News from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) is committed to advocating for the human rights of people with experiences of mental illness, the values of which are underpinned in Mental Health Acts and further articulated in our position statement on mental health legislation and psychiatrists.

 As part of this commitment, the Victorian Branch of the RANZCP has recently undertaken an enabling supported decision-making project. The supported decision-making model was introduced in the Mental Health Act 2014 (Victoria) for people living with mental illness and who are subject to compulsory assessment and treatment.

 Our new position paper utilises co-production methodology that mirrors the principles of supported decision-making, and we have also developed online training materials in conjunction with psychiatrists and consumers.

 On a different note, a reminder to mark your calendars for the 7th World Congress of Asian Psychiatry, to be held 21–24 February 2019, Sydney, Australia. The World Congress is a collaboration between RANZCP and the Asian Federation of Psychiatric Associations (AFPA), and will help to strengthen AFPA’s mission to promote mental health in the Asian region.