Professional development

What is PD?

PD refers to any activity you undertake or participate in to enhance your personal and professional knowledge and skills outside your regular job responsibilities.

The range of activities is broad. PD includes conferences, workshops, in-house training; professional reading in print or electronic format; self-paced learning through audio, video, CD media, television programs; a personal study project; publication or presentation of a paper; mentoring; courses provided by tertiary institutions, private education providers, or ALIA's PD professional partners; secondments and your formal commitment to your Association is also recognised when you participate in an ALIA group, advisory group or committee, conference committee or serve as an ALIA director.

Go to the 'summary of activities' table for more information.

Am I gaining new skills?

You should keep a record of all your achievements in your resume but when undertaking PD activities you need to ask yourself 'Am I gaining new skills and broadening my knowledge by undertaking this activity? ... if you answer yes, and can demonstrate this, then it can be counted as valid PD.

PD is about learning and therefore attendance at events such as an annual dinner or AGM does not constitute PD.

An activity may be classed as PD for you but be of no benefit to others

Example

1. If you make a presentation because you have special expertise in a subject area, the time spent on preparation and presentation may constitute professional development but can't be claimed as PD for a 'repeat' of the same or similar presentation.
   
   
2. If you work as a training officer and regularly or routinely undertake any activity, for example, deliver programs relevant to workplace issues, this constitutes using skills you already need and possess in order to perform your regular activities rather than an opportunity to develop new skills and is therefore not classed as PD.
   
   
3. If you are required to make a presentation, undertake a project or attend a training course or workshop, to maintain or broaden your skills - which is not part of your day-to-day work - you may claim this as a PD activity.

Your PD claim may change when you move into a new job that requires different skills and knowledge.

PD can be undertaken where and when you like

You can keep your skills up-to-date even if you can't travel to PD events.
You can undertake PD - at home, in-house or externally; online, face-to-face, in the city, regional and rural areas, overseas; alone or with others; during or after working hours.

You can tailor a learning program to suit your individual needs whether you are working full-time, part-time, free-lancing or temporarily out of the workforce. Use ALIA's career development kit, to get started and check out ALIA's PD services for a wide range of options.

Need more information?

Contact the ALIA PD officer (pd@alia.org.au.nospam), phone 02 6215 8258 or fax 02 282 2249