Continuing Professional Education in Australia

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xxi

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2. Introduction, Origins and Early Development

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1

      PDF

   2. Introduction and Outline

      • Barrie Brennan

      Pages 3-23

   3. The Origins and Early Development of CPE

      • Barrie Brennan

      Pages 25-42

3. CPE’s Development Viewed from Four Perspectives

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 43-44

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   2. Missed Opportunities in Relationships with Other Educational Sectors

      • Barrie Brennan

      Pages 45-61

   3. Mandatory Continuing Professional Education – Its Origin and Acceptance

      • Barrie Brennan

      Pages 63-83

   4. Mandatory Continuing Professional Education – Development and Extension

      • Barrie Brennan

      Pages 85-105

   5. Competencies – Concept, Criticism and Compromise

      • Barrie Brennan

      Pages 107-134

   6. Competencies – Longer Term Use & Development

      • Barrie Brennan

      Pages 135-154

   7. Regulation of the Professions

      • Barrie Brennan

      Pages 155-172

4. The Contemporary Context for Professional Practice

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 173-173

      PDF

   2. Changes Impacting on Contemporary Professional Practice and CPE

      • Barrie Brennan

      Pages 175-192

   3. Rounding Off the Tale of CPE – Six Themes

      • Barrie Brennan

      Pages 193-219

   4. Rounding Off the Tale of CPE – Problems Areas and the Popular Picture

      • Barrie Brennan

      Pages 221-234

5. Seizing Opportunities for CPD

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 235-235

      PDF

   2. For CPD – Exploring Opportunities Not to Be Missed

      • Barrie Brennan

      Pages 237-257

This book offers a history of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in the Australian context. It presents an approach that links the development of CPD to a series of 'missed opportunities' and the identification of three key themes (mandatory CPD, competencies and regulation/registration) as well as with national regulation for select health professions. It not only relates the evolution of CPD in Australia but also serves as a guide to examining the situation in other countries and the emergence of CPD in individual professions. CPD has been provided for many decades, but it has not been rated as a 'high priority' or a key area of provision and has not been the focus of discussions or disputes in the higher education sector or in vocational education circles. Nevertheless in describing CPD's development, evidence is presented that CPD has made a significant contribution to the broad field of vocational education.

• Continuing Professional Education in Australia
• accreditation
• continuing professional education
• mandatory continuing professional education
• mandatory voluntary competencies
• registration regulation

“Barrie Brennan’s Continuing Professional Education in Australia: A Tale of Missed Opportunities is a valuable piece of scholarship. It is the fruit of years of engagement in the field and deep reflection.” (Steven Hodge, Adult Education Quarterly, Vol. 70 (2), 2020)

• Tamworth, Australia

  Barrie Brennan

Barrie Brennan grew up in Sydney and was the first member of his family to attend university. He completed a BA and DipEd at Sydney University. He taught English and History in secondary schools, primarily in rural areas. During this time he completed his LittB (re-named an MLitt) and MA (Hons) in the field of Educational Administration through distance learning at the University of New England. He was then appointed as an academic in the UNE's Department of Continuing Education. In the early 1980s, after overseas study leave, he became interested in CPE when a physiotherapist from Queensland enrolled in the UNE Post-graduate Diploma in Continuing Education in order to fulfil her role as the Co-ordinator of CPE for the Australian Physiotherapy Association in Queensland. This event marked the beginning of an exploration that involved Australia and its professions, culminating with the recording of how CPE became CPD and part of a national system for the registration of professionals.

Policies and ethics