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CPD Activities

The principle categories of CPD activities recognised by the DIA are:

1. Personal skill development
2. Gaining new knowledge and information
3. Contributing to the development of professional design knowledge and practice.

CPD activities can be sourced from many places, it is not a requirement of this program that the DIA be the provider of the CPD activity. From time to time, on a state by state or national basis the DIA will run programs that provide CPD points. The DIA will endeavour to facilitate CPD activities that address key needs in the design sector.

A variety of activities are accepted as meeting the requirements of CPD. Members may choose what is relevant for their ongoing knowledge and skill development.

These activities include:

• attendance at conferences
• presentation at conferences
• skill development programs
• reading professional publications
• providing supervision for students
• student mentoring, review and assessment
• attending or presenting masterclasses
• providing supervision for support staff
• academic study
• writing professional papers
• writing articles for publication
• presenting business modules
• lecturing/tutoring
• participation in quality assurance
• participation in research activities
• judging in awards programs
• exhibition of design work
• curation of design exhibitions
• active membership of boards and committees particularly of the DIA.

In general for activities to count toward CPD they should be outside the regular scope of your employed responsibilities. For example lecturing is a CPD activity for a designer not employed by the education sector but is not for a university lecturer. The following sections present the principle CPD categories and potential relevant activities in more detail.

A - Personal Skill Development

Participation in skill development workshops, training courses or supervised practice for skill development. One point per hour of learning time.

In-service training may be included if it is provided in a structured way with specific learning outcomes. Supervised practice means work with an experienced practitioner for the purpose of skill development or working with a mentor as a way of developing skills.

B - Gaining New Knowledge and Information

Reading professional publications, professional or referenced texts. Each journal or book chapter earns one point (to a maximum of 25% of total points).

Attending conferences, seminars, information sessions, other professional presentations, lectures and guest talks. Two points per hour of learning time. Only actual learning time may be included.

Academic Study, any formal learning program that contributes to professional development. Such study program will accrue 20 points per one semester, which includes all reading, face to face classes or supervision meetings and assessment tasks. Members cannot count points for course related reading separately.

Practice-based research projects where a designer is involved in research projects that are rigorous and properly conducted and the designer is participating as a learner or as an expert in the field. 10 points per research project.

C - Contributing to Professional Knowledge and Practice

Conducting a skill development workshop. Actual presentation time for workshops, provided the material being presented constitutes transferable knowledge. 5 points per presentation hour for first time presentation only.

Publishing refereed journal articles and publishing design practice articles and books. Each publication in a will earn 5 points and 20 points for the book.

Reviewing journal articles for publication in a recognised professional journal. 2 points per article with a maximum of 10 points per cycle.

Professional supervision and mentoring. This includes any arrangement for review of work and development of knowledge and skills including individual, group and peer supervision and/or mentoring provided within or outside the workplace. Both the provision and receiving of supervision and/or mentoring are included as CPD activities.

Presentation of conference papers and other professional presentations. Actual presentation time and only first time may be included. Five points per hour of presentation time.

Active membership of professionally relevant committees and boards. This includes DIA Council committees, special interest groups, government and community advisory panels, relevant external organisations etc. 10 points per year for DIA Council committees etc. 5 points per year for other committees that fall outside of routine job requirements and where the member is not representing the employer.

Other activities. Members may submit other activities and programs such as software workshops or business programs providing a relevance to their professional development requirements can be shown.

DIA Sponsored CPD Activities

Many of the activities designers will draw on for their CPD will be provided by organisations or resources from outside the professional body. However the DIA will continue to generate or facilitate activities and learning opportunities that attract CPD points at both a state and national level. These are known as DIA sponsored CPD activities.

Only those programs that have been accredited and/or identified by the DIA will be eligible as DIA Sponsored programs. The National Office will be responsible for the identification of programs in conformance with protocols established by the National Education Committee in consultation with state CPD representatives. DIA Sponsored activities attract additional CPD points to encourage greater support of DIA events.