The VET Practitioner CPD Program has been extended until 31 December 2020.

Hear from industry leaders, get access to resources and current research, gain insight into what it means to be a modern-day disability support worker, and network with industry professionals and colleagues from other organisations.

For a fee of $100 your VET Practitioner CPD membership runs until 31 December 2020 and includes:

• Four professional development sessions conducted by subject matter experts (available in Adelaide or live-streamed)
• Continued full access to previous sessions and resources provided in the 2019-20 membership period
• Full administration assistance to register and earn your CPD points
• Free National Disability Practitioners (NDP) membership until 30 June 2021 including access to hundreds of learning materials, webinars, research, and data

Plus you can use your CPD Certificate as part of your ASQA evidence of currency.

In addition to the above, with a view to enhancing CPD opportunities for members, NDS will be engaging with the training and disability sector in co-design for the development of an Industry Placement Program which will be included as part of the VET CPD framework providing new opportunities for members to engage with CPD.

All sessions will be live-streamed with the opportunity to participate via our interactive online hosting capabilities.

Thank you for your participation in the VET Practitioner CPD pilot program. There are no further professional development sessions at this stage and will be in contact should this situation change. 

How to access your free NDP membership and NDP resources

Your VET Practitioner CPD resources are hosted on the National Disability Practitioners (NDP) website so you can access all your benefits in the same place, simply login here. We recommend you login every time you visit the website for immediate access to all resources.

About NDP

National Disability Practitioners (NDP) is a national organisation connecting all members of the Australian Disability Workforce, at every stage of their career with continuing professional development. 

NDP operates as a division of National Disability Services (NDS). NDP resulted from the merger of two professional bodies; Australian Disability Professionals and Disability Professionals Victoria. Following our launch in December 2014 we have grown to become a leading association for disability practitioners, with a community of more than 10,000 members.

Your free NDP Membership includes:

• NDP learning hub including webinars, workshops, online learning, videos, and fact sheets
• Updates on NDIS
• Opportunities to connect with other NDP members
• Disability Careers including a student placement hub and career resources

How to submit your CPD Points

1. Login to be directed to your User Profile
2. Select Continuing Professional Development and go to Activity Validation
3. Review the CPD Framework to determine the best activity category and type, then request the associated CPD points
4. Attach evidence of CPD activity as determined by the CPD framework and select Submit. At the top of the page, you will see Activity validation successfully updated
5. Your request will be reviewed within 72 hours and available on your User Profile under Continuing Professional Development - Overview

To submit additional CPD points, simply select new.

If you encounter any issues please contact NDS on (08) 8154 3700.

CPD Framework

Access the CPD Framework here. This framework provides an understanding of approved activities, required evidence for validation, and CPD available. This includes the maximum points available to earn for each activity.

• VET CPD members must accrue 8 points for any CPD activities undertaken between 1 July and 31 December 2020
• Members must participate in at least two categories of learning
• Generally, one hour of learning or development is equivalent to one CPD point

Learning activities include:

• Professional activities, including NDS led professional development sessions e.g. VET CPD sessions and disability virtual conferences
• Independent learning e.g. online learning, webinars, employer training and workshops
• Formal learning e.g. a disability-related course such as Cert IV Disability
• Industry placement (coming soon!)

Eligibility

The CPD pilot program will be available to all VET practitioners in public and private training organisations, teachers of VET in schools, and Trainers and Assessors currently working within a Disability Service Provider. 

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You must be a member to access the following resources. If you're not already logged in, you'll be directed to the login page to view these materials.

1. NDIS Requirements and Plans

This session will improve your understanding of the NDIS. It includes:

• A Reasonable and Necessary Supports Checklist for those seeking to apply for NDIS funding
• A breakdown of the four NDIS funding categories
• Helpful examples such as a Support Worker Report and what an NDIS participant receives once approved
• A self-exploration activity to help you understand your own values

Presented by Michelle Pomeroy, Developmental Educator, and Sam Boag, Director and Physiotherapist – I Can Jump Puddles.

2. Positive Behaviour Support

This session seeks to provide an introduction to positive behaviour support (PBS) and includes:

• Personally designed PBS resources to assist in explaining PBS
• A definition and scope for PBS
• A functional template to assist in providing relevant data for PBS practitioners
• A template to assist in providing realistic pathways to understand behaviour as well as encourage change and development

Presented by Dr Alinka Fisher - Associate Lecturer, Flinders University and Chair, PBS Community of Practice.

3. Cultural Diversity in Disability

This session explores the importance and benefits of developing a culturally and linguistically diverse workforce and its link with organisational cultural competence. Here you'll find:

• Toolkits to serve diverse populations
• A report by the Federation of Ethnic Communities' Council of Australia
• Activities to help participants think about what it means to work across cultural boundaries
• A cultural competence self-assessment

Presented by Maria Eliadis - Director, KDG Partnerships.

4. Recognising Restrictive Practices

This session looks at the key legislation potentially affecting the authorization of restrictive practices. Resources include:

• An interactive guide on zero tolerance with videos themed around 'Understanding Abuse' and 'Positive Culture Films'
• An NDS created guide on how to recognise restrictive practices
• A practice Leaderships Guide

Presented by Claude Bruno.

5. Quality & Safeguards

This session addresses quality and safeguarding in the sector. The resources provided include:

• Assessment centre scenarios to assist in the revelation of student values and responses
• NDIS Practice Standards and Code of Conduct
• Student Placement Reviews

Presented by Melissa Taylor from IHCA Auditors.

6. Positive Behaviour Support (2)

This session provides you with an understanding of positive behaviour support (PBS) within the context of a three-tiered approach; universal, targeted, and individualised strategies.

By the end of the session, participants will be able to identify strategies to build the capacity of support staff:

• As effective communication partners
• In utilising value-based strategies
• In increasing quality of life for participants

Presented by Dr Alinka Fisher - Associate Lecturer, Flinders University and Chair, PBS Community of Practice.

7. Mental Health and Recovery

This session addresses recovery orientated approaches to psychosocial support work.

A recovery approach has never been more relevant to the NDIS with mental health and, in particular, psychosocial issues on the rise. This session will assist our new support workers to recognise the signs, what steps they can do and how they can do and how they can be a part of the recovery process whilst still ensuring they self care.

Presented by Kim Formosa & Tanya Humphries from Centracare.

8. Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)

This session looks at the importance of daily communication, how this affects people with Complex Communication Needs (CCN), and how Augmentative and Alternative Communication methods can help. This presentation outlines:

• Current best practice in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) including research
• The role of symbols, vocabulary selection and the participation model, along with the importance of a robust language system
• Essential skills for implementing and supporting AAC and communication development
• Common myths will be debunked

9. Autism: effective strategies for support workers

This session will improve your understanding of autism. The presentation outlines:

• Communication strategies
• Social interactions
• Environmental accommodations
• Redirection / Distraction
• Increasing motivation and engagement

Presented by Lexie Dryden from Autism SA. 

10. Aboriginal Culture - Awareness and Competency

This session is designed to bring about an understanding of Aboriginal Culture and values in relation to contemporary society. It also allows participants to learnapplied knowledge and skills that can be utilised in the workplace. This includes:

• Heritage and future directions for Aboriginal people
• The importance of education
• Stereotypes and taboo words
• Respectful communication styles including verbal/non-verbal

Presented by Chris Rigney-Thyer from SA Aboriginal Education and Training Consultative Council and Tauondi Aboriginal College, SA. 

11. Human Rights and Zero Tolerance

This session is designed to bring about an understanding of human rights in a disability context. This includes:

• Understand the frameworks for Human Rights and the experiences of people with disability
• Understand the eight life areas and the empowerment circle
• Learn about abuse and how to detect, prevent and respond
• Reflect on personal experiences and views of the role of disability workers
• Learn about the resources available to support disability worker and supervisors

Presented by Chris Kane and Meaghan O’Shannessy from National Disability Services. 

12. Case Notes - A Legal Perspective

This session is designed to bring about an understanding of the importance of well-written case notes and how case notes are governed by key legal principles wihin the disability sector. This includes:

• The legal context of case notes 
• Going to Court, subpoenas and the use of case notes in evidence
• Case noting best practice
• What to include, not include and 'the wisdom to know the difference'
• 'Ten Top Tips' of case noting
• Q and A re case studies

Presented by Darren McGeachie, Access Programs and Centacare. 

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Access the learning resources here

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Register now