Continuing Professional Development

How CPD works

WELCOME TO CPD - CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

CPD is a points-based system.

An Advocate must accrue a minimum of 15 CPD Points every CPD year and 45 CPD points over a 3-year rolling period.

CPD Year 1 (1 July 2021 - 30 June 2022) = 15 CPD Points

CPD Year 2 (1 July 2022 - 30 June 2023) = 15 CPD points

CPD Year 3 (1 July 2023 - 30 June 2024) = 15 CPD Points

Year 3 is the end of the first 3 year rolling cycle and over the 3 year cycle, 45 CPD Points have been earned. 

Insurance Underwriters and Major Training Services, our Registered Training Organisation (RTO) both agree that this is a target which indicates that Advocates are remaining current in their practice environment.

To ensure that Advocates spread the CPD load over the 3-year cycle and keep an eye on changes as they occur, an Advocate must accrue at least 15 of those CPD points each and every CPD year.   If an Advocate meets this annual requirement, they will be regarded as currentPlease note:  If an Advocate accrues less than the minimum, they will be regarded as "In Arrears". However, any CPD points deficit will be carried forward to the next year, and the Advocate will be expected to not only make up that deficit, but also meet the 15 point requirement for that year as well.

Please note that CPD points earned in excess of the minimum yearly requirement of 15 cannot be carried forward to offset any points shortfall in future years.

Feature 01

The ‘CPD year’ (or anniversary) for all advocates is 1st of July each year. Note: A CPD year goes from 1 July in the previous year to the 30th June in the current year>

If an Advocate receives their first statement of attainment after the 1st of July 2021, they will only have to accrue a proportion of the minimum annual 15 points in their first year i.e.: 

  • SOA issued between July and October:  15 points;
  • SOA issued between November and February:  10 points; and
  • SOA issued between March and June:  5 points

Advocates earn CPD points by choosing activities from the CPD library.  Online activities have already been assigned a CPD points value. CPD points for other activities will be determined on an individual basis.  As as Advocate completes an activity,  CPD points are then added to the Advocates CPD account.  Advocates must read the rules about each activity carefully.  

An Advocate can also check their CPD account on the on-line management system at any time.

To help an Advocate stay ‘current’, just before the end of each CPD year, they will receive a message reminding them of how many CPD points they have accrued. 

ATDP will also send a report each year to the Advocates authorising ESO or VSC indicating whether or not the Advocate is current with the CPD program.

If an Advocate doesn't meet the minimum CPDpoint requirement for any given year, the shortfall will be added to the next year.  Advocates will be deemed to be "In Arrears" until such time as they have made up the shortfall.  So, it pays for an Advocate to keep on top of their CPD obligation!

If an Advocate becomes substantially non-compliant, they may be removed from ATDP’s accredited Advocate Register until they become current again.

Advocates who are qualified in both compensation and welfare will not be required to earn ‘double points’.  They will be asked to choose a discipline each time they ‘log in’.  Care must be taken not to leave one discipline unattended!

REMEMBER:  15 AND 45 POINTS ARE THE MINIMUM – THERE IS NO MAXIMUM!

Enjoy your CPD journey.

To speak with someone at DVA, call 1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372)


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