Centre for Professional Development

What is the Centre for Professional Development

About the CPD

Click here for a brief overview.

The Centre for Professional Development was established in 2002, initially as a joint venture between La Trobe University and the Victorian Department of Human Services. The Centre primarily provides continuing education for practising professionals. Although based in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia the Centre provides services at state, national and international levels.

Although most participants are from the health and human services fields, the Centre specialises in providing training for experienced professionals which is applicable across many occupations and disciplines. Participants have included nurses, teachers, social workers, doctors, occupational and physiotherapists, working in a variety of management, clinical and policy roles.

The Critical Reflective Approach

The Centre specialises in critical reflection training, and in training based on this approach. Critical reflection involves ongoing examination of the deep assumptions which affect professional practice. The process can be used to both research and improve practice. Whilst it is becoming increasingly popular as a model for advanced professional practice, there is a danger that professionals take for granted what is involved in critical reflection.

The Centre therefore bases its training on its own systematic approach which has been developed directly from the wealth of new literature and research on the critical reflection process.

Critical reflection is seen as a major alternative to more formal and didactic modes of teaching, and is also widely used as a model for professional supervision. It is used in virtually all major professional fields (including business and management) throughout the Western world.

What does the CPD provide?

- in service training for experienced professionals
- research-based training
- practice-based research and consultancy
- professional supervision
- postgraduate research supervision
- undergraduate and postgraduate training in critical reflection

Training Programs

Programs are provided in the following areas:

- critical reflection
- writing and publishing for practitioners
- evidence-based practice
- practice research methods
- death education
- working with social differences
- supervision
- professional expertise
- social work theories and critical social work
- community capacity building
- organisational planning and review
- evaluation research
- other specialist topics as negotiated

All programs are conducted in small group interactive workshop
Format.

A calendar of training programs and small conferences is offered by the Centre at venues in Melbourne, Bendigo and other selected regional sites.

Training programs may also be commissioned by organisations and designed to meet specific needs.

Content Approved by: Head of Department
Page maintained by: CPD Web Administrator
Last Updated:26 March 2007