I hope you’ve all had a chance to rest and reflect over the holiday period, ready for what promises to be a purposeful and dynamic year ahead. The College enters 2026 with a strong focus on education, workforce sustainability and equity of access, themes reflected in this edition of Psyche.

Supporting trainees and supervisors remains a priority for the College. I encourage supervisors to consider the OCA and IOCA supervisor training workshops now open for 2026, which play an important role in strengthening consistency, fairness and confidence in our assessment processes. Similarly, opportunities to contribute as MEQ markers, examiners, or through the newly established Supervisor Reference Group are vital to maintaining the quality of our training pathways, and are made possible through the generosity of members who contribute their expertise pro bono. Opportunities to serve on committees, such as the current casual vacancies on the Written Examinations Subcommittee, also offer insights into College governance, and helps ensure our processes remain robust and member informed.

Equity of access is also front of mind. I am pleased to see the RANZCP Foundation’s new travel bursary for rural trainees to attend Congress in 2026 / 2027. For colleagues training or practising in rural and remote areas, access to professional development and connection can be more challenging. Initiatives like this, alongside the appointment of our inaugural Rural Champions, reflect the College’s ongoing commitment to strengthening rural psychiatry and fostering a positive rural and generalist culture.

Looking ahead, members will see further progress on upcoming changes to RANZCP accreditation standards. Aligning with the Australian Medical Council’s new model accreditation standards is a significant piece of work, and I appreciate the engagement and feedback we have received to date. The new standards for training programs will go live in mid-2026, with training post standards to follow later in the year, providing clarity and consistency across jurisdictions.

This edition also highlights the breadth of College activity through our Spotlight series, with Board Directors sharing insights into member engagement, education, finance, trainee engagement, and practice, policy and partnerships. These reflections demonstrate the many ways in which members contribute to the strength and direction of our College.

Finally, I encourage you to take advantage of the many professional development opportunities and resources available through your membership – from conferences and on-demand learning to full-text access to leading journals. In our rapidly evolving field, staying connected to new ideas, colleagues and shared purpose is more important than ever.

One such opportunity is the Women's Mental Health in Bloom webathon on International Women’s Day 2026 from 7–8 March. It’s hosted by the International Association of Women's Mental Health, in partnership with the RANZCP, RCPsych UK, and The Lancet Commission on WMH. Spanning 24 hours, the event will focus on all aspects of women’s mental health and involve speakers from seven global regions, each hosting a three-hour session. The RANZCP will be hosting the first three hours of the webathon on Saturday 7 March. Save the date for this valuable chance to connect with global colleagues and ideas.

Thank you for your dedication to your patients, communities and to one another. I look forward to working with you throughout 2026 as we continue to support our members and strengthen our profession.

Warm regards,

Dr Astha Tomar
President