Abstract
Objectives: The contributions of the psychiatrist to the interdisciplinary team are described, along with the opportunities for, and barriers to, effective teamwork.
Conclusions: Australasian health and medical training systems still provide perverse incentives deterring psychiatrists from becoming full members of interdisciplinary teams. Sources of potential role conflict should be resolved, and advantages of teamwork support, division of labour, cross-fertilisation and hybrid vigour should be realised. Truly essential and desirable roles for psychiatrists in interdisciplinary teams could be developed and strengthened by further training.