The Dean's reflection: August

Value through partnerships

August has been busy. Now six months into the role, the cadence has stepped up as focus shifts from listening to shaping the education system that will support our College’s vision.

That vision rests on high-quality education, social accountability, and future-proofing learning. Underpinning all of this is trust, partnerships, and wise use of data.

Last week, the New Fellowship Program Taskforce met for its final intensive, refining recommendations after extensive consultation. Consultation is a two-way process. We hear views, test assumptions, and refine. Thank you to everyone who took the time to contribute. Those recommendations will go to the Board in October.

I want to acknowledge the Taskforce and team who have worked tirelessly to build a prototype that seeks to preserve what works, responds to service pressures and opens up more flexible, equitable pathways whilst reducing assessment burden. For members working at the coalface, the aim is simple: training that better supports safe, practical care in clinical settings.

This is not the end of the conversation. We have a long lead-in to 2030 with pilots, further consultation, and detailed co-design to shape the final curriculum. A new implementation group will guide that next phase.

As I have travelled in recent months, I keep returning to two ideas: value and partnerships. Education is the core purpose of the College. Demonstrating its value to services, patients, and communities is vital. One example is our upcoming R U OK? Day webinar on 10 September (6 pm AEST) where Dr Susannah Bond and Dr Jessica Yang will explore how psychiatrists can lead in wellbeing.

Creating value also means recognising those who teach and assess. This month I would like to extend my sincere thanks to our Committee for Examinations members and examiners, who generously contribute considerable time and expertise to support the Fellowship. Later this year, we aim to acknowledge contributors in our annual report and explore new education awards.

Partnerships also mean listening. At recent trainee committee meetings, I was struck by trainees who didn’t always feel heard. From next year, we’ll introduce a regular communication hour where trainees will have the opportunity to ask questions to College education leaders.

I was also privileged this month to spend time in Alice Springs at the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Psychiatry Trainee Forum.

As the number of Indigenous trainees grows, we must build systems that recognise cultural and colonial load and support success. Clinical safety cannot exist without cultural safety.

And finally, data. The Medical Training and Torohia surveys are open, and your participation matters. If you are a trainee, please complete it. If you’re a supervisor, please encourage it. Last year's results are available online (member login required) in an at-a-glance format. I would encourage you to take a look at the findings and analysis as we seek to develop insights in relation to what is working and what could be improved by triangulating across the MTS, Torohia and Fellowship Attainment Survey.

As I reflect on these first six months as Dean, one line keeps returning to me: we create value through partnerships. With trainees, educators, members, communities, and each other. That is how we build trust, and how we build the education system our future psychiatrists and communities deserve.

Warm regards,

Professor Andy Teodorczuk

Executive Dean of Education