationships that sustain our work. I encourage all psychiatrists, trainees, colleagues across disciplines, and partners in mental health to join us in Melbourne. Come for the science, stay for the conversations, and leave with renewed purpose.

As we come together at Congress, we will also have the opportunity to recognise the 2026 College Award winners – individuals whose contributions exemplify excellence, leadership, and a deep commitment to advancing mental health care. These awards highlight outstanding personal achievement and the meaningful impact we can make when we lead with purpose. 

This sense of purposeful leadership and the ongoing commitment of members to shaping the future of the College was also reflected in the 2026 Elected Director election – I thank all those who participated in the process. Alongside this, I would like to highlight the Independent Director appointment, which remains open until 5 May. This is an important opportunity to bring additional skills to the Board and strengthen the objectivity of our governance as we navigate an increasingly complex environment. I encourage members to share this opportunity within your networks and to consider suitable candidates who can help deliver on our shared vision.

Strong governance is supported by an informed and engaged membership. In that spirit, I invite you to read the recently released 2025 Annual Review and Financial Review and the RANZCP Foundation’s 2025 Impact Report. These publications provide insights into College’s activities and achievements and offer a valuable opportunity to reflect on our progress and priorities.

Workforce remains a central focus, particularly in rural and regional areas. Recent stories featuring Dr Victoria Wilson and other Rural Champions highlight both the challenges and the deep sense of purpose that comes with practising in these communities. College initiatives such as the Rural Educational Grants and Back to Country Grants are making a tangible difference, supporting trainees to gain experience in rural settings, and to return to Country to serve their communities.

Building a sustainable workforce goes hand in hand with supporting the next generation of psychiatrists and researchers. I extend my congratulations to Associate Professor Leo Chen, recipient of this year’s Pat, Toni and Peter Kinsman Research Scholarship This recognition reflects the importance of supporting emerging researchers whose work will shape psychiatric knowledge and practice for years to come.

Recently, the College provided a submission on the Health Legislation Amendment (Improving Choice and Transparency for Private Health Consumers) Bill 2026 to the Senate Standing Committee. In our response, we supported the intent of improving fee transparency but also emphasised that transparency alone will not address the broader challenges of workforce shortages and access to services. The College recommended several refinements to the Bill, including consultation with medical practitioners, use of fee ranges rather than single figures, inclusion of explanatory notes and other education materials, and the establishment of clear pathways to address inaccurate information. This work reflects our ongoing commitment to ensuring that reforms support healthcare access, affordability as well as the sustainability of specialist practice.

As the Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan 2024–26 approaches its conclusion next month, it is timely to reflect on progress made and the work still to come. The recent hui in Auckland, bringing together partnership committees, Te Kaunihera and the Community Collaboration Committee, highlighted both the complexity and the importance of this work. The insights shared through these conversations will inform the next phase of our reconciliation journey. While some actions identified in the plan are still in progress, the College remains firmly committed to advancing reconciliation as an ongoing journey.

This commitment is also reflected in our focus on cultural safety and our responsibility to embed it meaningfully across our work. The cultural safety training initiative for psychiatrists  in Aotearoa New Zealand represents an important step forward, providing psychiatrists with the tools to deliver care that is respectful, responsive and grounded in the needs of Māori communities. I thank Tū Te Akaaka Roa for their comprehensive work evaluating 48 local cultural training programmes and identifying four that demonstrated excellence across key domains.

Across all these areas – governance, workforce, research, reconciliation and education – a common thread that emerges is the importance of deliberate action grounded in our shared values. The work is complex, and progress is often incremental, but we continue to move forward together.

I look forward to continuing these conversations at Congress and beyond. Thank you for your ongoing commitment to our College, profession, and the communities we serve.

Dr Astha Tomar
President