Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

These activities should develop and improve your knowledge and skills to practice safely. CPD activities must: 

• build on your existing disability worker knowledge and skills 
• be related to your area of practice. 

If you have been registered for less than a year, you must meet pro rata CPD requirements.

You will be asked for details of each CPD activity: 

• the name of the CPD activity 
• the name of the CPD activity provider 
• date completed 
• where you did the CPD activity (such as street address, online, from books) 
• how many hours you did.

You must keep a record of your CPD activities. The Board may ask to see evidence to confirm your declaration that you have met the CPD standard and details of your CPD activities. 

The easiest way to keep a record of your CPD activities is to keep an activity log. You can use this CPD activity log template.

Registered disability workers must complete at least 10 hours of CPD each registration period, between 1 October and 30 September. 

If you have been registered for less than a year, you must meet pro rata CPD requirements for that year.

Workers with non-practising registration do not need to complete CPD.

When you apply to renew your registration, you will be asked to: 

• declare whether you have completed the CPD standard requirements provide 

• details of each CPD activity you did during the preceding registration period, including: 

  > name of the CPD activity 
  > name of the CPD activity provider 
  > date completed 
  > where you did the activity (such as street address, online, from books) 
  > how many hours you did.

Training and development activities can count if they are relevant to your practice as a disability worker and help you to build your knowledge and skills, stay up to date and improve outcomes for people with disability receiving services. These activities may be free or incur a cost. CPD activities can include: 

• Online learning – training modules or courses relating to disability practice 
• Employer-provided disability practice training 
• Webinars, workshops or conferences 
• Higher education, vocational education or training qualifications, including or individual modules (such as Certificate III in Individual Support or Certificate IV in Disability) 
• Communities of practice or committees related to disability practice 
• Formal mentoring through professional networks or from a workplace leader 
• Reading technical books or journals 
• Repeat or annual refresher training which keeps your skills as a disability worker up to date, for example, first aid.

Yes, activities completed as part of other professional obligations or with another regulator or professional association can count towards your CPD requirements if they are relevant to your practice as a disability worker and were completed during the relevant registration period. 

For example, CPD you completed as part of your obligations as a registered allied health professional with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) may count, if it relates to your practice as a disability worker.

You can find CPD activities in our searchable training and development catalogue. 

CPD activities are also available from a range of sources including: 

• the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission website: https://www.ndiscommission.gov.au/workforce/online-training-modules 
• professional organisations, peak disability worker and provider bodies, and disability organisations
• TAFE colleges and registered training organisations. Information is available on the Victorian Skills Authority website: https://www.skills.vic.gov.au
• your employer, manager and colleagues.

The Board may consider a request for a full or partial exemption from the CPD Standard requirements in exceptional circumstances, from 1 October 2025 onwards. 

Exceptional circumstances are those that prevented you from doing the required amount of CPD and were unforeseen or out of the ordinary such that you could not have been expected to manage their impact. These include: 

• significant illness, injury or condition 
• caring responsibilities, or 
• hardship or personal circumstances. 

You should request an exemption from CPD standard requirements as soon as you know you will be unable to complete your CPD for the registration year. 

To request an exemption, please email the registration team on registration@vdwc.vic.gov.au.

If you do not meet the CPD standard, and have not been granted an exemption, the Board may: 

• renew your registration subject to a condition; or 
• refuse to renew your registration. 

If the Board proposes to renew your registration subject to a condition or to refuse to renew your registration, we will invite you to respond to the Board’s proposal. The Board will consider any submission you make before deciding your application.

Contact the registration team on 1800 497 132 or email registration@vdwc.vic.gov.au.