Welcome from the SYMH Chair

Welcome to the Spring SYMH newsletter – either a late winter or early summer newsletter! I wanted to delay our usual timing to be able to update you on the latest news about the Certificate of Advanced Training.

Dr Daniel Pellen

Chair, Bi-national Section of Youth Mental Health Committee

danielpellen@gmail.com

Certificate Advanced Training (CAT) in Youth Psychiatry

Following the passage of our application through the Education Committee on June 6, we have been working on getting it to the Board. The whole package went to the Board for the first time (application initially submitted to the College in August 2020) at the meeting in NZ on September 6.

I can now let you know that the Board have given us the green light to move forward with implementation of the CAT. We are aiming to have the first intake of Advanced Trainees in the second rotation/run of 2026, in August.

The is a very exciting time for Youth Psychiatry and is the culmination of not just the past five years, since our application was lodged, but the previous ten or more years when the pioneers of the field first made the proposal. I would like to thank the many people who have been involved in the journey. Congratulations!

SYMH Subcommittees

In order to co-ordinate the promotion of good Youth Mental Health and assist with the implementation of the Certificate of Advanced Training in Youth Psychiatry, it is imperative that we have active sub-committees in each jurisdiction. The QLD sub-committee was formed last year thanks to Dr David Hartman, and Dr Sonia Kumar is in the process of reviving the NSW sub-committee. Dr Iain Macmillan has recently done a sterling job in starting up the VIC sub-committee, whilst things are in train for SA and WA.

For those of you in NZ, TAS, NT and the ACT please contact us if you are interested in being involved in setting up a sub-committee in your area.

SYMH Conference 2026

We are pleased to announce that our next Section conference will be held for the first time in Tasmania.

The conference will be in Hobart on July 31 & August 1, 2026. The organising committee recently met for the first time. Look out for updates on the WhatsApp Youth Psychiatry Open Forum group and the College website.

SYMH and FCAP Dinner at Congress 2025

The SYMH and Faculty of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (FCAP) combined dinner, held during the RANZCP Congress 2025 at The Vault Bar and Tapas in Broadbeach, brought together over 50 attendees for a vibrant evening of food, music, and collegial connection. The Singing Chef’s live piano and vocal interludes set a dynamic and playful tone - aptly reflecting the spirit of youth mental health.

Attended by C&A, youth and adult psychiatrists from across Australia, New Zealand and beyond, the dinner served as both a symbolic and strategic bridge between disciplines, and an opportunity to build connections across services and jurisdictions. We hope this enthusiasm inspires ongoing collaborative events and a sustained culture of connection across the continuum of youth mental health care. 

From Dr Ursula Byrne (QLD), SYMH member who organised the Congress dinner with FCAP colleague Dr Michelle Hellyer (QLD)

Pre-dinner drinks

Social Media Ban

You will be aware that the Government has passed a bill to enforce a minimum age of 16 for the use of certain social media. Current and former committee members have been active in commenting on this issue, and the Committee is aiming to release a Media Statement prior to the law’s introduction in December.

Current NT jurisdictional member Dr Tamoor Mirza:

The following article recently published in Australasian Psychiatry highlights the Australian government's new policy to ban social media use for individuals under 16, effective December 2025, aiming to address mental health concerns such as cyberbullying and poor sleep. While the move seeks to protect adolescents, it also raises concerns about social isolation, emotional resilience, and practical implementation challenges, particularly for vulnerable youth.

Former SYMH Chair A/Prof James Scott was interviewed on ABC news:

Here is a link to the article by A/Prof Scott and colleagues:

University of Melbourne New Digital Youth Mental Health Assessment

The University of Melbourne inviting you to trial a new digital youth mental health assessment, share your feedback, and receive a small reimbursement.

Next Edition

Keep in touch and any contributions to the newsletter (articles, news, reading, films or photographs) much appreciated and wanted!

Contact: Dr Daniel Pellen, Chair and Editor
danielpellen@gmail.com