New South Wales

Hunter New England Local Health District (post 29)

Setting type: Public
Trainee level: Stages 1–3
FTE: 1.0
Contact: Dr Harsimrat Sandhu (harsimrat.sandhu@health.nsw.gov.au)

As the first regional based training program in Australia, Hunter New England Training in Psychiatry (HNET) welcomes the Integrated Rural Training Pipeline (IRTP) initiative aimed at increasing the number of psychiatry trainees and specialists in rural and regional areas. The IRTP model allows trainees to progress through various accredited training terms within HNE Mental Health, with the provision that the objective set by the Commonwealth for IRTP trainees is met. Thus, IRTP post holders conduct 75% of their Fellowship training (66% minimum) in a rural or regional area (MM2-7). The location for this IRTP post is consistent with the pathway model.

The IRTP posts differ from the Specialist Training Program (STP) posts as Trainees will complete their entire RANZCP training pathway within Hunter New England Mental Health. Opportunities for various rural/MM3 terms include inpatient psychiatry rotations at Manning Base Hospital, Tamworth Hospital and Armidale Hospital; Consultation Liaison psychiatry at Tamworth Hospital; Child and Adolescent Psychiatry term at Tamworth or Taree, and Community Mental Health Team experience at Tamworth, Armidale and Taree. Extended experiences such as psychotherapy and advanced ECT training is managed by exposure to teaching and supervision from Newcastle. Subspecialty terms (within the non MM2-7 requirement of the IRTP post) in Newcastle include Child and Adolescent psychiatry, C-L, Neuropsychiatry, Psychotherapy, Rehabilitation Psychiatry, Forensic psychiatry and Psychiatry of Old Age. This post would be particularly relevant for a potential rural generalist psychiatrist, of which there is a workforce shortage.

Hunter New England Local Health District (post 36)

Setting type: Public
Trainee level: Stages 1–3
FTE: 1.0
Contact: Dr Harsimrat Sandhu (harsimrat.sandhu@health.nsw.gov.au)

Hunter New England Local Health District (post 150)

Setting type: Public
Trainee level: Stages 1–3
FTE: 1.0
Contact: Dr Harsimrat Sandhu (harsimrat.sandhu@health.nsw.gov.au)

Mid North Coast Local Health District (post 152)

Setting type: Public/Private
Trainee level: Stages 1–3
FTE: 1.0
Contact: Dr Adrian Vasko (Adrian.vasko@health.nsw.gov.au)

The position of the Psychiatry trainee will contribute to the total healthcare needs and expectations of clients, clinicians and staff, and the community by providing and maintaining a high standard of care in the mental health services. Trainees will gain experience working in rural and regional settings for the duration of their training.

The initial 12-months of training would be based the inpatient and community mental health services at Port Macquarie and/or Kempsey and will provide the trainee opportunities to be an integral part of dedicated multidisciplinary teams. The rotation would allow for development of skills in basic assessment and management of a wide range of psychiatric disorders as an inpatient. The trainee would develop deep understanding of working with the mental health act of NSW (2007) and the policy framework supporting safe and effective psychiatric care provision.

In stage 2 of the training, registrars will rotate through the child and adolescent service at Port Macquarie and Kempsey and the consultation liaison team at the Port Macquarie Base Hospital, working closely with clinicians across various disciplines in the hospital and primary care settings, with clinical experience in eating disorders, perinatal psychiatry and emergency psychiatry in addition to consultation-liaison psychiatry in the general medical and surgical contexts. Opportunities for safety and stabilisation focussed psychotherapy of traumatised patients will also be offered, and opportunities for experience in serving the needs of Aboriginal patients in a culturally sensitive manner.

The Stage 3 rotation will include opportunities to develop clinical skills and experiences gained in several of the above settings, as well as opportunities for research and development of special interest.

Western NSW Local Health District, Orange Health Service (post 34)

Setting type: Public, Community Health
Trainee level: Stage 3
FTE: 1.0
Contact: Dr Catherine Hickie (Catherine.Hickie@health.nsw.gov.au)

Trainees will gain experience in all aspects of psychiatric care in a rural setting. This will include not only Acute Adult Psychiatry but many subspecialties including Child & Adolescent Mental Health, Addiction Psychiatry, Old Age Psychiatry, Community Psychiatry, Forensic Psychiatry, Telepsychiatry and Teaching, Education and Research.

The term in adult psychiatry will be a more senior role involved in supporting Stage 1 and 2 trainees. Involvement in Tribunal Hearings and assessment and management of patients with a broad range of mental health issues will occur with active involvement in the multi-disciplinary process. The Community term will provide care for acute psychiatric presentations in the community including assessment of acute patients, formulation of management plans, coordination of patient management in the community. The Telepsychiatry term will involve assessment and review of patients virtually from rural and remote regions. Diagnosis and management plans working within the multi-disciplinary framework will be undertaken under the supervision of the consultant psychiatrist. The Forensic Psychiatry term is based in a medium secure unit and incorporates the trainee coordinating the ongoing rehabilitation and community reintegration of forensic patients, with a specific focus on assessment and management of forensic risk. The registrar will also develop skills in providing expert evidence. The registrar works under the supervision of forensic psychiatrists and forms part of a multidisciplinary team.

During the Child & Adolescent rotation, trainees will: develop their understanding of psychological therapies in Child & Adolescent Mental Health; improve their knowledge of the breadth of diagnostic presentations in Child and Adolescent mental health; and develop skills in the use of telehealth in the provision of services to remote and regional families. The Addiction Psychiatry rotation will provide trainees with experience in: treatment of substance use disorder with psychological methods; assessment and management of patients with opioid drug use problems, complex comorbid substance use and physical health problems; and advanced management of substance intoxication and withdrawal.

Trainees will gain experience in the assessment and diagnostic formulation of older people and develop their understanding of the breadth of diagnostic presentations in older person's mental health during their Old Age psychiatry rotation. The Teaching, Education and Research rotation will enable trainees to: develop skills in presenting small and large group teaching sessions; deliver and evaluate clinical teaching and supervision of near peers; understand the principles of learning methodologies relevant to vocational medical training; formulate research questions, research design and undertake ethics approval processes; and gain experience in research investigation, analysis and presentation of results.