While Dr Astha Tomar is on leave this week, I get to update you all on her behalf.

The Australian Federal Budget announced last week was less than earth-shattering, at least from a mental health perspective. There were some welcome commitments in workforce training, veterans mental health, youth services (as promised pre-election) and community supports.

There was also extended funding for the Specialist Training Program, investment in First Nations services, support for people with eating disorders, and some measures aimed at improving access for vulnerable communities.

That said, the scale of unmet need across the mental health system remains disturbing. Much of the funding announced represents program continuation rather than the long-term structural reform we, and the sector, have consistently called for. The State/Federal agreements are not delivering on improving metrics, such as access to the right person at the right time, or accessing psychosocial supports (for the 250,000 not getting any NDIS support). There are no signs of any shifts in the workforce issues plaguing the private hospital sector, and nothing to address the plunging rates of Gold cover, necessary for psychiatric admissions, due to the cost of living crisis. There are many battlefronts for us to engage in, and we are and we will.

Sadly, and frustratingly, despite sustained advocacy, funding for the Psychiatry Interest Forum (PIF) was not extended past June this year. Since its inception in 2013, more than 9000 medical students and junior doctors have participated in the program, and over 2800 PIF members have chosen to join the RANZCP Fellowship Training Program. Last year, 77% of our new trainees were former PIF members, highlighting its impact and effectiveness as a pathway into psychiatry training. We are looking at ways of sustaining PIF.

But, it’s not all bad news. The Australian Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has restored qualified privilege for Peer Review Groups (PRG). Following a formal application and persistent follow up by the College, PRGs in Australia are once again covered by qualified privilege, supporting open, frank and reflective discussions in a safe learning environment.

Our thanks to all PRG coordinators and members for your patience and professionalism while the application was under consideration, and for continuing to uphold strong confidentiality practices during the interim period. It’s a good outcome.

We also publicly launched the Advanced Training in Youth Mental Health this week, and congratulate Section of Youth Mental Health Chair, Dr Daniel Pellen and the team for this important milestone, as the Government invests heavily in the sector.

That’s it from me.

Have a good weekend.

Warm regards,

Dr Angelo Virgona

President Elect