Rural psychiatry training program supports trainees to live, train and practice in country WA

Country WA has a new pipeline of mental health specialists, with the launch of the Rural Psychiatry Training WA (RPTWA) program.

The program, overseen by WA Country Health Service (WACHS), provides end‐to‐end psychiatry training, allowing trainees to remain in regional WA - from internship through to fellowship.

Accredited by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP), the program is the first-ever dedicated rural training zone in Australia or New Zealand.

Director of Psychiatry Dr Samir Heble said RPTWA will help WACHS develop a sustainable rural mental health workforce that better meets the diverse and unique needs of rural communities.

"The program provides a wide range of training experiences across each of WA's seven regions," Dr Heble said.

"RPTWA is focused on meeting local workforce and community needs and is designed to attract, train and retain psychiatrists to regional WA."

The first cohort of trainees will commence in February 2023. Further trainees will deploy across regional WA in mid-year intake.

Trainees are supported through accommodation and relocation subsidies.

Peer support and mentoring, as well as comprehensive support pathways are available to help trainees and their families settle into regional WA.