CPD program-level requirements in Australia
The College provides a range of tools and resources to help you navigate the new CPD requirements relating to cultural safety, health inequities, professionalism and ethical practice in Australia.
Cultural safety and health inequities
From 1 January 2024, all RANZCOG CPD program participants will be required to engage in activities for cultural safety practice addressing health inequities, and maintaining and developing professionalism and ethical practice, and you will be able to track hours spent on these activities from your CPD portal dashboard.
There are no specific numbers of hours that should be allocated to these activities; however, your professional development planning (PDP) should consider some of these. Further information about these requirements will be communicated in April 2023 in readiness for the CPD cycle in 2024.
What is cultural safety?
The Australian Medical Council (AMC) sets expectations of culturally safe practice by doctors for all patients. This includes an acknowledgement of special responsibilities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who have inhabited and cared for the land as the first peoples.
The National Scheme’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and Cultural Safety Strategy 2020–2025 provides the following definition:
Cultural safety is determined by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, families and communities. Culturally safe practice is the ongoing critical reflection of health practitioner knowledge, skills, attitudes, practising behaviours and power differentials in delivering safe, accessible and responsive healthcare free of racism.
– Ahpra & National Boards
Please follow the link below to read the full Strategy 2020–2025.
Consistent with the Strategy 2020–2025, it’s expected that your CPD activities allow critical reflection on your clinical practice in relation to:
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander approaches to health
the continuing impact of colonisation, racism and bias on health outcomes on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
rights-based approaches to improving health services (including outcomes and access)
What is health inequity?
According to the AMC:
Different access and outcomes for different groups of people may present differently depending on the specialty and location of a practitioner’s practice. Good medical practice recognises the role of the practitioner as a champion in the system, and also the specialty responsibilities in securing equitable health experiences and outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients.
– Australian Medical Council
RANZCOG commitment to equitable healthcare
The College recognises the vast inequities faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in Australia’s healthcare system, and recognises there is always more work to do to bridge this gap.
Please follow the link below to learn more about our commitment to equitable healthcare in Australia, including our Reconciliation Action Plan.
Professionalism and ethical practice
All clinicians have a professional and ethical responsibility to ensure patient safety at all times.
From 1 January 2024, RANZCOG CPD program participants in Australia will be required to engage in activities that enhance professionalism and ethical practice.
All participants are strongly encouraged to include these activities in their Professional Development Plan (PDP) for this current cycle.
On completing your reflection, it may be helpful to consider the following questions:
How did the activity demonstrate professionalism and ethics?
What professionalism and ethics elements have you learned through undertaking the activity?
How can I meet these CPD requirements?
Please note that the College will continue adding to the below lists, in consultation with organisations, healthcare professionals and other individuals with appropriate expertise in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.
Cultural safety and health inequity
Consider activities that will help you to develop a culturally safe practice and include these in your professional development plan (PDP).
Seek feedback from your patients, their families and communities to review your performance and measure outcomes.
Complete other cultural safety programs, activities and reading through your employer, or as self-directed learning.
View the RANZCOG 2022 NAIDOC week webinar on Indigenous birthing, pregnancy and healthcare
Professionalism and ethical practice
Seek feedback from your patients, their families and communities to review your level of professionalism and ethics — this could include patient satisfaction surveys, practice staff surveys, etc.
Undertake a multi-source feedback (MSF) using the following survey tool:
Please note that this is an approved RANZCOG CPD activity, which allows you to record 18 CPD hours under the Outcome Measures (OM) domain, and 17 hours under the Performance Review (PR) domain. The College will receive notification when you complete an MSF and will update the number of logged CPD hours in your portal accordingly.
Complete other professionalism and ethics programs, activities and reading through your employer, or as self-directed learning.
View the following webinars:
Gender Inclusion
Facing Adversity, Finding Connection
Hear from senior colleagues about managing adverse outcomes and potential fears going forward if informal channels of support are gone.
For access to a recording of this webinar, please contact: wellbeing@ranzcog.edu.au
Training modules and courses
Complete the following training modules/courses (as relevant):
RANZCOG tools and resources
The College recommends using the following tools and resources to meet your CPD requirements relating to cultural safety, health inequities, professionalism and ethical practice.