title: Workforce and advanced training survey of the RANZCP Faculty of Psychiatry of Old Age: issues and challenges for the field.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is concern that there are insufficient old age psychiatrists in an ageing population. We aim to describe the work patterns of old age psychiatrists in Australia and New Zealand in order to identify barriers to training and practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Members of the Faculty of Psychiatry of Old Age (FPOA) and other psychiatrists who have completed the Certificate of Psychiatry of Old Age were notified of the online survey by email in October 2008.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred and twenty FPOA members resident in Australia and New Zealand were surveyed and 87 responded (56% male, mean age 49.2 years). While 82% had a public appointment, 34% worked in private practice where barriers included the lack of a multidisciplinary team and remuneration. Only 18% of clinical time was in a rural or regional setting. High levels of job satisfaction (88%) were found, with the main factors being working with older people, working in a multidisciplinary team and the intellectual challenge. Advanced training was felt to be beneficial, though some weaknesses were identified.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Old age psychiatry is a satisfying career with an advanced training program that is reported to be beneficial to practice. Because the old age psychiatry workforce will face mounting challenges over the next decades, it is imperative that planning for the future mental health needs of older Australians be commenced immediately.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychiatry, University of NSW, Sydney, NSW, Australia. b.draper@unsw.edu.au
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Draper
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reutens
authors.forename: Doug
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Subau
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001315:Australia; D003625:Data Collection; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D005178:Faculty / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D005260:Female; D005852:Geriatric Psychiatry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D000078329:Workforce; D017132:Workplace / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*