Potential for Psychiatric Leadership in Health Care *

Abstract

Some individual Australian psychiatrists have held influential positions in the administration of health care, academic institutions and medical research. It is timely to assess whether individual or group action best meets psychiatry's professional and service needs. Through an exploration of aspects of professionalism, power, leadership, change in the nature and control of health care, and psychiatry's political roles, a case is made for corporate action aimed at psychiatry establishing leadership roles in Australian health care.