CPD for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners

This summary outlines CPD activities that meet the requirements of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice Board of Australia. They are in accordance with the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act.

CPD Requirements

To meet CPD requirements, all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners must complete a minimum of 20 hours of CPD each year.

Of these 20 hours, a minimum of 5 hours of CPD must be completed in an interactive setting with other practitioners.
CPD must draw on best available evidence to inform good practice.
CPD must improve your competence in practice, and keep you up to date.
CPD will build on existing knowledge, and seek to improve patient outcomes.

Benefits of Inter-professional CPD

Interactive CPD activities are any activity that involves other practitioners
This includes face-to-face education, in person or online
Inter-professional CPD supports effect practice can improve inter-professional practice which, in turn, improves health outcomes, optimises health services and strengthens health systems.

CPD Activities

All CPD must be relevant to your field of practice, and help maintain competence. CPD activities can include:

Accredited courses, conferences, forums, seminars
Undertaking or presenting research
Online learning and workplace programs
Private study of reference material
Clinical case discussion with other health professionals
Work-based learning contracts and employment-related professional development.

Planning and Reflection

CPD requires all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners to record all learning goals and how you plan on meeting these goals. Health practitioners are also required to record a reflection on how the CPD activities have impacted on their competency and assess their progress against their learning goals.

CPD Documentation

All Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health practitioners are required to keep a CPD portfolio to submit to the Board if they are audited. A CPD portfolio should include sufficient evidence to support any claims. Records are required to be kept for five years from the date you completed the CPD cycle. An Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner renewing their registration will be required to make a declaration stating that they have undertaken CPD throughout the period of registration as required by the CPD Standard.

The following records are required:

Details of CPD activity (date, activity time, provider, participants, number of hours spent in each activity and resources).
Your notes from the CPD activity to provide a summary of the key points of the review, and a reflection on the contribution of that activity to your goals for enhancing competence.
Evidence of attendance at formal learning activities.
Other Important supporting documents such as:

Certificates of attendance/completion.
Receipts.
Reading list.
Plans and progress reports for professional supervision and mentoring.

For more information about these CPD guidelines click here.

Date of Issue: 1st December 2019
Last reviewed: 2nd April 2020
These guidelines will be reviewed at least every 3 years.