Meeting your annual CPD requirements as a pelvic health physio

What Does CPD Look Like for Pelvic Health Physios?

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is essential for maintaining your registration as a Physiotherapist, but it’s much more than a regulatory requirement. For pelvic health physios, CPD is an opportunity to deepen your knowledge, refine your skills, and deliver exceptional care to your patients.

The Physiotherapy Board of Australia mandates 20 hours of CPD annually, with activities tailored to your scope of practice. Here's some tips on how to approach CPD effectively to ensure you meet your requirement but also to get the most out of the many CPD avenues to meet your learning needs and in consideration of your budget!

The 20 hours of ‘CPD’ can span a range of activities. Physios commonly aim for 20 hrs of structured courses but there are many other kinds of defined activities that go towards meeting the requirement that include informal learning and reflective practice.

Here is an overview of the key categories to consider:

1. Formal Learning Activities

This includes the structured course opportunities that we are all pretty familiar with such as short or weekend courses (run by groups like the APA or private providers) and conferences and seminars such as the annual ‘National Conference on Incontinence’ which is generally well attended by pelvic health physios.

Postgraduate Studies which provide formal qualifications, such as a Graduate Certificate or Master’s in Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy also fall into this category.

2. Informal Learning Activities

Less formal, but equally applicable towards your annual 20 hrs include: Reading Research: Stay updated with journals that cover topics of interest or Webinars and Online Learning seminars which can be a Flexible options allowing you to learn at your own pace on specific pelvic health topics. Case Discussions (which may be covered during mentoring with your colleages like we provide in PPPM) and collaborating with colleagues to dissect complex cases can count toward CPD if it deepens your clinical understanding.

3. Practice-Based Learning

Your time spent refining practical skills during supervision sessions in your workplace can go towards your annual CPD requirement. You may have the opportunity to shadow experienced physios in your own clinic or outside or participate in supervised sessions where a senior will sit in with you and provide some feedback. This can be a valuable exercise for physios at all levels, not just those new to the field.

4. Teaching and Mentoring

Sharing knowledge and mentoring or training others can also enhance your own learning! If you are involved in providing supervision and mentoring for your team or peers you can consider adding this activity to your CPD log.

5. Reflection and Self-Assessment

WE know that self-reflection is critical for physios to progress from becoming entry level technicians who can perform an assessment and develop a treatment plan to becoming highly skilled therapists who are able to critically think and clinically reason to achieve sucess with their clients.

Reflection and self-assessment may look like:

  • Journaling: After courses or complex cases, document what you learned and how it informs your practice.

  • Self-Audits: Use tools like competency frameworks to identify areas for improvement and plan future learning.

  • Case discussion with peers or seniors to seek feedback and assist with problem solving!

Tips for Effective CPD Planning

As you can see there are a wide range of activites that contribute yo you achieving the requirement for CPR but also helping you to get the most out of your time spend learning!

We suggest you structure your approach around these principles:

1. Set Clear Goals

Identify areas for growth. Do you want to build confidence in managing prolapse, deepen your knowledge of postnatal recovery, or better address chronic pelvic pain? Targeted goals make your CPD more meaningful and ensure it aligns with your clinical practice. Resist the urge to get ‘FOMO’ and sign up for all the courses that your friend is doing! In our clinic we help our team set an annual goals and CPD plan and work back from there to identify PD opportunities that align. Often many of the goals and development needs are met with the clincial support, training and mentoring we offer in clinic.

2. Diversify Activities

A mix of formal learning, practical skill-building, and reflective practices ensures your CPD remains engaging and covers all aspects of your professional development.

3. Document Thoroughly

Don’t forget, as well as completing the required CPR, The Physiotherapy Board of Australia requires you to record in a CPD log:

  • A description of the activity.

  • Time spent.

  • Evidence (e.g., certificates, reflective notes).
    Reflect on how each activity enhances your practice. (Tools like APA’s CPD tracking templates can simplify this process.)

4. Spread CPD Across the Year

Avoid the last-minute scramble by allocating regular time for CPD activities. Whether it’s an hour a week to read journal articles or quarterly workshops, consistent effort ensures quality learning.

5. Keep It Patient-Focused

Frame every activity with patient outcomes in mind. Ask: How will this learning improve the care I provide? This ensures your CPD remains relevant and impactful.

Final Thoughts

CPD is more than a compliance obligation—it’s a chance to enhance your practice and provide the best care for your patients. By following the Physiotherapy Board of Australia’s guidelines and incorporating a mix of activities, you can create a meaningful CPD plan that aligns with your goals and scope of practice.

With opportunities ranging from structured courses to mentoring and reflective practice, the options are as flexible as your career. Programs like PPPM not only help you meet CPD requirements but also provide tailored support for your professional journey.

What will your next learning opportunity be? The possibilities are endless, and the impact on your practice—and your patients—will be invaluable.

For more information and to ensure you are meeting your requirements we recommend you review the information provided from the Physio Board of Australia, please visit https://www.physiotherapyboard.gov.au/codes-guidelines/cpd-guidelines.aspx#:~:text=Required%20CPD&text=The%20Board%20requires%20physiotherapists%20to,per%20three%2Dmonth%20registration%20period.

Karina Coffey