Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) is the principal organisation representing the medical specialty of psychiatry in Australia and New Zealand and has responsibility for training, examining and awarding the qualification of Fellowship of the College (FRANZCP) to medical practitioners.
About.
There are currently more than 4000 Fellows of the College who account for approximately 85 per cent of all practising psychiatrists in Australia and over 50 per cent of psychiatrists in New Zealand. Over 1000 trainees are undertaking basic and advanced training to become psychiatrists in both countries.
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists is a collegial community of medical specialists and trainees committed to the following core purposes: 
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists's vision:
To enhance the mental health of our nations through leadership in high-quality psychiatric care.
History.
The Australasian Association of Psychiatrists was formed on 9 October 1946. In 1962, the association resolved to "take the necessary action forthwith to convert the association into a college". and the Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists was officially incorporated in Sydney on 28 October 1963. The Australasian Association of Psychiatrists was officially dissolved at a special general meeting in Melbourne on 12 April 1964. The first formal meeting of the council of the new College took place in Canberra on 25 October 1964. The meeting coincided with the College’s first annual congress.
The RANZCP was granted the Royal prefix with effect from May 1978. An extraordinary meeting of the College ratified the inclusion of "Royal" in the College’s name on 7 May 1978.
"Menders of the Mind", published by Oxford University Press, commemorated the 50th anniversary of The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatry.
Governance.
The RANZCP is governed by a board of democratically elected directors, led by the college president.
The board governs according to the RANZCP Constitution
The college comprises branches in each state and territory of Australia, and New Zealand. Its governance structure also includes faculties, sections and networks.
Faculties
Sections
Networks
Activities.
The RANZCP: 
RANZCP Publications.
The RANZCP publishes: 
Events.
The RANZCP holds several events, general psychiatry and mental health conferences.(https://web.archive.org/web/20100706223050/http://www.ranzcp.org/resources/events.html)
Training.
The first step in becoming a psychiatrist is to undertake medical training at university and qualify as a doctor. The next step is to complete a 12-month period of intern training in a general hospital in order to become a fully registered medical practitioner and gain experience in specialist aspects of medicine and surgery. After this, interested doctors are eligible to apply for entry to the Psychiatric Training Programme, although some doctors choose to extend their general medical training before applying. Careful selection of psychiatric Trainees is conducted by a panel of psychiatrists who interview applicants in each Australian State and in New Zealand. Applicants must also provide extensive references regarding their work performance and suitability for psychiatric training. Those applicants who successfully progress through this process and satisfy all the criteria will be offered a place on the Training Programme.
Training requires mandatory supervision by experienced, qualified psychiatrists and is undertaken in approved training hospitals/services. In Australia and New Zealand, specialist postgraduate psychiatric training is conducted by the RANZCP. Training takes a minimum of five years to complete, during which time trainees work as registrars under supervision in hospitals and community clinics. They gain wide experience in dealing with the full range of psychiatric problems, including those of children and families, adults and the elderly.