Bricolage

I couldn’t speak to my accountant today. He is at a Continuous Professional Development program to find out about the finer points of this year’s federal budget. A quick Google search of CPD Australia turned up programs for nurses, midwives, lawyers, project managers, career counsellors, speech pathologists and teachers.

Engineers Australia list 7 forms that CPD may take in order to retain chartered status:

• Formal post-graduate study not undertaken for award purposes;
• Short courses, workshops, seminars and discussion groups facilitated by recognised practitioners in the field;
• Learning activities in the workplace;
• Private study;
• Service to the engineering profession;
• Presentations at seminars and symposia;
• Tertiary teaching and/or academic research; and
• Other structured activities that meet the objectives of the policy.

But how do trainers stay up to date?

There are some great training conferences. The Australian Institute of Training and Development (AITD) hosts one most years. They also hold professional development events in most capital cities on a regular basis. There is a usually a large Australian contingent at the American Society for Training and Development’s (ASTD) annual conference.   

While the opportunity to maintain currency is available, it is not required. The standard qualification for trainers in Australia is the Cert IV in Training and Assessment. It lasts forever.  

I believe that the value that good trainers add to industry, commerce, government and society is so high that there must be a requirement for continuing professional development, if only because of the value that poor trainers subtract.