About the CPD Program

Introduction to AIHS CPD program

Welcome to the AIHS Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program, where we value the process of tracking and documenting the skills, knowledge, and experience gained both formally and informally in the workplace. CPD is an ongoing process that continues throughout our careers, and it plays a crucial role in ensuring that we remain competent in our profession. Our commitment to CPD helps us to reflect and review our current knowledge and skill level, which guides and focuses on building our professional standing. For AIHS Certified Practitioners and Professionals, CPD is a mandatory requirement for maintaining their annual certification registration.

CPD Requirement for AIHS Certified Practitioners and Profressionals

Important Update: CPD Point Requirements

Effective April 26th, 2023, certified practitioners and professionals must accrue a total of 300 CPD points over a three-year reporting cycle, averaging 100 points per year. While there's no longer a yearly reporting requirement, CPD remains mandatory. It's essential to note that professional development activities may vary in intensity from year to year, and recognition is given to this fact. As an example, if a certified professional earns 120 CPD points in year 1, 80 CPD points in year 2, and 100 CPD points in year 3, the total accumulated points over the three-year reporting cycle would be 300, fulfilling the requirement.

Accruing CPD points is an important part of professional development, and there are a wide variety of activities that you can engage in to earn points. These activities fall within three categories:

1. Individual Education/Learning/Knowledge/Skill Development: This includes any activities that are focused on developing your own skills and knowledge, including transferable skills. Examples of activities in this category include attending conferences, completing online courses, and participating in webinars.
2. Development of the Profession: This category includes any activities that contribute to the development of the profession as a whole. This might include serving on a professional organization's board, volunteering at a conference, or presenting at a professional development event.
3. Application of OHS Knowledge in the Workplace: This category includes any activities that involve applying your OHS knowledge in a practical setting. Examples might include conducting risk assessments, developing policies and procedures, or implementing a new safety program.

To determine how many CPD points you can earn for each activity, please refer to the CPD Points Guide. Remember, accruing CPD points is an ongoing process, and it's important to engage in a variety of activities to ensure that you are developing your skills and knowledge in a well-rounded way.

For individuals who are midway through their CPD reporting cycle and are adjusting to the new three-year cycle, it's important to review their progress and identify any gaps or areas where they need to focus their CPD efforts to meet the new requirements.

• Review your current CPD activities: Look at the activities you have already completed and determine how many points you have earned so far. This will help you determine how many more points you need to earn before the end of the three-year cycle.
• Plan ahead: Based on the number of points you still need to earn, create a plan for completing additional activities over the next 1-2 years. Be sure to include a variety of activities from each of the three categories to ensure a well-rounded professional development experience.
• Take advantage of opportunities: Keep an eye out for new opportunities to earn CPD points, such as conferences, webinars, and training programs. Make sure to evaluate each opportunity based on its relevance to your professional goals and the number of CPD points it offers.
• Stay organized: Keep track of all of your CPD activities, including the number of points earned, the date completed, and any documentation or certificates. This will make it easier to report your CPD activities when it's time to renew your certification or professional membership.

Remember, the new three-year cycle allows for more flexibility in how you earn your CPD points. Take advantage of this by exploring new activities and opportunities that align with your professional goals and interests.

If you have any further questions regarding the CPD program please contact the Certification Team at certification@aihs.org.au or call (03) 8336 1995.

Online CPD Platform 

Our online CPD Platform is now live. This project has been complex in both planning and programming, and we thank everyone for using the temporary CPD Logbook in the interim.

Log on to your AIHS member portal and go to 'My Account'

1. Log in to your CPD Dashboard.
2. To create a CPD plan, click on "My CPD Plan/s". Your planned events will appear on your "Planned Activity Log" in your "My Activity Register".
3. In "My Activity Register", you can find:
   • Your completed CPD LogBook Activities,
   • An "Events Log" that lists all events you registered for through the AIHS website,
   • A "Planned Activity Log" that includes any CPD activities you added to your online CPD Plan,
   • An "Add a CPD Activity" function to add any activities that you haven't registered for through the AIHS website or added to your online CPD Plan.
4. Once you complete an activity and its "Reflection", it will automatically move to your online CPD logbook.
5. The CPD Points Guide can help you assign points to any activities that haven't been registered through the AIHS website. An example of how to enter endorsed training is provided here.
6. You can access E-Learning through your Member Portal and "My Account" to make it easier to complete and track your learning.
7. If you haven't completed your logbook, complete the current CPD logbook and upload it from your CPD Dashboard to the "UPLOAD logbook" page. Once entered, your points will be reflected on your dashboard. Going forward, complete your reflections in the online CPD platform and don't maintain an Excel logbook of your CPD. Please ensure that your Excel logbook only covers activities for your reporting cycle, which is not the financial year.

Resources

 AIHS Events and Training

We continue to keep the health and safety community connected with a comprehensive annual timetable of seminars, conferences and state symposia spanning every state and territory, as well as a substantial online webinar program for those living in regional areas. The AIHS facilitates and promotes numerous safety networks including Emerging Safety Leaders (ESL) and Women in Safety and Health (WISH) to allow students, practitioners and professionals the opportunity to meet, learn and share their experiences while exploring the latest industry developments and issues.

OHS Global Framework for Practice

This document was created by the International Network of Safety and Health Practitioner Organisations (INSHPO). Its purpose is to provide greater clarity around the generalist OHS positions by defining levels of practice, roles, and the necessary capabilities, knowledge and skills they would require to be effective. The Global Framework details the activities, knowledge, skills and hazards that the professionals and practitioners may be expected to advise on and help manage, which will provide guidance in setting development goals.

AIHS Mentorship Program

The AIHS Mentorship Program brings together experienced and knowledgeable OHS professionals with those new to the profession and eager to learn. Mentors involved in the program are experienced members willing to support and encourage the personal and professional development of mentees within the profession. 

OHS BoK

The OHS Body of Knowledge for Generalist OHS Professionals (OHS BoK) provides important benchmark information for continuing professional development. It was developed to define the collective knowledge that should be shared by Australian OHS professionals as a basis for understanding the causation and control of work-related fatality, injury, disease and ill-health. The OHS Body of Knowledge is utilised as a basis for accreditation of education programs.

CPD FAQs

CPD FAQs    cover most Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) we have received. If the question you have is not answered here, please get in touch via email to certification@aihs.org.au.