Future of the College
At the Annual General Meeting of the College held on 16 May 2010, the Chair Janice Mueller gave a presentation on the work of the strategic planning group and outlined a proposed future direction for the NZ College of Physiotherapy. Subsequently members at the meeting unanimously endorsed this proposal and agreed that the steering group should proceed with work restructuring the College.
A copy of the proposal follows. We welcome members’ feedback on this.
NZCP Annual General Meeting
The College started formally in its current form in 1993. It is an independent incorporated society. It has close links with the NZ Society of Physiotherapists which provides office space and other administrative backup.
The College has been governed since 1993 by an Executive Council made up of representatives from all the clinical Special Interest Groups (SIGs). An Academic Advisory Board works closely with the Council and makes recommendations about criteria for course accreditation, continuing education credits and academic requirements for Membership and Fellowship.
There are three categories of active membership - Associate, Member /Advanced Practitioner (MNZCP) and Fellow (FNZCP). Everyone joins at Associate level and from there may progress if they meet the requirements. Members who meet the prescribed requirements for advanced practice may bracket a clinical designation after the post nominal MNZCP.
Peer review is seen as an important aspect of professional growth and the College encourages its members in this direction. Regular peer review is required to maintain Membership. Login to the MEMBERS ONLY screen to download the Peer Review Document.
The NZ College of Physiotherapy strongly supports World Confederation of Physical Therapists (WCPT) and NZSP policy that only those who successfully complete a professionally prescribed educational and clinical programme run by a formally constituted physiotherapy organisation should be entitled to call themselves specialists. The NZ College of Physiotherapy offers the only such route to specialisation through its Fellowship programme.
All Associate members and Members must attain a certain level of continuing education to maintain their status within the College. Logs are checked regularly. College members may submit their logbooks electronically, or in any format convenient to them provided the instructions on the official College logbook and the points card are adhered to.
The only provision for an honorary award is through Honorary Life Membership. This may be given to physiotherapists who in the opinion of the Executive Council have made outstanding contributions to physiotherapy education.