Mental health needs are increasing across NSW, with more than one in five people experiencing a mental health concern each year. Public mental health services are responding to increasingly complex presentations that require multidisciplinary inter-agency care and coordinated, person-centred support across hospital and community settings. Psychiatrists and Psychiatry Registrars play a crucial role in our public mental health services.
In 2025, four clinician-led working groups were convened to strengthen workforce sustainability. These groups examined:
From these Working Groups, two priority streams of work emerged:
The Clinical Psychiatry Taskforce emerged from these working groups to ensure that the expertise of Psychiatrists and Psychiatry Registrars informs statewide clinical advice on workforce, models of care, emerging clinical issues and opportunities for system improvement.
The Taskforce will comprise Psychiatrists and Psychiatry Registrars employed by NSW Health, including those working as Staff Specialists, Visiting Medical Officers (VMOs), Career Medical Officers (CMOs) etc across a range of settings.
The Taskforce responds to longstanding clinician feedback about the need for clearer communication, better support for managing risk, improved after-hours arrangements and stronger involvement in decision-making.
A strengthened psychiatry workforce embedded in system leadership and decision-making, driving improved outcomes, enhanced workforce attraction and retention, and the long-term sustainability and quality of NSW’s public mental health system.
Over the next 18 months, the Taskforce’s primary aim is to:
In achieving this aim, the Taskforce will address the following Areas:
The Clinical Psychiatry Taskforce will advise upon NSW Health-related projects that pertain to the Aims of this Taskforce and liaise with appropriate partners to inform future strategic initiatives.
The Clinical Psychiatry Taskforce brings together the experience, perspectives and insights of psychiatrists across NSW to inform statewide policy, planning and service improvement.
Members are expected to participate in respectful and constructive discussion where all voices are heard. The Taskforce will take a solutions-focused approach, encouraging members to share ideas, innovations and practical opportunities to address challenges and support meaningful improvement.
Time limited subcommittee(s) may be established to examine specific issues. Membership of the subcommittee(s) will be determined by the Taskforce and may include drawing on external expertise through established mechanisms.
The mix of metropolitan, rural, junior and senior clinicians ensures a strong diversity of experience and perspectives.
Members will be selected to balance representation across:
The Chair(s) may invite other individuals or groups to present to, or observe, meetings. Where agreed by the Chair(s), members may invite guests to attend meetings to provide advice and support to a specific topic raised. Guests may include accompanying staff and staff may be invited to support the recording of discussion and implementation of session outcomes.
The quorum will be a minimum of half the total membership plus one (more than 50%). In the absence of a quorum the meeting may be rescheduled to the earliest suitable date or may continue at the Chair’s discretion with all actions to be ratified at a subsequent committee meeting. Proxies are included in the determination of a quorum.
Secretariat support will be provided by the NSW Ministry of Health. Responsibilities of the Secretariat include:
The Clinical Psychiatry Taskforce will meet every six weeks, or more frequently as required. Meetings will be held at the Ministry of Health, St Leonards, and via Teams (videoconference).