Country psychiatrists take out esteemed awards
WA Country Health Service Midwest clinicians Associate Professor Mathew Coleman and Dr Matthew Davidson have been recognised in the 2025 Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) Awards for their contributions to rural and remote psychiatry.
The awards - held on the Gold Coast as part of the Annual Congress program – celebrate the contributions psychiatrists, trainees and other individuals make to improve the mental health of patients and communities across Australia, Aotearoa/New Zealand, and Asia-Pacific.
Associate Professor and Clinical Director Midwest Mental Health Service, Mat Coleman was awarded the highly regarded Margaret Tobin Award - for the RANZCP Fellow who has made the most significant contribution to administrative psychiatry in Australia and New Zealand over the preceding five years.
As the first Western Australian to take out this award, Dr Coleman was chosen for his commitment to leadership and management, and for his substantial contributions in developing and championing rural psychiatry.
Dr Coleman has worked at WA Country Health Service for 13 years. His commitment to improving mental health care for rural and remote WA is reflected in his efforts in workforce sustainability and service accessibility.
He’s had an instrumental role in establishing the Rural Psychiatry Training Pathway that has enabled aspiring psychiatrists to complete their training in rural locations.
As part of the award, he also delivered the Margaret Tobin Oration at the RANZCP Annual Congress, titled Reform through Rural: Leading by Necessity.
Dr Matthew Davidson was awarded the Rural Research Award – an annual prize awarded to a trainee and is an incentive award designed to encourage research achievements and excellence in rural psychiatry.
Dr Davidson has been recognised for his work in youth mental health in rural psychiatry. Having been a trainee psychiatrist for four years – and currently a trainee in the Rural Psychiatry Training WA Program - he’s passionate about all aspects of rural psychiatry and improving the lives of country communities.
He also has a particular focus on psychiatry trainee health and wellbeing.
Executive Director Mental Health Paula Chatfield said it was an honour to have two highly regarded rural psychiatrists recognised for their contributions on a national scale.
“The work of our rural psychiatrists and mental health clinicians cannot be understated,” she said.
“Delivering mental health care across more than 2.55 million square kilometres of country WA is no small feat and it’s people like Mat and Matthew who exemplify what it means to be a rural clinician.
“We congratulate them both on these deserving award wins and thank all our psychiatrists and mental health workers for their contributions to rural and remote healthcare delivery,” she added.