The Psychiatry Interest Forum (PIF) recently hosted the 2025 PIF Retreat in Naarm (Melbourne), marking the third consecutive year of this inspiring event. Held at the RANZCP Head Office, we welcomed 23 enthusiastic PIF scholars from across Australia for 1.5 days of learning and connection.

The event kicked off with a relaxed meet-and-greet dinner at Seamstress, allowing scholars to network over canapés. The next day featured a dynamic lineup of speakers, including RANZCP VIC Branch Chair, A/Prof Simon Stafrace, who shared his personal journey in psychiatry, and A/Prof Ravi Bhat, who discussed challenges in old-age psychiatry.

Followed by presentations from A/Prof Alasdair Vance on First Nations mental health, Dr. Kate James on the RANZCP training program, and Dr. John Robertson on the Bio-Psycho-Social-Cultural-Spiritual model in psychiatry. Dr. Jenny Babb also spoke on women's mental health and menopause.

In the afternoon, the group visited The Dax Centre to explore art created by those with lived experiences of mental health challenges, accompanied by an inspiring talk from a lived experience speaker.

Thursday began with A/Prof Shalini Arunogiri addressing addiction psychiatry and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. Dr. Claire Cody then shared insights into Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. Rita Brown from Spectrum highlighted the carer perspective and the importance of co-production in mental health care.

Psychiatry trainees Dr. Ashvini Vengadavaradan and Dr. Swathi Ramdave led a discussion on how culture shapes psychiatric care. Dr. Matthew Kang closed the retreat by sharing his journey to Fellowship in Neuropsychiatry.

Dr. Astha Tomar, President-Elect and Chair of the PIF Advisory Group, joined us for a networking lunch, providing scholars with the chance to ask questions about the College and the PIF program. This lunch featured delicious catering from Mabu Mabu, an Indigenous-owned service.

We are grateful to all RANZCP Fellows, trainees, College staff, and PIF scholars who made the retreat a memorable event. Your passion inspires the next generation of psychiatrists, ensuring a bright future for the field. We look forward to what 2026 will bring!