Dear  ,

The Section of Perinatal and Infant Psychiatry is pleased to present its latest newsletter.

Notes from the Chair

2025 was another significant year for the Section of Perinatal and Infant Psychiatry (SPIP). The binational committee continued to meet regularly, bringing together wide jurisdictional representation and supporting cross-country advocacy for services and issues central to perinatal and women’s mental health.

SPIP maintained a strong presence at the 2025 RANZCP Congress, with our invited speaker and a well-attended section dinner at a local Italian restaurant. Reflecting growing awareness of the under-recognition of ADHD in women, we hosted a webinar on Pregnancy, Parenting and ADHD. Dr David Chapman presented on ADHD in women across the reproductive lifespan, and Queensland Statewide Perinatal Lived Experience Coordinator, Ms Nicki Walsh, generously shared her personal experience of parenting with ADHD. The webinar attracted an impressive 935 registrants and generated lively engagement and discussion. 

This year also marked a major milestone following seven years of dedicated work by past and present SPIP members on the Advanced Certificate of Perinatal and Reproductive Psychiatry. Under the leadership of Professor Megan Galbally, the final training documents were submitted for RANZCP review in November. This represents an exciting step forward in the development of the Advanced Certificate, and we extend our sincere thanks to Megan and to all who have worked tirelessly over the past seven years to reach this point.

SPIP continues its advocacy across multiple fronts. We remain represented on the COPE (Centre of Perinatal Excellence) committee and the LEAPP (Living Experience for Australian Pregnancy and Perinatal Care) committee. This year, SPIP will also represent the RANZCP as part of the Australian Alliance of Perinatal Mental Health (AAPMH), currently capably led by Professor Anne Sved-Williams. Together with the RANZCP, we continue to work with the Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority (IHACPA) to advocate for a review of the pricing of mother–baby units, as part of broader efforts to support the development of public mother–baby units across Australia. NSW SPIP members also met with the NSW Minister for Mental Health, Rose Jackson, during the 2025 NSW Psychiatrists’ Industrial Action to discuss its impact on public perinatal psychiatry services and to advocate for ministerial engagement in service review.

Looking ahead to 2026, a major highlight will be the 2026 SPIP Conference, to be held from 4–6 June at the InterContinental Hotel, Double Bay, Sydney. Building on the success of our inaugural 2024 SPIP Conference and the excellent engagement in our recent webinars, we look forward to welcoming many RANZCP members in June. Invited speakers will provide contemporary updates on mental health in the peripartum period and across the female lifespan. Abstract submissions will open shortly, and we look forward to showcasing members’ service developments and research. SPIP will also host a section dinner at the 2026 Congress in Melbourne—details to follow soon.

WA has hosted several engaging education and networking events over the past six months, including a Women’s Mental Health Symposium in May, a travelling scholar lecture delivered by Prof Kulkarni, and a well-attended SPIP event at the local RANZCP branch office. There is also strong enthusiasm across the SPIP Jurisdictions for organising local perinatal events in 2026. Planning discussions have begun, with jurisdictions exploring a variety of initiatives aimed at improving perinatal mental health outcomes and fostering stronger networks of care.

Sylvia Lim-Gibson
Chair, Bi-national SPIP Committee

Next edition 

If there is anything you would like to see included in future newsletters, please contact binational.committees@ranzcp.org

Registrars are encouraged to contact the SPIP Committee Trainee Representative, Georgina Gorman, at gorman.georgina@gmail.com with any perinatal training-related queries or concerns.