Media Centre
Announcing the new CPD Policy 2011-12
The New CPD Policy
The 2009 review of the professional development policy identified strong member support for the introduction of the requirement of all AASW members to undertake CPD, to aid meeting of our ethical obligations.
The new CPD policy establishes requirements to support AASW members to reflect on their practice and career needs, maintain and develop their skills and knowledge and contribute to the development of other social workers and the social work profession.
In addition to the basic requirements, members will be able to gain ‘Accredited Social Worker’ status by completing additional professional development. Also Accredited Mental Health Social Workers (AMHSW) and Australian College of Social Work (ACSW) Members/Fellows will be required to complete additional professional development to meet their respective commitments.
CPD Tracker and Logbook
To support members to meet their CPD requirements we are currently in the process of developing an online CPD Tracker system. This system will replace paper logbooks and allow members to plan and record their professional development. As part of the development process we will be calling on members to participate as test users of the system.
Participating in the testing of the system will be an activity worth CPD points and will greatly benefit the future experience for all members. In the interim, before launching the CPD Tracker, a new, simplified logbook will be available to all members.
2011/12: A year of development
Two common requests heard during the recent review were for clearer requirements and logbook, and a simpler framework of activities which recognises the professional development opportunities of members. These and many other considerations have informed the new CPD policy, but we believe that there is room for further improvement and that the best way to gain that knowledge is by members using and testing the policy.
Throughout the year we will be encouraging all members to provide feedback on their experiences to date of the new CPD policy. This will include questionnaires, articles and discussions (all of which will be worth CPD points!).
Of particular concern for the AASW is addressing issues of access and opportunity for members in remote and rural locations. As you will be aware there are already a number of CPD modules available to members via the website, further developments to this service, together with identifying opportunities to deliver directly to remote and rural areas will be a focus for the coming year and we strongly urge you to share your thoughts and needs in this area.
We are looking forward to working with you over the coming year as we introduce this important new policy. Please don’t hesitate to contact Mark Crossley, Education Officer with any questions and feedback. For more information about the new CPD click here.