The Rural Psychiatry Training Pathways (RPTP) project continues to progress and deliver outcomes to inform change.

The RPTP team is currently focussed on key projects including securing a provider for the mid-term evaluation of the delivery of outcomes described in the Rural Psychiatry Roadmap 2021 – 2031, the final Rural Readiness workshop in Bunbury and the important advocacy and representation work described in the Roadmap.

Rural Readiness project 

The final Rural Readiness workshop will be delivered in Bunbury in November 2025. This is the last of six workshops delivered in New South Wales (NSW), Queensland, South Australia (SA), the Northern Territory, Western Australia (WA) and Victoria. The SA and WA workshops are anticipated to reach capacity numbers of attendees - a fittingly opposite conclusion to the success of the year’s achievements in delivering this valuable project. 

These fully funded events provided trainees and Specialist International Medical Graduates (SIMG) with practical insights into the realities of working in rural environments, while also offering opportunities to connect with peers and build supportive networks.  

The workshops have been particularly well received, with some Directors of Training making follow up requests for identical workshops to be held twice a year, as the workshops were considered to have been so tangibly beneficial to rural psychiatry training. The workshop formats will provide for the development of templates to enable Branch Training Committees to provide a similar format in future years to maintain momentum for successful growth of psychiatry in rural and regional locations. The modules for Rural Readiness will remain available for all trainees, Fellows and staff to access as an important learning resource. 

Mid-term review 

The mid-term review is described at Item 11 of the Rural Psychiatry Roadmap 2021 – 2031 and provides for a review of progress and recommendations for adjustment or change to remaining outcomes. The process of engaging an external agency to undertake the review has commenced, with a view to having the agency engaged late in 2025 for 2026 commencement. This large body of work will require engagement with trainees, Fellows and some RANZCP staff to secure qualitative and quantitative data.

Advocacy and representation 

Initiating partnerships is fundamental to the success of the Roadmap. In particular, Items 4, 21, 28, and 29 require relationships to be strengthened with national, state and territory governments; health services; health regions; workforce planning bodies; universities; regional training hubs and other colleges. 

The RPTP Team exhibited at the Rural Medicine Australia (RMA25) conference in October 2025. Common themes arose during conversations with conference delegates, including MBS items for general practitioners; workforce shortages; and the importance of sustainable and equitable rural training opportunities.

The RPTP Team will meet with rural clinical schools; Universities; other colleges; and not-for-profit member organisations over the coming months. The aim is for increases in the distribution of trainees and Fellows in rural locations, as well as increases in participation in the RANZCP Fellowship program by trainees of rural origin and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background.