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Speak Out October 2015 21
Branch CPD committees are
supported in the running of their events
by staff based at National Office – Sharon
Crane, Senior Advisor, Professional
Education & Certification (also a SPA
member) and Anita Rodricks, Professional
Education Administration – and CPD
Coordinators in New South Wales,
Queensland, South Australia, Victoria
and Western Australia (who are also SPA
members): All these paid CPD staff were
involved in a very productive and worthwhile
CPD meeting was held in the new National
Office. Discussion included future planning,
CPD survey results, reviewing policy and
procedures, reviewing CPD flyer formats,
and the Events database.
CPD Meeting at National Office in Melbourne on 16/17 July
From left: Shirani Gomes (NSW CPD Coordinator), Erin Masson (WA CPD Coordinator), Sharon Crane
(Senior Advisor Professional Education & Certification, National Office), Catherine Quin (SA CPD
Coordinator), Tricia Chardon (QLD CPD Coordinator), and Anita Rodricks, Professional Education
Administration, National Office.
Shirani: I have been the NSW CPD Coordinator for over 11
years. I continue to enjoy working alongside NSW's dedicated
CPD committee and all the CPD Coordinators in each state
across Australia. After the numerous teleconferences and
emails the CPD Coordinators from each state exchange
throughout the year, I really appreciate having the opportunity
to meet with my colleagues face-to-face annually. Meeting face-
to-face is a great way to have active discussions, bounce ideas,
evolve policies and planning and to be able to collaborate at a
national level. This way we can strive to provide the best quality
continuing professional development events specifically catered
to our SPA members year after year.
Erin: I’ve been the WA CPD Coordinator for the past five years
and the annual CPD Coordinators’ meeting is always very
productive and worthwhile. It’s a great opportunity for the
various states to share their event planning as well as look at
ways that we can continue to ensure members have access
to quality professional learning. It’s of great benefit to hear
how other states operate and gather ideas to improve. On a
personal level, I also look forward to connecting with the other
CPD Coordinators as they are a great support network in a
relatively isolated role.
Sharon: My role involves Branch and National CPD activities,
and this meeting is very important to me for a number of
reasons: to have the opportunity to discuss CPD planning,
policy and processes in depth; to meet face-to-face with the
Branch CPD Coordinators who work remotely; to provide
an opportunity for the Coordinators to meet with National
Office staff who they deal with regularly; to continue to evolve
an overall national PD framework whilst acknowledging and
respecting individual Branches.
Catherine: The annual CPD Coordinators’ meeting is always
a great opportunity to share ideas across states and to gain
a national perspective on issues related to CPD. It is also
enables us to continue to develop our relationship with the
excellent staff working in SPA’s National Office.
Tricia: The annual two-day face-to-face meeting of CPD
Coordinators at National Office is an integral part of my year
as Qld CPD Coordinator. The fellowship and support of my
colleagues from other states is uppermost. Planning for
Qld’s Calendar for the next year is greatly enhanced by their
input. There is opportunity for robust prolonged discussion
of procedural issues as required, resulting in outcomes
comfortable for all, a resolution not always possible in our
regular teleconferences. We are able to meet and receive
updates from other National Office staff who provide valuable
assistance to our work. And this year we had the added bonus
of inspecting SPA’s new premises and the honour of being the
first meeting in the new Board Room.
Anita: In my role, I provide support to Sharon and the
Branch CPD Coordinators, so the face-to-face meeting was
invaluable in terms of discussing issues that affect us and
working together to find solutions. It is not always possible to
cover these topics over the phone or via email in depth, so
the meeting was extremely beneficial. Another big plus was
meeting all the Coordinators and spending time with them.
***
After nearly five years in the role, Catherine Quin has decided
to step down from the position of South Australian Branch
CPD Coordinator. Catherine has been a valued member of
the CPD teams at both Branch and National levels. We have
appreciated her knowledge, experience, wisdom, calmness
and collaborative approach in the role. We acknowledge and
thank Catherine for her contribution to CPD.
Barbara Lyndon
SA Branch Professional Learning Working Group Leader
Sharon Crane
Senior Advisor Professional Education and Certification
Let’s hear from those involved: