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Compulsory CPD in Victoria

Discussion in 'Australia' started by Steve Chellingsworth, Nov 26, 2009.


  1. Members do not see these Ads. Sign Up.
    Can anyone clarify when compulsory cpd will be commencing in Victoria. I have heard its going to be July 2010, is that correct?

    thanks Steve
     
  2. Craig Payne

    Craig Payne Moderator

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    Hopefully never, as the evidence is that it does not work
     
  3. I absolutely agree with you Craig. Have you heard if compulsory cpd is in the pipeline in Vic? One issue I have is the lack of courses/education that is accessable to me locally on the Mornington Peninsula, VIC. I know there are courses available in Melbourne, but its often hard with work and family committments to attend. Does anyone share my concerns.
     
  4. williac

    williac Active Member

    Hi Steve - totally agree with you. Working in regional/rural areas make attending continuing education (typically in Melbourne) very difficult. It's a two hour drive for me to get up there! There are many other ways to continue your professional education.

    Chris Williams
     
  5. Tuckersm

    Tuckersm Well-Known Member

    It is included in the draft recomendations for National Registration, so not only Victorian Pods but everyone will need to complete 15-30 hours of CPD. (for Pods BSL will also be mandatory, but all registered professions will have some level of CPD)

    And Craig despite the evidence, the governmnet thinks it is a good thing, so it will happen.

    Re lack of courses, it is expected that there will be online options, and not all of your CPD has to be podiatry specific. You can link in with local hospitals, CHCs or Division of GPs
     
  6. Craig Payne

    Craig Payne Moderator

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    Since when has the government ever let the evidence get in the way of policy!!!!:bang::bash:
     
  7. DaVinci

    DaVinci Well-Known Member

    At least that feels good when you stop ;)
     
  8. Tuckersm

    Tuckersm Well-Known Member

    From AHPRA

     
  9. Mark_M

    Mark_M Active Member

    In NSW we have had 2 years now of compulsory education (from the registration board). Previously it was voluntary through the association.

    Also when compulsory education started there was no warning, no discussion. A letter just arrived in the post with the new requirements.
     
  10. Paul Bowles

    Paul Bowles Well-Known Member

    Was only "voluntary" if you wanted to take part in the "Accredited Podiatrists Program". Otherwise, CPR/First Aid was mandatory CPD on a yearly basis if you use local anaesthesia.


    There was quit a bit of discussion and notice issued out via member association updates etc.... prior to its implementation. I don't think anyone knew what "date" it would happen and that is what stumped people.

    Personally I believe there are a great deal of follow on benefits to compulsory CPD including (exclusive of whether the CPD actually works or not):

    * Networking
    * Professional Updates
    * Discussion of post graduate programs (which hopefully leads to increased enrollment in University programs)
    * Further discussion of specialisation, acts, terms of practice, practice management etc...

    I have discussed this with Craig before, and although I definitely don't disagree with him I would love to see some stats for NSW Podiatrists since compulsory CPD was introduced and how many have enrolled at University level in further study.

    More talk = more do! There is so much CPD around now the only hard part is choosing what you will and will not take part in!
     
  11. Thanks Stephen for outlining the draft cpd plans. I was wondering how compulsory cpd may work in rural areas- will there be sufficient cpd infrastructure in place for those pods? I do understand there are manys ways to update knowledge but still may be an issue.
     
  12. surfboy

    surfboy Active Member

    I completely agree with the sentiment of Craig and other Victorian colleagues who have posted here.

    However.. Count yourselves lucky, gentlemen, that you have not had to complete the onerous NSW CPD requirements.

    I am actually quite relieved that national registration is coming in; as the new national CPD requirements will "override" the current, onerous requirements which have been enforced by the NSW registration board.
     
  13. Craig Payne

    Craig Payne Moderator

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    I do not necessarily have a problem with 'onerous requirements'. I just have a problem with any system that awards 'points' (or whatever) for activities that the evidence tell me is not effective at improving patient outcomes (which is what it is supposed to be all about).

    I think it is somewhat paradoxical we we exspouse 'evidence based practice' on one hand, and the go ahead and ignore 'evidence based cpd' on the other hand... you can't have it both ways.
     
  14. Ryan

    Ryan Member

    Hi All,

    I am not sure of the evidence, and honestly feel anyone using Podiatry Arena don't need to be concerned about CPD as you obviously have an interest in improving your knowledge and being involved in the profession. I don't think anyone should be concerned about 15 hours of CPD, I would hope you are doing that anyway even in the form of Podiatry Arena or reading journals to keep up with everything (CPD wont necessarily mean you have to travel).

    However, spare a thought for those Podiatrists who haven't done anything since they graduated..be it 10 or 30 years ago! I think CPD is important for maintaining a certain standard in our profession.

    Regards

    Ryan
     
  15. Craig Payne

    Craig Payne Moderator

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    and they are probably the safest practitioners in the profession. Have you ever considered that those with the most CPD points are more likely to put patients at risk, as they attempt things they learnt on a weekend course, that they are possibly not skilled enough to do? (..there is the counter argument here re being up-to-date with infection control standards).

    Maybe banning CPD is the best way to protect patients :pigs:
     
  16. DaVinci

    DaVinci Well-Known Member

    Paynie, always the provocateur. One thing you can never be accused of is the ability to make us think about things
     
  17. Ryan

    Ryan Member

    Interesting thought..... and can see that it would definitely be an issue if someone does say a weekend course in dry needling and suddenly starts sticking needles in people (or worse, just reads about it and then gives it a go).

    I still believe though, that as a profession we need to remain current...that is everyone, not just those interested. After all we do research to improve out knowledge and therefore expect that people will read it.

    Perhaps the form of CPD and how subsequent learnings are applied needs to be modified.

    Still,a great point and a very interesting area that needs to be researched.
     
  18. Craig Payne

    Craig Payne Moderator

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    Ryan - I don't disagree with you. Its just the issues I have are:

    * forcing us to do something when the evidence shows that you cannot force people to learn (let alone change behaviours)

    * those that currently do a lot of CPD (voluntary or not) forcing their views on to others who they think should be doing it as well (we don't like it when a religious view is forced on to us!)

    * not allowing CPD points to be awarded for activities that the evidence actually shows does work at improving outcomes (or allowing only minimal number of points for those activities)

    * putting the emphasis on 'bums on seats' type CPD when the evidence is that this is the worst kind (how often have you been to a conference and earnt a lot of CPD points, but come Monday morning nothing has changed re patient outcomes?)

    I do acknowledge that compulsory CPD is inevitable ... so lets at least make it consistent with the evidence on the sorts of activities that improve patient outcomes ... not a program that is blindly put together by those who have no idea.
     
  19. Craig Payne

    Craig Payne Moderator

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    I should have also added ... implied in the meaning of the word "professional" is that we do keep up to date with new knowledge, methods and techniques. If you consider yourself a "professional", then you do that.

    It should not need to be compulsory; we should be doing it anyway

    Those that visit here at Podiatry Arena are probably active in CPD anyway; but what right do those who are active in 'voluntary' CPD have to force their views on it being compulsory on those who currently do not do much or any CPD (who are probably safe practitioners in their corner of the world; they have busy practices; their patients are happy).

    The last reason for making CPD compulsory is for financial reasons to make courses/conferences/etc more financially viable:
    1. Courses/conferences/etc should be good enough, that they succeed on their own and not need propping up as CPD is compulsory
    2. Courses/conferences/etc are generally the worse form of CPD at improving patient outcomes
     
  20. I was wondering what the situation was like overseas regarding if cpd was compulsory. When I left UK 6 years ago cpd was not mandatory- has that changed now?
     
  21. Craig Payne

    Craig Payne Moderator

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    It is now mandatory in the UK. The HPC system has a lot of positives about it as it does not place the emphasis on the 'bums on seats' points that other schemes do.
     
  22. Thanks Craig- Maybe then we can learn from the Uk system of cpd. Cpd should have a positive impact on skills and knowledge and be clearly accountable.
     
  23. lcp

    lcp Active Member

    CPD is a great idea if done for the right reason, and through realistically obtaining methods. Our method in NSW costs a lot of money and time to obtain the necessary points (60 all up) with many of the acceptible activities basically a joke to be honest. For example, publish an article or complete a fellowship is worth 30 points, whereas having a student is worth 20 points. Not sure about the rest of you, but the continuing education I get from having a student watch what I do every day of the year anyway, is not very earthshattering. I would not be exaggerating when I say I learn more every time I see a new patient, but do you get points for learning while on the job...no.
    As for the rural education, I hope Vic gives more opportunity to those outside the cities than we get in NSW. Lets hope that if it does get implemented down there, its done with consultation with people such as Craig, and with Podiatrists who arent necessary members of the associations, because up here, if your not a member, your out of the loop.
     
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