What is CPD?

Foreword

The Design Institute of Australia is pleased to present to its members a program for Continuing Professional Development.

The principles of CPD are in keeping with the DIA's commitment to promote design as a profession and a core contributor to the quality of business, society and our environment.

The purpose of CPD is to ensure that professional members of the Institute maintain the highest possible standard of practice through a commitment to continued learning in their discipline. This continued learning can take a variety of forms including conferences, seminars, workshops, authoring, teaching, mentoring, professional reading and commitment to the business of the design professions through the DIA.

Whatever method of learning is employed the purpose is to develop and update knowledge and skills to continue to provide a high quality, ethical standard of practice to clients, employers and staff.

The particular strength of this program is that it has been developed from research undertaken by the University of South Australia (1999) and RMIT (1998) in conjunction with the DIA and its professional members. It's been developed with a focus on the future of the design professions and the DIA in a sector where methods and technologies are in rapid change.

We encourage all members to read and adopt our CPD program. The credibility of the profession of design and its maintenance of high quality standards of practice rests on the commitment of all members to CPD.

What is Continuing Professional Development?

Continuing Professional Development is educational learning activities that develop your knowledge and skills for your professional area of practice. It is tailored learning self-selected to achieve personal goals. Whether your professional activities are in the area of design practice, policy development, management, research, education or the promotion of the design professions, CPD is an essential aspect of professional practice.

Design professionals should undertake CPD on a continuous basis to ensure the currency of skills and knowledge. CPD is a commitment each DIA member makes to improve the status of the design professions.

The DIA CPD program assists you to integrate continued learning into your professional activities and receive recognition for your efforts.

CPD and the Design Professions

The goal of the DIA CPD program is to ensure that designers maintain up to date knowledge and skills as the foundation for professional practice in all fields of design. The underlying principle is that clients, businesses and the community have a right to quality services provided by competent designers with current skills. Your ethical commitment as a designer must be to continuously improve practice by regular professional education and personal development.

In the creative design disciplines CPD also provides exposure to ideas and influences that assist in sustaining and enhancing creativity.

The professional designer bears a responsibility to maintain high practice standards. Not only do high standards of design practice produce better outcomes for clients and society but they build the reputation, earning capacity and status of the design professions as a whole.

The DIA Accredited Designer™

An Accredited Designer™ is a member of the DIA who has met the CPD requirements for the previous membership year.

CPD is a requirement of accredited membership of the DIA in accordance with the resolution of the DIA National Council in April 2003. That resolution stated that as of 1 January 2004 all members of the Institute of full Member status who desire to have Accredited Designer status will be required to engage in CPD.

An Accredited Designer™ is entitled to use the term to promote their professional activities (eg Joan Smith MDIA Accredited Designer) and will be issued with an Accredited Designer certificate and annual renewal stickers. Other benefits will accrue from time to time.

Eligibility

Participating in the CPD program is not mandatory and does not affect your normal membership status or rights in the DIA. You are entitled to use your post nominals (MDIA, FDIA) regardless of your participation in CPD.

To be eligible for the status of Accredited Designer you must be a full professional member of the DIA. That is you must have qualified for Member (MDIA) status or above and be a current financial member of the professional body. In addition you must participate in the CPD program and undertake a required amount of professional learning for skill development and gaining new knowledge each calendar year.

Eligibility for Member (MDIA) status is governed by the DIA's membership Points System that recognises initial tertiary education and post graduation experience as the prerequisites for full membership of the professional body. For more information about levels of membership in the DIA visit www.dia.org.au or contact the National Office.

The DIA also encourages Associate members to participate in the CPD program both to enhance their professional development and to ensure their eligibility for accredited status on upgrading to MDIA.

Commencement of the CPD Program

The program commences in 2004. The specifications of activities and points as outlined in this first edition of the CPD program will apply from 1 January 2004. However members who can demonstrate they'e met CPD points requirements in 2003 are eligible for Accredited Designer status from January 2004.

During the membership renewal period, members will be asked to sign a declaration (included with this publication) affirming that they've completed CPD activities for the preceding year that attract the required points quota.

The DIA reserves the right to continuously amend and enhance the CPD program as needs arise.

Barbara Bromley

MDIA

Natalie Wright

FDIA

Eminè Mehmet

FDIA

Gary Bortz

FDIA

Caecilia Potter

MDIA

Suzette Jackson