NSW Rural Psychiatry Project

Phase I of the project commenced in 2002 and concluded in 2008, with the collective impact of the Project initiatives resulting in many significant achievements: -

• An increase in access to basic psychiatry mental health services
• An increase in professional development and the capacity of psychiatrists within rural areas
• An increase in the number of psychiatry trainees based in rural NSW
• An increase in the number of consultant psychiatrists providing services to rural NSW
• An increase in engaging and communicating with the rural psychiatry workforce
• Encouragement and facilitating entry of rural based medical practitioners into the psychiatry specialty; and
• Facilitating communication between public mental health services and private practicing psychiatrists.

Phase II of the Project commenced in July 2009 for a further three year period (until July 2012) and aims to build on the achievements of Phase I with an increased emphasis on the following four key initiatives: -

• Further developing and strengthening peer support and continuing professional development
• Development of a Clinical Leadership Mentoring Program
• Continuation of the NSW Rural Psychiatry Recruitment Service
• Re-development of the NSW Rural Psychiatry Project Website (http://nswrural.ranzcp.org)

The Project is managed by a Steering Committee, convened under the governance of the RANZCP NSW Branch Committee, and includes representatives from the Branch, NSW Health, NSW Country Psychiatrists Association, Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health, the Specialist International Medical Graduates Committee, a rural trainee, and both rural resident and outreach psychiatrists.

The SSRS is a joint initiative of the Committee of Presidents of Medical Colleges and the Department of Health and Ageing, and is funded by the Australian Government, to support ongoing professional education for specialists working in rural Australia. This project builds on and extends the work from the previously successful Peer Review Network for Rural Psychiatrists project implemented under Round Seven of the Scheme.  Eligible participants include psychiatrists based in rural and remote Australia, from private or public practice. International Medical Graduates and trainee psychiatrists in rural locations are also encouraged to participate.  Project activities will include:

• The continuation of sub-speciality focused rural peer review groups to meet on a monthly basis via videoconferencing or teleconferencing;
• The creation of new rural peer review groups to accommodate additional participants if the need arises;
• The presentation of four videoconferenced seminars determined on the basis of questions arising from rural peer review meetings; and
• Web forum follow-up of seminars using the existing Rural Station website.

SSRS Webinar Presentations

For more information on the national SSRS program visit:
www.ruralspecialist.org.au