CPD Reform and Tutorial

Continuing Professional Development for Growth and Expertise

The yogic path is one of perpetual learning and growth. The modern implementation of yoga (as well as many other fields of healthcare and wellness) benefits greatly from the concept of Continuing Professional Development (CPD). This is a crucial aspect of maintaining excellence in our craft that allows us to stay updated with industry trends, evolving practices, and the latest evidence.

At Yoga Australia, we’re committed to facilitating a spectrum of CPD options that cater to diverse needs and aspirations. We’ve recently made some changes to our CPD program, which we are pleased to present here.

Embracing a Diverse CPD Spectrum

Your CPD journey can vary from year to year. Some years might see you enthusiastically investing in your personal and teaching growth via certified courses, while others might be more relaxed in the way of self-education or attending workshops. Our goal is to ensure that every member, regardless of budget or time constraints, has accessible avenues for continuing education.

Our newly launched CPD Short Courses are always an excellent option, as are the longer PD Courses offered by our members. On the other hand, there are years when self-study, revisiting your teacher training notes, exploring quality lectures, reading relevant journals can contribute to your points. We’ve created a platform that’s inclusive and accessible to all, ensuring that you can engage with CPD in a way that suits you best.

Evolving to Address Societal Needs

We’ve recently updated some of the listed topics to align with the realities of our profession. As yoga teachers, we play a crucial role in the mental and emotional wellness of students. As such, our latest curriculum and CPD reforms include a focus on mental health and cultural awareness.

The biggest change is on the topic of mental health and cultural awareness.

In response to the recommendation of our Education Committee and Yoga Therapy Committee, and in consultation with the Senior Council of Advisors, we now include a mandatory annual mental health-related CPD topic. Similarly, understanding and respecting the cultural backgrounds of our students enriches our teaching approach. More than ever, the sober and caring recognition of the impact of colonialism on the First Nations of Australia must be considered by all who reside and work here.

Additionally (and this is more of a technical/administration change), conventional first aid is now considered part of the CPD process. All members must keep their first aid up to date, and may claim 1 point per year while ever it is so. We do not require CPR refreshers each year, but it is strongly recommended.

Navigating the New CPD Landscape

We have improved the member portal to make the process straightforward and easy to navigate. Upon logging in, you’ll find a user-friendly dashboard that neatly tracks your CPD points, teacher training hours, and teaching experience hours. This streamlined system allows you to stay organised and ensure your progress aligns with your professional goals.

Our growing library of CPD Short Courses (learning modules developed by Senior Teachers and other experts) cater to diverse learning preferences and provide valuable insights to enhance your teaching and personal growth.

We’re excited to present these enhancements to our CPD framework and provide you with a holistic approach to continuing education. CPDs are not just an obligation but an opportunity to grow, evolve, and offer the best to your students. Whether it’s engaging in formal courses, delving into self-study, or exploring thought-provoking resources, your CPD journey is a powerful way to shape the future of yoga and wellness in Australia!

How do I calculate CPD points?

We have simplified our CPD classification for ease of tracking and accrual:

• Live training that includes open discussion, workshop questions, etc qualifies 1 point per hour
• Watching a 1 hour video (or reading for 1 hour) and submitting a summary earns 1 point
• Receiving mentoring from a Senior teacher is worth 2 CPD points per hour
• We also provide high quality CPD Short Courses with quizzes that provide 1, 2, or 3 points depending on complexity. These automatically add to your CPD Tracker, so you don’t need to submit them manually.

Other Frequently Asked Questions:

• The CPD year aligns with the Financial Year, 1st July – 30th June.
• CPDs can be accrued from sources outside of Yoga Australia
• Attending another teacher’s class is something we strongly encourage but is not counted as CPD
• If you are a registered yoga therapist, 9 of the 12 CPD points should support your work in this space