ABSTRACT
Background: Transition to Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) Fellowship can be a challenging time for trainees who are approaching Fellowship who face demands of completing training requirements while finding a first consultant job. Psychiatrists in the early stages of their career are finding their style as a consultant, developing new skills in leadership and management, as well as engaging in ongoing professional development while maintaining self-care and work-life balance. Objectives: To describe the challenges of transitioning to Fellowship and how to maintain well-being and connection by accessing support from peers and College networks and programmes. Methods: The presenters will describe their experiences and the work of the Trainee Representative Committee, Section of Early Career Psychiatrists and Wellbeing Subcommittee. We will also present data about service usage of the Hand-n-Hand peer support network for these groups. Findings: The transition to Fellowship can bring up additional challenges for psychiatrists in addition to those highlighted in the 2020 RANZCP Member Wellbeing Survey such as workload, interpersonal stress and exhaustion that have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion: There is need to understand and respond to the unique needs of trainees and psychiatrists in this critical phase of their careers, which is highlighted in both the personal stories of the presenters and the supports that are available and are in development.
ABSTRACT
Background: Korero mai, or storytelling, has long been a part of human nature and within all cultures. To tell or to hear a story can bring to life the challenges we face, tune our moral compass, connect us to others or realise a truth. Encouraging storytelling has a role in exploring well-being matters. Storytelling provides a reflective and a creative space to consider our well-being through the lens of our experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic both professionally and personally. Objectives: To bring together a diverse group of psychiatrists and trainees to tell a story of their choice to shine a light on members' positive outcomes or experiences during the pandemic, the challenges they have faced and their stories of overcoming. Methods: Four to six storytellers will have 10 minutes each to tell their story. Stories may include music, art or multimedia productions. The Chair will contribute to the session by weaving their own and other stories together. Storytellers are anticipated to have some time to talk among themselves about the stories presented. Findings: The creative flow and personal nature of the stories in the symposium will allow attendees a reflective space to consider the often-complex matter of member well-being. The same symposium format was presented at the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) Congress in 2019 and 2021. Conclusion: Diversity in the College membership brings a richness to our profession. By providing a forum for members to tell their stories, this symposium hopes to bring creativity, truth and light to the difficult matter of how we manage our occupations and lives via our stories we all carry within.