The Victorian Branch held its first member engagement event of 2026 last Saturday: The Specialist International Medical Graduate (SIMGs)/Psychiatrists with International Qualifications (PIQs) Forum – Bridging Cultures, Building Careers. The event was a great success, with over 70 registered participants.

The Branch heard about the challenges associated with relocating, recredentialling and settling into a new health system, particularly for women balancing caregiving and resettlement responsibilities. While there has been important progress in Victoria, ongoing attention is needed to ensure consistent safety, equitable support and clearer pathways for SIMGs/PIQs. 

SIMG/PIQ psychiatrists are valued members of the Victorian mental health and wellbeing system, and we owe it to them – and to our communities – to ensure pathways that enable them to thrive.

Thank you to Branch Committee members Dr Ajay Vijayakrishnan and Dr Rajlaxmi Khopade for developing and hosting the program, and RANZCP President Dr Astha Tomar, A/Prof Vinay Lakra, A/Prof Raju Lakshmana, Dr Ruwanthi Seneviratne, A/Prof Sophie Adams, A/Prof Ravi Bhat, Dr Vaskar Chakraborty, Dr Akuh Adaji, and others for your leadership and participation and Branch staff – Joanne Balmforth, Juliet Brereton and Emma Hull – for their support.