The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) has welcomed the Australian Government’s decision to extend the Military and Veteran Psychiatry Training Program (MVPTP) to 2028 with an investment of $3.5 million, securing the future of a program that has proven essential in building Australia's specialist mental health workforce for veterans.

The MVPTP is a Department of Veterans' Affairs initiative that funds health organisations to provide psychiatry trainees with hands-on experience treating veteran and military patients, while also helping deliver services in rural and remote areas where access to specialist care is limited.

An independent evaluation of the program found it has been extremely effective. One hundred per cent of trainees have reported gaining confidence in managing PTSD and trauma-related conditions, with all participating health services emphasising that trainees played a pivotal role in expanding clinical capacity and improving access to care for veterans.

RANZCP President Dr Astha Tomar said the program's renewal ensures Australia can continue building a sustainable pipeline of psychiatrists with the specialised skills and cultural understanding needed to support the mental health of current and former ADF members.

"The government's decision to renew the MVPTP demonstrates a genuine commitment to delivering on the Defence and Veteran Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy," Dr Tomar said.

"Australia's military and veteran population faces unique mental health challenges that require specialised care. This program is essential to ensuring we have psychiatrists equipped to meet those needs.

"Nearly all MVPTP trainees surveyed said they want to continue working in veteran mental health, either as their primary specialty or as part of their broader psychiatric practice. That's the kind of workforce engagement we need to sustain quality care for veterans long-term.

"With an ageing workforce and limited exposure to military and veteran mental health in standard training pathways, the MVPTP plays a critical role in attracting, training, and retaining psychiatrists who understand the complex needs of this population.

"A new chapter of the program is welcome news, and we look forward to working with DVA to explore opportunities to expand the program even further, creating more training posts and reaching more services across Australia," Dr Tomar said.

The RANZCP is awaiting further details from the Department of Veterans' Affairs on the MVPTP extension and will provide more information to members, trainees and health services as it becomes available in the new year.  

The College also welcomed a list of mental health investments announced today, including funding to meet the Federal Government’s pre-election commitments. They include:

• $83.9 million over four years from 2025–26 to provide additional training places for mental health professionals and peer workers, including scholarships for the Certificate of Postgraduate Training in Clinical Psychiatry and more psychiatry training places
• $2.4 million in 2026–27 to continue supporting general practitioners (GP) to link with psychiatrists who provide telehealth consultations through the national GP Psychiatry Support Line

Dr Tomar said the scholarships for psychiatry training and expanded training places would help address critical workforce shortages.

"These investments recognise that building a strong mental health workforce requires sustained commitment to training more doctors in mental health. The scholarships will help remove financial barriers for doctors wanting to train in psychiatry, while the continuation of the GP Psychiatry Support Line ensures GPs in regional and remote areas can access expert psychiatric consultation when they needed," Dr Tomar said.

ENQUIRIES: For more information, or to arrange an interview call Dishi on +61 437 315 911 or email media@ranzcp.org.   

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists is a membership organisation that prepares medical specialists in the field of psychiatry, supports and enhances clinical practice, advocates for people affected by mental illness and advises governments and other groups on mental health care. For information about our work, our members or our history, visit www.ranzcp.org.

In Australia: If you or someone you know needs help, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or www.lifeline.org.au or the Suicide Callback Service on 1300 659 467 or www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au.

In New Zealand: If you or someone you know needs help, contact Lifeline NZ on 0800 543 354 or www.lifeline.org.nz or the Suicide Crisis Helpline on 0508 828 865 or www.lifeline.org.nz/suicide-prevention.