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ASoP members expressed concerns regarding the involvement of the Presidents of both the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) in a planned political fundraising event associated with the Australian Labor Party. The event was subsequently cancelled prior to taking place following concerns raised by members. On 1 July 2026, ASoP and the National Associatio

ASoP and BEING Mental Health Consumers were recently featured in a Sydney Morning Herald article examining the growing pressures on NSW's mental health system. The article highlighted concerns about poor access to community mental health care and the increasing demand on emergency departments. The article also covered calls from a coalition of 21 health, mental health and justice organisations for the public release of the NSW Government's Mental Health Gap Analysis to help i

This week, the Australian Society of Psychiatrists (ASoP) was proud to represent psychiatry at Parliament House in Canberra, participating in a national roundtable on access and quality in healthcare convened by Avant Mutual. The discussion brought together health leaders from across the specialties, policymakers and parliamentarians, including The Hon. Mark Butler, Federal Minister for Health and Ageing, to tackle one of the biggest challenges facing the Australian health sy

ASoP CEO Dr Pramudie Gunaratne joined ABC Radio's Mornings with Hamish Macdonald, stepping in for Dr Norman Swan's regular health segment. The conversation explored the impact of social media on mental health, along with listener questions about the challenges many Australians face in accessing timely and appropriate mental health care. Listen to the full interview below.

ASoP was delighted to launch our State by State listening tour in Brisbane with an open and constructive discussion about the challenges and opportunities facing psychiatry today. It was fantastic to see the room full of Brisbane and Gold Coast psychiatrists, with strong engagement from clinicians working across public and private practice, subspecialty services and different career stages. The discussion covered a wide range of issues important to psychiatrists and the patie

Hear ASoP Director Sarah Logan speak on ABC The World Today about the harrowing police brutality against people living with mental illness shown on Four Corners last night.

Psychiatrists: a mental health crisis should be met with care, not force. The Australian Society of Psychiatrists (ASoP) has expressed deep concern following the ABC Four Corners investigation Brutal Force which aired tonight and exposed confronting incidents involving people experiencing acute mental illness during interactions with police. The program highlights the urgent need to strengthen Australia's response to mental health crises and ensure that people experiencing se

ASoP hosted 'Psychiatrists and the Coroner: Understanding the Coronial Process', an educational webinar exploring one of the most challenging professional experiences many psychiatrists will face. Coronial investigations and inquests can be complex, emotionally demanding and professionally significant. The webinar provided practical guidance on navigating the coronial system, understanding professional accountability and preparing for participation in coronial proceedings. To

Mental health care should not be the exception. Australian Society of Psychiatrists (ASoP) Director and lived-experience representative Sarah Logan was an invited speaker at the Australian Private Hospitals Association (APHA) Congress in Adelaide, sharing a powerful perspective on one of the most pressing inequities in Australian healthcare. Drawing on her own experience of navigating the mental health system, Sarah challenged the stark contrast between how Australia responds

ASoP CEO Dr Pramudie Gunaratne was invited to deliver the 21st Annual Marie Bashir Address at the Sydney University Medical School. The address held particular significance as it was the first delivered since the passing of Prof. Dame Marie Bashir earlier this year. As a psychiatrist and then Governor of New South Wales, Prof. Bashir represented a unique model of leadership — one grounded in service, humility, compassion and an unwavering commitment to others. “Everything I

A huge thanks to Zeep Medical for partnering with us on the Zeep x ASoP Social in Melbourne alongside the RANZCP Congress! We hope you enjoy the highlights video below. It was incredible meeting the 200+ psychiatrists and trainees from all over Australia who came along and brought such great energy to the night. Events like this remind us how much appetite there is for connection, fresh ideas and a strong collective voice for psychiatry.

ASoP was pleased to attend the 2026 AMA Colleges, Associations and Societies Meeting in Canberra, which brought together leaders from over 50 medical colleges, associations and societies across Australia. The forum provided a valuable opportunity to connect across the profession and engage in national conversations about the future of our health system. The programme spanned key priorities, including innovation in prevention, how we train and support the next generation of

ASoP was featured on ABC 7.30 in a national report examining the growing pressures on Australia's mental health system, following the tragic events involving patients absconding from Cumberland Hospital. The story highlighted serious concerns about system capacity and safety, alongside longstanding warnings from clinicians and the experiences of families seeking answers. ASoP CEO Dr Pramudie Gunaratne contributed to the discussion, and the 7.30 team also attended our recent s

On Saturday, the Australian Society of Psychiatrists (ASoP) hosted a sold-out symposium reflecting on the findings of the Bondi Junction Inquest and asking a simple question: where to next? The theme that echoed throughout the day was clear: we cannot let another report gather dust. For decades, mental health care in Australia has been examined, reviewed and reported on. Too often, tragedy is followed by attention — and then a drift back to 'business as usual'. The opening ad

The Australian Society of Psychiatrists (ASoP) Board recently gathered in Sydney for our first in-person strategy day, with board members travelling from across the country to come together in the same room. After many months of building the organisation through Zoom calls and countless conversations, it was a valuable opportunity to spend time together discussing the direction and priorities for ASoP. As a new organisation, there is a great deal for us to work through, and

The tragic events in Western Sydney, following patients absconding from Cumberland Hospital, have deeply affected many across our community. In the days that followed, ASoP engaged with national media — with our CEO speaking to The Daily Telegraph, Sydney Morning Herald, ABC News Radio, ABC News and Nine News — to provide clinical context and keep the conversation grounded in evidence, not fear, emphasising that people with severe mental illness are far more likely to be vict

ASoP CEO Dr Pramudie Gunaratne was recently on Channel 10 backing calls from Teach Us Consent to Fix Our Feeds . This urges the Australian Government to act and introduce an opt-in feature for social media algorithms so we can bring affirmative consent to our screens and turn our feeds on and off at will.

ASoP is featured as the lead piece in MJA Insight+, exploring "The pressing need for a new voice for psychiatry in Australia." “Mental health care in Australia is facing a critical crisis, marked by declining inpatient capacity, escalating demand, and widening gaps in community-based services. The absence of a strong, public-facing voice for psychiatry has contributed to poor community literacy and policy inertia.” This article outlines why the profession must step forward wi

On Friday morning, ASoP CEO joined Today on Channel 9, following the release of the Bondi Junction Inquest findings. It's a heavy moment — for the families who are grieving, and for a country confronting the consequences of a system that has been allowed to fray. The findings echo what clinicians, consumers and families have long known. The challenge now is whether we move beyond acknowledgement to real, sustained change.

The Bondi Junction Inquest findings have laid bare serious systemic failures across our mental health system. This is a profoundly difficult time for the families of all those who lost their lives at Bondi Junction, and for everyone whose lives were forever changed by that day. Our thoughts are with them, and with the wider community who continue to carry this grief. ASoP is grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the national conversation. Below is a clip from one of t