Continuous Professional Development is the means by which members of the profession maintain, improve and broaden their knowledge, expertise and professional competence and develop the personal and professional qualities required through their professional lives. (Physiotherapy Board of Australia – website).

It is now a requirement of all nurses and allied health professionals to complete 20 hours of continuous professional development per year as part of their registration.  The Nursing & Midwifery Board of Australia and the Allied Health Boards of Australia now fall under the one Act. This is known as Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act (2009).

Standards have now been developed and approved by the Australian Health Workforce Ministerial Council on 31 March 2010 pursuant to the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (2009) with approval taking effect 1 July, 2010.

All nurses and allied health therapists practising in Australian must meet the continuing professional development (CPD) standards and must maintain a portfolio documenting your participation in CPD each year.  CPD must be directly relevant to the nurse or therapist’s context of practice and must maintain or import their competence to practice in their chosen field.

Requirement of the Standard differ slightly across the professions but all require to keep written documentation (portfolio) of CPD that demonstrates evidence of completion of a minimum of 20 hours of CPD per year. (Nursing & Midwifery Board of Australia).

Each Board’s role will include monitoring the competence of nurses and allied health professionals. They will therefore conduct annual audits of a number of these professionals in Australia each year.  The Standard commenced on 1 July, 2010 and the Board has agreed to review this standard at least every three years.

To find out more visit www.wleducation.com.au/CPD to download your free CPD portfolio manager for your CPD activities today!

Nick Heywood-Smith  CEO
Wellness & Lifestyles Group of Companies