Chair: Anne Thompson
Vicky Abad
Miriam Cromie
Andrea Crompton
Helen Petering
Amy Thomas
Meg Toon
Anneliis Way
Introduction
The Australian Music Therapy Association instituted Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in 2005. This brings the professions into line with other allied health professions in Australia, and other music therapy organisations internationally.
The purpose of CPD is to ensure that all music therapists registered with AMTA are maintaining currency in their knowledge and skills. This is good for both the therapist and the profession. Personally, the therapist can be confident in his/her ability to fulfill all professional responsibilities. The profession benefits from a good standard of professional accountability. This is a precursor to government related issues such as health insurance coverage and legislated qualifications.
The CPD program follows are fairly standard format in which the RMT is required to complete 100 points of activity over a period of 5 years. Most RMTs will probably satisfy the requirements using existing activities. These are all spelled out carefully in the CPD Handbook along with examples of point accrual and frequently asked questions.
Each RMT lists activities in the CPD Logbook and submits the logbook in hard copy each five years.
We understand that many people will have questions. Please contact the CPD Committee to discuss any issues you might have.
CHANGES TO THE CPD PROGRAM:
Following the review of the CPD Program in 2009, there have been a number of changes made to the CPD Program of which you need to be aware. These include the following:
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Review, update and revision of the Handbook and Logbook –
From 2011, all RMT submissions will need to utilise the 2nd Edition of the CPD Handbook (2nd Ed) 2009 and CPD Logbook (2nd Ed) 2009
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Creation of a Submission Checklist, to assist RMTs in preparing their submissions.
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Answers to many Frequently Asked Questions
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New email & postal addresses:
- Email: amta.cpd@gmail.com
- Postal: Chair, CPD Committee MBE 148/45 Glenferrie Rd, Malvern VIc 3144
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Review of eligible activities and point allocations.
The following is a summary of the changes to activities and point allocations.
All caps on activities will be removed as of 1st March 2010.
All RMTs submitting in 2011 and thereafter must complete eligible activities across at least three of the seven categories (PhD excepted).
New activities included for CPD include membership of editorial boards, Conference committees, scientific review committees, SIG Coordinators; MMBW events; supervision of work experience and observation placement students; and conference poster presentations.
Activities that have been removed from CPD include media coverage, and unpublished original writing.
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Key Documents
For RMTs submitting in 2011 onward:
CPD Handbook (2nd Ed) 2009 - information about points accrual, time periods, frequently asked questions.
CPD Logbook (2nd Ed) 2009 – the book in which you list your CPD points.
Submission Checklist 2011– to assist RMTs in preparing their submissions
Contact Us
All enquiries regarding CPD should be forwarded to:
Anne Thompson
Chair, Continuing Professional Development Committee
AMTA Inc
MBE 148 / 45 Glenferrie Road
Malvern VIC 3144
Email: amta.cpd@gmail.com
History
The Association has been committed to a plan of continuing education for its registered members since 1992. The National Council of the day produced the first outline for consideration by its registered members at the Professional Development Seminar in Lorne 1993. The members felt that we first needed to strengthen and specify the competencies of the entry level professional and the continuing development program was postponed. The Competency Standards in Music Therapy were prepared by Jane Edwards, Chair of the National Registration and Education Board (now separated into the National Registration Committee and National Education Committee) in 1996. Over the next few years these standards were implemented and the ensuing standards for Course Accreditation were prepared and also implemented.
In 2001, the National Council auspiced a task-force under the direction of Rob in Howat RMT to prepare models of continuing education for consideration by the RMTs. The process of consultation was notable for its periods of thorough discussion and review of the model.
Finally at the 2004 AGM, the membership voted in support of the CPD model and its implementation in 2005. An 11 year journey was completed with the standards of training and accreditation for Australian RMTs clearly articulated and strengthened for the future.