CPD is an interactive process to maintain, enhance and extend a practitioner’s knowledge, expertise and competence throughout his or her career. It is a process of lifelong learning for all individual practitioners and health care teams that ensures a health practitioner’s knowledge and skill sets are up-to-date. The CPD cycle involves reviewing practice, identifying learning needs, planning and participating in relevant learning activities, and reflecting on the value of those activities. CPD helps to ensure that the needs of patients are met and that the health outcomes and healthcare priorities of the community are delivered.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners are required to complete a minimum of 10 hours of CPD per year and a minimum of 60 hours over three years to maintain and improve their competence in their area of practice. The CPD activities claimed must be directed towards improving the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner’s competence and, of the 60 hours over three years, at least 45 hours are required to be formal CPD activities. The remainder may consist of informal CPD activities.
All practitioners must become familiar with the requirements of their CPD registration standard which is available on the Board’s website.
CPD is mandatory under the National law. All registered health practitioners must undertake CPD. All practitioners must familiarise themselves with the Board’s CPD requirements. To help you understand this standard, the Board has developed CPD guidelines.
The CPD requirements do not apply to students or practitioners who have been granted non-practising registration.
Proper professional development is achieved through a wide range of activities that practitioners pursue throughout their career. There are many and varied opportunities for CPD. Activities might include:
Work-based learning should also be considered and may include a wide range of activities such as:
The Board notes that practitioners who become professionally isolated are at higher risk of lapses in competence or judgment. This includes practitioners isolated by geography. Only a portion of CPD should be self-directed learning with no peer interaction.
All registered Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners will be required to participate regularly in continuing professional development (CPD) activities and to maintain records of their CPD activities from 1 July 2012.
Practitioners must complete a minimum of 60 hours of CPD activities over a three year cycle, with a minimum of 10 hours in any one year. This provides practitioners with some flexibility in relation to how much CPD they complete in any given year.
Of the 60 hours over three years, at least 45 hours are required to be formal CPD activities. The remainder may consist of informal CPD activities. Further details about what formal and informal CPD activities are can be found in the Board’s CPD guideline.
All practitioners must also hold a current first aid certificate which includes cardio pulmonary resuscitation.