Objective: To describe the geriatric psychiatry subspecialty training program in Australia and New Zealand.
Materials and Methods: An historical review and description of the Faculty of Psychiatry of Old Age (FPOA), Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) advanced training program.
Results: Advanced training (or subspecialty training as it is known in some countries) in psychiatry of old age officially commenced in Australia and New Zealand in 1999, though of course unofficial training had been occurring for years. At this time the Section of Psychiatry of Old Age, an interest group within the RANZCP, became a Faculty (FPOA). Becoming a Faculty includes the responsibility of running a college accredited two-year training program that culminates in the Certificate in Psychiatry of Old Age. This is undertaken as the final part of the 5-year RANZCP training for college membership and recipients of the certificate are eligible for membership of FPOA. In the four years since the Faculty training commenced, the training program has grown enormously. There are now 53 trainees registered with the program and 14 training centers scattered across the two countries. So far, there have been 20 graduates. Each year interest has been increasing amongst college trainees to join our program.
The Committee for Advanced Training in Psychiatry of Old Age (CATPOA), of which I am Chair, is charged with the responsibility of accrediting training programs through a combination of documentation of training opportunities and activities as well as regular site visits. It also monitors the progress of trainees through 6-monthly self-assessment and supervisors reports. CATPOA in turn reports to the Fellowships Board that devises policy and monitors all training activities within the college.
Because our training program is spread across two countries with many training centers having only one or two trainees at any one time, it has been necessary to develop strategies to overcome the distance and isolation. Our initial strategy involved the use of chat sessions on the Internet but we are now piloting bulletin board style tutorials. Annual advanced training weekends are held where trainees are brought together in a university center for a day or two and have an opportunity to get to know each other. Tutorials, mini-lectures from local and international experts, workshops and trainee presentations, allow the trainees to share their knowledge and experiences in an informal manner. We have been able to obtain sponsorship so that the trainees have limited expenses. As advanced training in psychiatry of old age becomes more popular, we are finding that there is now increasing pressure for mental health services to develop positions for old age psychiatrists.
Conclusion: Even in the brief span of four years, I feel that the RANZCP advanced training program in old age psychiatry has been a resounding success and promises to go on to bigger and better things.
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