professional development

National Professional Development Program

This program forms part of the Strategic Plan adopted by the HFESA Board in 2007.

A National Professional Development Committee has been formed and HFESA has engaged a National Professional Development Officer, Stroma Lawson.

Professional Development is considered to include activities which increase the human factors and ergonomics competencies of members, or otherwise enhance members’ capacity to contribute to the aims of the society.

The Role of the PD Committee is:

• To facilitate communication between branches, PAB, and SIGs regarding professional development plans with a view to identifying events which can be shared in some way. This is particularly aimed at enhancing the professional development programs of smaller branches.
• To identify the professional development needs of HFESA members and organise seminars and workshops by national or international ergonomists or related professionals to meet these needs in a systematic way. These events may be organised in conjunction with other professional bodies, educational institutions, government, industry groups or private companies (sharing the risks and broadening the scope beyond current members and SIG affiliates). There may be instances when these events also have a “public education” function as well.
• To assist the editor of Ergonomics Australia identify topics which support the professional development program, and professionals from whom relevant contributions might be solicited.

Members of PD Committee 2008

Representing	Name	Email
Chair	Robin Burgess-Limerick	president@ergonomics.org.au
PAB	Ron Cordingley	pab@ergonomics.org.au
Editor EA	Shann Gibbs	editorea@ergonomics.org.au
CHISIG	Todd Bentley	chisig@ergonomics.org.au
QLD	Andrew Petersen	pdofficer-qld@ergonomics.org.au
NSW	Jenny Long	pdofficer-nsw@ergonomics.org.au
WA	Sarah Adams	pdofficer-wa@ergonomics.org.au
VIC	Helen Tyler-Meers	pdofficer-vic@ergonomics.org.au
SA	Valerie O’Keeffe	pdofficer-sa@ergonomics.org.au
PD Officer	Stroma Lawson	pdofficer@ergonomics.org.au

Introduction to the New National Professional Development Officer – Stroma Lawson

Stroma graduated in Ergonomics from Loughborough University UK and worked in Sweden and the UK before emigrating to Australia. She has spent the last 20 years in Perth as an Ergonomist involved in government enforcement, in the health industry and in private practice with Ergonomica.

Her involvement with HFESA goes back to 1987 when first arriving in Oz and quickly getting roped onto the WA Branch Committee in various roles including professional program coordinator, secretary, chair, member of the conference organising committee and WA rep on the National Board. She became a CPE in 1990.

The new PD Committee had its 1 st meeting during the 2007 Conference in Perth and the final session of the Conference encouraged attendees to think about what they want to see on the PD Program this year.

The plan for the next 6 months is to develop a national PD framework supporting the Branches but not replacing local activities. High profile events will be held in several locations aimed at members and those interested in our profession. The goal is to develop members’ professional skills and competencies, and attract potential members.

Contact your local PD Committee member or the PD Officer direct with offers of sessions you’d like to present or ideas of speakers you’d like to hear.

Stroma Lawson
HFESA National PD Officer
pdofficer@ergonomics.org.au
mob: 0438 930 901

Courses

See also courses page