On the recommendation of Wanda Hayes, Chair of the Membership Portfolio, the NEC has approved a project aimed at enhancing the ways in which CDAA supports its members who are working as private career practitioners.

A working group will be established, with Julie Farthing as Chair. The working group’s focus will be to plan and facilitate the formation of a special interest group (SIG), which will provide collegial support for, and advocate for the interests of private practitioner members. All work by the working group is to be completed by 27 November 2009. Communication will most probably be via web meeting or teleconferencing.

Interest is now being sought for members who are currently actively working in private careers practice to participate in this project. The working group’s activities will include:

• Develop a recommended definition of “private practice” for Career Development practitioners, including a “30 second summary” definition for marketing purposes
• Prepare recommendations about the implementation of this definition, including its use in the updating of the “find a practitioner” function on the CDAA website
• Conduct research on the needs that could be addressed by the SIG
• Select a name for the special interest group
• Develop the special interest group’s terms of reference
• Develop resources to support private practitioners, including a standardised fee schedule
• Develop marketing materials to promote membership of the SIG
• Develop materials to advertise for the inaugural chair of the SIG (chair to be appointed by the NEC)
• Make recommendations on the future development of the SIG

This is your chance to have your say about how CDAA supports its members in private practice, and help us to put private careers practice on the map. There are two ways in which you can be involved:

1. If you want to be part of this exciting new endeavour as a member of the working group, please send a short expression of interest to Julie Farthing at julie@careerdimensions.com.au by July 10 outlining:
   • Your work location (suburb or regional area and state)
   • Your experience as a private practitioner (fifty words or less)
   • Your main reasons for your interest in being on the working party (fifty words or less)
2. Otherwise, you can join a consultation group, whose views will be sought periodically during the working group process. These opportunities will be advertised later.