The benefits of face-to-face CPD

The Tax Institute’s National Council has observed that a shift appears to be taking place from the time-honoured face-to-face professional development events to structured education and remote learning. Perhaps this is inevitable as technology takes hold and a new generation of tax adviser emerges.

However, there is still a lot to be said for the collegiality of the CPD events. They have served us well for nearly 70 years and have assisted many callow tax advisers to grow into the well-rounded experts that they are today. Your president can look back over 30 years or so of time well spent (and a little not so well spent) at national and state conventions. These events are where the generations pass on the ability to master not only tax technical content, but also how to behave with clients and, more importantly, with our peers.

This conveniently segues into my final topic, the privileged position of the president when attending state conventions.

This last month, it has been the Victorian and Tasmanian State Conventions. Both were held in very desirable locations, Lorne and Cradle Mountain, although the weather could have been kinder. Congratulations to the organising committees for putting on events of such high calibre with excellent speakers on topics of continuing importance to our members.

Most memorable was a workshop put together by Graeme White on streaming which I hope will be rolled out nationally as streaming 2013 bites.

Ken Schurgott
Ken
Schurgott

Ken Schurgott is President of the National Council at The Tax Institute.

The Tax Institute is Australia's leading professional association in tax. Its 13,000 members include tax agents, accountants and lawyers as well as tax practitioners in corporations, government and academia.

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