All members of OTA are expected to participate in CPD and for this reason you are asked to commit to the program on your annual subscription form.  The annual fee for CPD provides for the staff necessary to manage the program and to be available to members for advice and assistance.

 

 

Members who are currently not working or who are retired can ask for exemption. OTs who are working in other areas but wish to retain their membership of the professional body can also seek exemption – see the exemption form or seek advice from OTA.

 

 

The ACCPD program pack will be emailed to you on joining.  This pack will contain all the information you need to complete the program, record on your participation and report your participation. 

 

You might like to take a bit of time to reflect on your CPD needs and plan what you will do over the following year to meet those needs.

 

 

The Program is designed to be managed online. All documents are available through the website and all reporting is undertaken online. Paper versions and snail mail possibilities exist for those who need them. 

 

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For further information contact Soraya Dean at accot@ausot.com.au

The CPD Program provides a way of organising and recording the ongoing education that all OTs, as professionals, will be doing so that external bodies and the public can see the activity and feel reassured that OTs are keeping up to date and maintaining their competence.  The CPD Program sets a minimum level of participation in ongoing education at 30 hours each year.  Many OTs will do more hours than this but to require members to verify all the hours of continuing education would be onerous and unproductive.  The program assumes a level of reading of journals, learning from ward rounds and case conferences and from colleagues without requiring verification of this activity – it is almost impossible to verify anyway.

 

 

You need to keep a documentation of your participation in activities to provide a tangible record for both your use and for association use. There is a requirement placed on the association by the registration body and Medicare that 10% of members get audited each year to ensure that their reported activity is accurate.

 

For example - as you attend CPD events or as you participate in supervision or ongoing formal study you need to keep a record so you can submit a report at the end of the year.  Most courses and conferences will provide a certificate of attendance.  Your supervisor will provide a signed testament to your attendance and you can record the reference for publications of your work.

 

 

Research has shown that just attending a conference or seminar does not provide much benefit unless the participant takes a bit of extra time to build on this experience.  Reflecting on what you have heard and determining ways in which you can apply the new knowledge to your work will increase your retention of the information.  Actually applying the new knowledge and then evaluating it increases the value of the education many fold and builds both competence and confidence.  Similarly, reading a journal paper has little value unless reflected on and applied to your work. 

 

It is worth taking the time to use new knowledge and insights and often leads to you being more focussed about your CPD needs and clearer about the courses or conferences you need to attend.  Overall a much more efficient use of your time and education budget.