Professional development plan and annual conversation for CPD
Introduction
The professional development plan and annual conversation are tools to assist Fellows and members plan their future CPD areas for development.
The professional development plan is a mandatory requirement for Fellows in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.
The annual conversation is a requirement for Fellows in Aotearoa New Zealand, but can be completed by Fellows in Australia.
Professional development plan
A professional development plan (PDP) promotes a lifelong, reflective approach to learning which means doctors are responsible for identifying learning needs which are relevant to their scope of practice. Whilst CPD is often interpreted as mandatory training, it is important to recognise its value in assisting clinicians to continually upskill and identify any knowledge gaps. This leads to increased overall competency to provide the highest quality of care to patients.
The PDP is a projected yearly plan of your professional development requirements based on reflection of your current practice, assessment of your current skills, knowledge and educational needs.
Completion of the PDP will be an annual mandatory requirement from 1 July 2022 and must be submitted by 31 December 2023.
Log into our CPD portal to access the online PDP form or download a Word version. Please refer to the following document for further guidance.
Annual conversation
From 1 July 2022, Fellows and members in Aotearoa New Zealand will be required to undertake a structured conversation, at least annually, with a peer, colleague or employer about their clinical practice.
The intent of this activity is to provide time for the member to reflect on their development needs, their goals for learning and professional activities and their intentions for the next year.
It provides an opportunity to receive constructive feedback and share best practice. It may also give doctors the opportunity to explore their satisfaction in their current role, self-care and any health and wellbeing issues so they are able to adjust their practice accordingly, set performance targets for the future and consider longer term.