A View from Down Under

Designating What?
By Barrie Brennan

Part of the importance of the designatory letters used in Professional Associations is to represent different levels of membership, from 'Affiliate' to 'Full Member' to 'Fellow'. These letters illustrate status within the organisation and profession.

There is however, certainly in Australia, the emergence of a new set of designations. They are also professional association based and focused on the practitioner's status. They are not particularly linked to length of practice but specifically associated with CPD and adherence to a code of performance or ethical standards. The use of the designatory letters is also subject to review and/or assessment. So these letters are open to all members provided they fulfil certain requirements.

In Australia the first use of this type of designation occurred in the 1980s with the adoption of the term 'Certified Practising Accountant' by the then Australian Society of Accountants to recognize those who participated at a particular level in CPD and practised in accordance with accepted ethical principles.

Since that time a number of professions have adopted a range of designations to indicate a practitioner who operates at a high (or higher) level of performance.

Four Australian designations from different professions are noted.

From the Australian Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology (AIAST) comes the designation CPAg. This represents a Certified Practising Agriculturist. The term 'agriculturist' is developed from the two types of activity covered, those of the agricultural scientist and technologist. The organisation's website explains that CPAgs 'meet the professional standards set by the AIAST and undertake a prescribed amount of CPE each year' (www.aaiast.com.au,1/9/06).

The Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) has established the title Accredited Social Worker. The AASW website notes: An Accredited Social Worker is 'a member of the AASW who has met the Continuing Professional Education requirements for the preceding CPE cycle' (www.aasw.asn.au, 9/1/06).

The designation APD has been established by the Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA) to identify, especially for those seeking the services of a dietitian, an Accredited Practising Dietitian. The DAA website indicates that 'APDs undertake ongoing training and education to comply with DAA's guidelines for best practice' and 'are committed to the DAA "Code of Professional Conduct" and "Code of Ethics" and to providing quality service' (www.daa.asn.au, 1/9/06).

The professional association for Australia's Occupational Therapists, OTAustralia, has defined the designation of AccOT to indicate the Accredited Occupational Therapist. The association's website notes that AccOTs 'are committed to providing the best service to their clients by maintaining the currency of their professional knowledge and skills' (www.aaussot,com.au, 1/9/06).

These designations are the Professional Association's initiative and responsibility in each instance. The associations retain enthusiasm for this venture from the points of view of their Members and their clients of their Members' services. The importance of the designations is reflected in the prominence given to them on the organisations' home pages.