Through the looking-glass: private and public practice psychiatry in the RANZCP

Abstract

Objective:

To provide reflections on the representation of and engagement with private practice psychiatrists by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP).

Conclusion:

We consider some of the reasons for private psychiatrist disengagement with the RANZCP. We suggest approaches to better engage private psychiatrists in the RANZCP, including: involvement in mental health policy, improved committee representation, specific private practice and business training for Fellowship, broader private practice peer support networks (welfare, clinical research, leadership), tailored professional development, branch-based networks of public and private psychiatrists, and collaboration with specialist medical colleges and the Australian Medical Association.

Keywords

psychiatry private practice RANZCP membership representation

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Keks

Hope

Pring

, et al. Characteristics, diagnoses, illness course and risk profiles of inpatients admitted for at least 21 days to an Australian private psychiatric hospital. Australas Psychiatry 2019; 27: 25–31.

Newton

Beasley

Bosanac

, et al. The challenges facing the public mental health sector: implications of the Victorian Psychiatry workforce project. Australas Psychiatry 2019; 27: 618–621.

Membership_Engagement_Committee. MEC Private practice psychiatry engagement consultation forums notes – 3 & 8 October 2019. Melbourne, VIC, Australia: RANZCP, 2019.

Looi

JCL

Allison

Bastiampillai

. Commonwealth of common mental health: the need for a comprehensive overhaul of corporate governance in mental healthcare in Australia. Australas Psychiatry 2019; DOI: 10.1177/1039856219891657.

Looi

JCL

Maguire

. Surviving the Heart of Darkness: reflections on the experience of psychiatrists working in public mental health services in Australia. Australas Psychiatry 2019; 27: 634–636.