SIMPLIFYING GOVERNMENT
Home

Continuing Professional Development Programs (CPD) for Property and Building Licence and Certificate Holders - NSW

Home » Project Case Studies » Continuing Professional Development Programs (CPD) for Property and Building Licence and Certificate Holders - NSW

Client: NSW Department of Commerce - Office of Fair Trading

Stenning & Associates undertook an evaluation of the Continuing Professional Development Programs (CPD) for Property and Building Licence & Certificate Holders in New South Wales.  It was undertaken in late 2006/early 2007.

The evaluation considered the performance of the current CPD arrangements in relation to the following broad issues:

  • Accessibility;
  • Relevance;
  • Simplicity of administration (for the Office of Fair Trading and for license and certificate holders); and
  • Costs versus Benefits.

The evaluation involved a range of data and information gathering activities, which included:

  • An environmental scan, which involved desktop research and discussions with a representative selection of key stakeholders (peak industry bodies, industry training advisory bodies and Office of Fair Trading staff involved in administering the CPD arrangements).
  • Analysis of an audit of a selection of licence/certificate holders from the property and building industry that are covered by the respective CPD arrangements.
  • A call for comments/submissions from peak industry bodies.
  • Surveys of licence and certificate holders in the property and home building industries.
  • A survey of training providers that supply training relevant to the CPD arrangements.

The survey methodology was undertaken by a subcontractor.  The Minister hosted a round-table discussion on 20 September 2006, at which peak industry bodies outlined key issues related to the evaluation of the CPD arrangements.  In addition to the results of the environmental scan, the outcomes of that round-table were used to inform the survey design and the evaluation more broadly.

The key deliverable, the evaluation report,  made a range of recommendations for change arising designed to improve the performance of the CPD arrangements and provide a robust framework for the possible future extension of such arrangements to other licensed industry areas.  The Minister for Fair Trading accepted the recommendations and OFT has implemented them.