21 January 2025

Our thoughts are with all NSW psychiatry trainees going into work this morning in an unprecedented moment of uncertainty and fear for our patients and our public mental health system as a whole.

NAPT met with policy advisors from Mental Health Minister Rose Jackson’s office last Friday. We followed up our meeting with the letter attached below.

During that meeting, we conveyed the deep fears held by psychiatry registrars across New South Wales regarding the impending resignations. We informed them about the immense implications of the resignations, and reiterated that we would not be performing roles outside our scope or not within safe work practice.

We sought to clarify the government's plan to manage this crisis and support psychiatry trainees in the state. They indicated a plan to cover some of the resignations with locums and VMOs, but were unable to provide any numbers about how many positions have been filled. Unfortunately the specifics of how they, and we, are expected to handle the situation were lacking. The Minister’s policy advisors did say they intended to increase security in emergency departments, but again were vague on specifics.

We specifically noted to the Minister’s policy advisors that first-year registrars would be particularly impacted, and that this would have a major effect on retention and wellbeing. We also noted the flow-on effect for retention of new psychiatrists and attraction to the specialty.

As always, NAPT will continue to advocate on your behalf. Please let us know if you have specific queries or concerns that we can follow up on or assist with. In particular, in this unprecedented time we realise it may be confusing to know who to contact with particular problems (e.g. College/managers/ASMOF/MDO). Please send us a private Facebook message if you are confused and we will endeavour to point you in the right direction.