Dear Colleague,

It is with much pleasure that we are able to announce the introduction of a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program for you, our members.

This is the culmination of significant effort by a small working group of members set up by the National Council in 1994 to develop the program and was ratified by Council earlier this year.

The program is aimed at encouraging members of the Institute to remain at the forefront of the mapping sciences, thus enhancing their ability to provide an efficient and effective service to their employer and community at large. Through participating in a range of professional development activities such as attending seminars, conferences, technical workshops/forums, publishing papers and undertaking further education, short courses and the like, members can gain accreditation towards becoming a Certified Practicing Member of the Institute. Participation in Institute business such as committee also gains CPD points.

The attached information provides a summary of the program and outlines the credit point system together with the minimum requirement for members to achieve certification.

All members, no matter what their grade , can and are encouraged to participate in the CPD program. For those wanting further information, full details are available in a CPD Member's Booklet which is available through the Division Secretary at :

Mapping Sciences Institute, Australia
Western Australian Division
GPO Box H592
PERTH WA 6001

The information contained in the Member's Booklet can also be downloaded by saving this web page.

Regards

Peter Shaw
WA Divisional CPD Co-ordinator

MAPPING SCIENCES INSTITUTE, AUSTRALIA

CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

MEMBER'S BOOKLET

MAY 1996

The Institute achnowedges the contribution made by David Fraser MMSIA, in preparing this Continuing Professional Program

CONTENTS

1. AIMS
2. OBJECTIVES
3. KEY ISSUES
4. RESPONSIBILITY
5. PERCEIVED BENEFITS FOR THE PROFESSION AND INDUSTRY
6. OVERVIEW OF THE CPD PROGRAM
7. THE BASIS OF THE CPD STRUCTURE
8. SPECIFIC ASPECTS OF CPD
9. THE MEMBERSHIP PROFILE
10. CREDIT POINTS


This members booklet sets out the requirements of the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program established by the Mapping Sciences Institute, Australia in 1996.

MSIA CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

1. AIMS:

1.1 To provide the Mapping Sciences Institute, Australia with a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program for all members.

1.2 To enable members of the Institute to remain at the forefront of the practice of mapping science, information management, and presentation, thus enhancing their ability to provide an efficient and effective service to the community.

2. OBJECTIVES:

2.1 To formalise a program for members to undertake continuous professional development (CPD).

2.2 To introduce a means by which Associate Members can progress to Member via accredited CPD.

2.3 To ensure the Institute, on behalf of its members, holds a prominent role in the development of education and training relevant to mapping sciences.

2.4 To ensure that the professional reputation of the Institute’s members is maintained at the highest level.

3. KEY ISSUES:-

3.1 CPD will not be compulsory for corporate members. It is available for all members who wish to participate. Participants will be accredited annually by the Institute.

3.2 Components of CPD will be made available to non-members of the MSIA for a fee. This is to help the Institute shoulder some responsibility for the standard of technical expertise and practice, and to encourage membership. CPD activities can be provided by organisations other than the MSIA.

3.3 The positive nature of the CPD program will be widely publicised to ensure its :
· acceptance by members;
· its recognition by employers; and
· that its objectives are understood by the community.

3.4 Representatives from the industry will be encouraged to support the CPD program.

3.5 A National Manager for the CPD PROGRAM and Divisional Representatives have been appointed to administer CPD and to ensure equity.

4. RESPONSIBILITY:

4.1 Implementation will place new and serious responsibilities on MSIA Divisions to maintain progressive professional development programs. The basis for such a program is set out in the Action Plan for the Institute’s STATUS PROGRAM.

4.2 Divisional professional development programs may be separate or collaborative initiatives, The Divisional Programs will supplement continuing education programs provided by Universities or TAFE Colleges, and the work place.

4.3 It will be incumbent on Council to ensure that CPD programs held in each Division are relevant to the practice of Mapping Sciences and satisfy standards and criteria set by Council.

5. PERCEIVED BENEFITS FOR THE PROFESSION and INDUSTRY:

5.1 The Continuing Professional Development will benefit the mapping science industry by:

5.1.1 Assisting mapping science professionals to improve their workplace performance;

5.1.2 Ensuring mapping science and related continuing professional education services meet the needs of members of the mapping science industry;

5.1.3 Providing recognition through the MSIA to members who continually make a commitment to maintaining and improving their professional expertise.

6. OVERVIEW OF THE CPD PROGRAM:

6.1 Institute members will not be penalised, or compelled into maintaining an adequate professional development program. However, members who successfully complete a program will be rewarded by annual certification from the MSIA. Thus members through continually upgrading their knowledge, will gain recognition as a Certified Practicing Member of the Institute. A certificate will be provided to the member annually.

6.2 To qualify for the certificate members will need to demonstrate that they have made attempts to maintain their level of skill and knowledge in the field of their choice. This learning can be obtained from a blend of academic and non-academic education and training. A point system to gauge successful achievement will be implemented. A minimum number of points will be set for accreditation. Points can be accrued by each member over a rolling 2 year period. The points accredited will vary according to the nature of the CPD undertaken. Refer to section 10 for more details.

6.3 The Mapping Sciences Institute, Australia, requires each member to undertake 70 points worth of CPD over the two year period.

6.4 If the required level of professional development is not achieved then the member's certification will not be issued for that year. Upgrade from Associate Member to Member can be achieved by reaching a specified level of professional development. Once upgrading has been achieved the Member status will remain. As with other corporate members, an individual would need to maintain CPD activities to continue to qualify as a Certified Practicing Member of the Institute.

7. THE BASIS OF THE CPD STRUCTURE:

7.1 The Mapping Sciences Institute, Australia, has identified a number of competencies which contribute to the professional development of an Institute member. These have, in turn, allowed the following components of the CPD to be identified:

7.1.1 Clear objectives for CPD programs that meet the real needs of the profession,

7.1.2 Provision of a means of assessing the standard of the competencies, gained through CPD courses, based on achievement and performance levels attained,

7.1.3 Provision of a way of accrediting genuine self-initiated/self managed learning that is relevant to the profession.

7.1.4 Provision of a basis for allocations of resources to the CPD program.

7.1.5 Provision of a model that will enable the CPD program to adapt quickly to meet changing labour market requirements.

8. SPECIFIC ASPECTS OF CPD:

8.1 Adoption of the CPD Program

The structure, as outlined in this document, has been adopted as the framework for the Continuing Professional Development program of the Mapping Sciences Institute, Australia.

8.2 Program Manager

A program manager has been appointed to manage the CPD program. All queries relating to the CPD program should be directed to the program manager through your divisional CPD program coordinator.

The address for the CPD program coordinator in your Division is:

Peter Shaw
Divisional CPD Co-ordinator
c\- WA Division
GPO Box H592
PERTH WA 6001

(bus) (08) 9273 7175
(fax) (08) 9273 7674
(home) (08) 9364 6194

The Divisional CPD Co-ordinator
c\- ACT Division
PO Box 1292
CANBERRA CITY
ACT 2601

The Divisional CPD Co-ordinator
c\- NSW Division
GPO Box 4365
SYDNEY
NSW 2001

The Divisional CPD Co-ordinator
c\- NT Division
GPO Box 3693
DARWIN
NT 5794

The Divisional CPD Co-ordinator
c\- QLD Division
GPO Box 1817
BRISBANE
QLD 4001

The Divisional CPD Co-ordinator
c\- SA Division
GPO Box 1922
ADELAIDE
SA 5001

The Divisional CPD Co-ordinator
c\- VIC Division
GPO Box 1155K
MELBOURNE
VIC 3001


The National CPD Program Manager is:
Mr Des Diggles MMSIA
c\- GPO Box 1817
BRISBANE
QLD 4001

(bus) (07) 3406 2965
(fax) (07) 3896 3433
(home) (07) 5593 0970

8.3 Selection panels for CPD accreditation

Each Divisions has a nominated Divisional CPD Co-ordinator. The Division under the auspice of this Co-ordinator will coordinate the CPD activities in your Division, and will provide the National CPD Program Manager with relevant information relating to each members involvement in the CPD program. The Program Manager will coordinate CPD at the national level and will ultimately be responsible for any decisions made.

The Program Manager will chair a panel of members who will deliberate on any issues relating to the CPD program. The National Panel will consist of the CPD Program Manager and two Panel members co-opted by the National Council.

8.4 The handbook regarding the CPD sets out the tasks, requirements and procedures.

This handbook, setting out the aims and the requirements of the CPD, has been published and provided to all members. Comments from members relating to any aspect of the CPD program are welcome and sought.

8.5 Recording the information and providing feedback to members

A data base has been produced which allows for a standardised recording of credit points by each Division. The Division has appointed one individual who will record the credit points attained by each member and can, at any time, provide details on the performance of individuals. A copy of the Divisional data base will be sent to the National CPD Program Manager by the 31st March each year. This information will be lodged with the membership records for secure and permanent record.

The Program Manager will provide the Divisional Co-ordinator with certificates of accreditation which will be sent to each qualifying member on the receipt of their annual membership subscription.

8.6 Appeals procedures

Appeals by members, against any decision made by the Division, must be directed to the National CPD Program Manager. The Program Manager will resolve the issue with the CPD National Panel.

8.7 Maintaining equity between Divisions

The National Program Manager will ensure that equity is maintained between the Divisions. This will allow credit points to be transferred freely to another State on transfer of membership or when a CPD activity is undertaken in another State.

8.8 Evaluating and refining the CPD program

The CPD program will be reviewed each year by the National CPD Panel upon receipt of reports from each of the Divisions. Members have the opportunity to provide comment on the CPD program.

The procedures, model of competencies and gaps in the CPD training are to be reviewed annually.

9. THE MEMBERSHIP PROFILE

9.1 Defining the bounds of the profession

Mapping is undertaken by many individuals who would not consider themselves to be cartographers. It is also true to say that those who identify themselves as cartographers are employed in many different aspects of the "spatially related" information industry. The Institute aims to attract membership from a broader community of mapping sciences and the CPD program reflects this.

The mapping sciences cover the following areas:

Animation and dynamic mapping Multi-media
Atmospheric mapping Hazard mapping
Charting Natural resource mapping
Community services mapping Network analysis
Computer assisted cartography Photogrammetry
Data capture and integration Publishing and marketing
Data Standards Remote Sensing
Education Spatial data management
Environmental mapping and monitoring Spatial modelling and analysis
Geographic Information Systems Tourist mapping
Geoscientific mapping

The bounds for the CPD program have been defined giving consideration to the tasks undertaken by the "new areas" of the mapping sciences.

10. CREDIT POINTS

TABLE 1 - CPD COMPONENTS:

The following table sets out the credit point allocation for particular activities. To receive credit for any activity a member must provide proof relating to the nature and content of the activity undertaken.

The Mapping Sciences Institute, Australia, requires each member to undertake 70 points worth of CPD over the two year period.

FOR EXAMPLE:
· A Seminar (Type A) is worth 20 points.
· A technical visit (Type B) is worth 10 points.
· Attendance at a training program (Type A) is worth 30 points.

Therefore a member would need to attend one seminar, two technical visits and a training program to satisfy the CPD requirements for accreditation.

NOTE: Credit points must be accumulated across three or more categories over the two year rotation period.

CREDIT POINT RATING A, B, or C.

A = Highest standard for CPD involvement.
B = Medium standard for CPD involvement
C = Low standard for CPD involvement

The table below provides members with a guide to the credit point rating. It is the responsibility of the Divisional committee to allocate points based on the information you supply. Their recommendation is then ratified by the National CPD Panel under the chair of the Program Manager.

 TABLE 2 - CREDIT POINT RATING