Coalition of Celebrant Associations

Australia’s Peak Celebrant Body

Professional Development: Recommendations

Professional Development: Introduction

Professional development is an activity practiced by professions to ensure the members of their profession remain current in knowledge, maintain and improve their skills for their professional work and are able to adapt to the changing needs of the society they service.10

Whether an individual practitioner works part-time or full-time, or specialises in a particular aspect of the profession is a matter of personal choice. However all professions, whether the original three professions of ministry, law or medicine, or newer professions such as nursing, dentistry, teaching and physiotherapy, have a body of knowledge and skills such that the practitioner would be able to practice full-time if they so chose.

Changes in 2006 to the qualification for authorisation as a Commonwealth Marriage Celebrant, and upheld in 2015, are evidence that the profession of celebrancy is not restricted to solemnising marriages, and is in line with the underlying principle in the Act that authorises specific groups of people whose other duties support and enhance their role in providing valid marriage services.

The following recommendations are based on the aims of the 2002 changes, outlined in the 2002 Explanatory Memorandum to the Commonwealth Marriage Celebrant Program, and the professional model of celebrancy that CoCA has supported since its establishment as a national body in 2008, as well as the stated aims of the introduction of the initial 2012 Regulation Impact Statement by the Department:

“The benefits of addressing underperforming marriage celebrants are not readily quantifiable.

However, given the significant legal responsibilities of celebrants, improved regulation is critical to ensuring improved compliance with legal obligations by celebrants as well as enhancing professionalism within the sector.”  11

Recommendation 1

That professional development activities are based on the premises that:

  • independent civil celebrants are part of a profession of celebrancy
  • the profession of Subdivision C Marriage Celebrants, like the other Subdivisions of Marriage Celebrants,  is broader than simply providing marriage services and that
  • celebrants provide ceremonies other than marriage as part of their professional or public service roles.

The Marriage Act and Marriage Regulations do not specify that professional development activities must be restricted to marriage related topics, only that the Commonwealth Marriage Registrar publish a list of approved activities at the beginning of the calendar year, with the possibility that some activities may be compulsory.

CoCA supports the view that professional development is different to entry-level training. To become proficient in any professional practice requires the opportunity to have repeated opportunities to practice the knowledge and skills training has provided, to build a ‘client’ base to service, and to adapt to changes in social and cultural conditions.

The unique difference between independent civil celebrants and others who perform legal marriages is that the marrying couple have the opportunity to have the ceremony written and conducted to suit their personal needs and those of their families, and to reflect the couple’s own values and aspirations for the future.

As each marrying couple is unique, constant practice of engagement with couples and families to design and deliver individualised ceremonies is crucial to the independent civil celebrant’s ability to deliver high quality marriage services. Whatever the profession (e.g. social work, physiotherapy, psychology, counselling, law etc.), a professional in private practice needs to build a client base to service with their specific skills.

Thus it is appropriate that business skills are part of the professional development mix for independent professionals such as civil celebrants, to develop and maintain a private practice that covers all costs and makes a reasonable hourly rate for the professionals’ time and skill. This is only so because this group of authorised celebrants are independent practitioners, not because they are Marriage Celebrants.

Achieving adequate compensation for time, costs and expertise is not defined a “business” in terms of the Marriage Act as both Recognised Religious Celebrants and BDM staff receive remuneration for their work. How taxation law deals with a person’s tax liability and is not the only factor in whether a professional is called a “business” or “profession” by society.

The Department makes the following policy statement in its Discussion Paper:

“As the department is only responsible for the regulation of marriage and the purpose of ongoing professional development is to ensure that the marrying public receive professional and legally accurate services, any expansion of the range of activities will still require a link to the particular role of a marriage celebrant.” 12

If this narrow interpretation of the celebrancy profession were to be applied, as currently is the case and being proposed by the Department, then business related topics and/or skills would not be approved, as being a business is not a requirement for performing a valid marriage.  

It is appropriate that knowledge and skills for other ceremonies and celebrations should be part of the professional development mix so that independent civil celebrants have:

  1. the constant practice of being engaged by couples and families to design and deliver personalised ceremonies, to improve the celebrant’s knowledge, skills and ability and to deliver high quality, marriage services appropriate to the couple’s needs, and

  2. the opportunity to develop and maintain a private practice that covers all costs and makes a reasonable hourly rate for the professional’s time and skill.
Recommendation 2:
Professional development activities reflect the premise that Adult Learning Principles support the inclusion of topics on other ceremonies in the range of professional development activities for Subdivision C independent Marriage Celebrants.

For behavioural change such as improved professional practice, there are four areas of specific need – Information, Values Clarification, Skills and Support.

The Department has acknowledged these areas in terms of the types of activities approved for professional development – for example supporting association conferences that provide networking to increase the individual celebrant’s support base and knowledge, and explore values.

The next step is for the Department to acknowledge that the transfer of learning from related areas is an acknowledged aspect of learning, especially in adult learning. There are numerous references to the concepts of portability or transfer of learning, especially skills based learning – too many to quote here. Some relevant ones are:

“Constructivist learning is based on students' active participation in problem-solving and critical thinking regarding a learning activity which they find relevant and engaging. They are "constructing" their own knowledge by testing ideas and approaches based on their prior knowledge and experience, applying these to a new situation, and integrating the new knowledge gained with pre-existing intellectual constructs”. 13

“What are “transferable skills”? - Transferable skills can be defined as skills developed in one situation which can be transferred to another situation. They are sometimes called generic, soft or key skills.

They are necessary for effective performance, not only in the workplace and in postgraduate study, but in life in general. Some examples of such skills include team working, communication skills, problem solving, planning and time management.” 14

Skills identified in the latest review of celebrant training for the Vocational Education and Training (V.E.T) system for skill development included:

Reading and Comprehension; Research; Problem solving/Analytical Skills; Planning and Evaluation; Ceremonial Design, Communication, Negotiation and Performance: Administrative; Organisational; Small Business; Professional Skills; Presentation; Information and Referrals; Interpersonal and Interviewing; Creative Writing; Group Work; Computer and IT skills. 15

Skills transfer is more obviously related to marriage work when considering funeral and memorial ceremonies and couple related ceremonies such as renewals and wedding anniversaries. Celebrants are asked to incorporate elements to acknowledge deceased loved ones, such as a child, parent, sibling or grandparent or close friend or even conduct marriages where one of the parties to the marriage have terminal conditions. The Code of Practice in the Marriage Act requires that the Independent Marriage Celebrant:

“A marriage celebrant must recognise the social, cultural and legal significance of marriage and the marriage ceremony in the Australian community, and the importance of strong and respectful family relationships”.

This recognition includes understanding the role of marriage in the context of the life of the couple, not just for the day of the marriage itself.

Strong and respectful family relationships are built over a lifetime, and some of the roles of ceremony and celebration are to strengthen family and friendship bonds, emphasise the need for all couples to be supported by their community networks, and to encourage respectful and caring attitudes and values.

In February 2013 the Department conducted a one-day workshop with a number of representatives from CoCA Associations, the approved OPD providers and AGD staff. A former senior executive of the AG Department facilitated this workshop.

In a June 2013 paper16 prepared by Peter Arnaudo, Assistant Secretary of Marriage and Intercountry Adoption Branch, Access to Justice Division, Attorney General’s Department, noted for OPD in 2014:

“The meeting participants also identified the following principles for OPD design, development and delivery:

  • high quality, variety and relevant subject matter for activities providing flexibility for the diverse celebrant population
  • choice for participants · adult learning principles · continuous improvement, including consultation with celebrants, and
  • value for money. OPD activities must be accessible and delivered flexibly to meet the needs and circumstances of celebrants as a whole (including in classroom settings, by online or distance education).”
and for OPD beyond 2014

“Other ideas on approaches to OPD have been raised but have not at this stage been implemented or considered in great detail by the Department. These include:

  • Association office bearers receive an exemption from elective OPD requirements
  • Conference paper developers / authors / presenters receive an exemption from elective OPD requirements
  • OPD trainers / activity developers receive an exemption from elective OPD requirements
  • Units of the Certificate IV in Celebrancy count as OPD
  • Removing the distinction between compulsory and elective OPD activities, and

Review of requirements for trainers delivering OPD.

The Department proposes to continue to monitor and review OPD with a view to ensure that OPD continues to meet OPD principles and objectives, be relevant for Marriage Celebrants and provide choice recognising the diversity of interests of Marriage Celebrants while remaining a simple system for celebrants to use.

These ideas (and any others that may be put forward) will be considered by the Department during 2014.”

CoCA would like to see the Department ensuring continuity with the consultations previously held with CoCA to inform and guide the Department in the absence of self-regulation.

Cost Recovery Principles require efficient and effective use of the funds collected. It is encouraging to see the Department concerned about these issues, and having some appreciation that in other professions, it is the professional bodies that determine the range of activities approved for professional development.

The Department in its discussion paper states:

“As the department is only responsible for the regulation of marriage and the purpose of ongoing professional development is to ensure that the marrying public receive professional and legally accurate services, any expansion of the range of activities will still require a link to the particular role of a marriage celebrant”.

CoCA requests the Registrar to change this policy decision in the light of the information presented above and the Department’s 2013 17 commitment to:

  • “high quality, variety and relevant subject matter for activities providing flexibility for the diverse celebrant population
  • choice for participants · adult learning principles · continuous improvement, including consultation with celebrants, and
  • value for money, OPD activities must be accessible and delivered flexibly to meet the needs and circumstances of celebrants as a whole (including in classroom settings, by online or distance education).”
Recommendation 3:
That those professional development providers approved by the AGD be delegated the responsibility of providing and reporting upon professional development activities within a specified set of Departmental guidelines, without the need for AGD’s prior approval of individual units.

CoCA supports the Department’s concerns with respect to Cost Recovery impacts and the need to move to a better system, whilst at the same time ensuring a level of quality control.

The discussion paper says:

“It is open to the department to move away from the approved list of OPD activities and instead prepare guidelines about what kinds of activities can be counted towards OPD. This could allow celebrants to self-identify courses that would benefit them and could include a wider range of learning opportunities, both formal and informal, such as university courses, peer review and mentoring or work-based learning, participating in conferences, workshops and other communities of practice, as appropriate OPD activities.

This could only be implemented in conjunction with celebrants self-monitoring their own compliance (see issue 5 below). Many other professional development programmes operate in this way, with the professional being in control of what activities they think will develop them professionally”. 

The Department acknowledges in its discussion paper that the “legal risk of marriage celebrants not adequately performing their role is minimised by section 48 of the Marriage Act (which preserves the validity of a marriage where errors have been made”, 18 and makes a number of suggestions about how their responsibility could be delivered in a much more cost effective manner.

This low risk was previously acknowledged by the Department considering “Removing the distinction between compulsory and elective OPD activities” 19 for post 2014 professional development activities. Given the 113,595 weddings in 2015 20 of which approximately 85,200 (75%) were conducted by civil celebrants, and there were 25 complaints pa 21, most of which did not relate to the validity of the marriage, the actual complaint rate is 0.03%.

Of these complaints (4/25), only 16% related to the solemnisation of the marriage, with 84% relating to the professional and other conduct of the marriage celebrant.

The Coalition of Celebrant Associations considers maintaining and strengthening COI and B2B provisions, supported by some professional development activities, would be more effective in reducing “legal risk of invalidity of marriage” and “reduction in number of errors”.

Such supportive professional development activities would be to ensure legal electives are available for those celebrants wishing to address gaps in their knowledge and or lack of confidence in certain legal areas, and providing compulsory activities only if and when there are legislative changes. Note the latter is qualified in Recommendation 8.

Another principle of both the purpose of OPD and Adult learning principles is that professional development should meet the needs of the individual professional. CoCA’s Survey in 201622 showed:

Approx. 70% wanted OPD to focus on same sex ceremonies and marriage renewals and 50% wanted OPD to include funerals; Then varying figures from 10% to 45% on other ceremonies - but less than 10% said none of the ceremonies were applicable to their OPD needs, which indicates 90% support for OPD to include ceremonies other than marriage.

95% said skills’ training was applicable with the topic “planning a ceremony for any occasion being the highest score.

The “value for money” aspect of OPD becomes a major factor for concern when celebrants cannot address their needs to develop their celebrancy practices in line with the emerging social needs and are forced to use their precious financial resources on aspects of their work that they consider a lower priority.

Given the nature of the profession as a whole, the transferability of knowledge and skill acknowledged as an adult learning principle, low risk of invalidity of the marriage plus the benefits to be gained by the celebrant in developing their professional celebrancy practice, CoCA recommends the Department delegates the responsibility of providing and reporting professional development activities within a specified set of Departmental guidelines to those bodies with educational and celebrancy expertise, without the need for AGD prior approval of individual units.

Professional celebrant Associations managed by experienced celebrants, along with approved providers, are capable of using adult learning principles to deliver appropriate professional development activities.

In addition:
  1. the Department has a mechanism via the portal to gain some evaluative feedback from the Marriage Celebrants themselves with regard to the quality of OPD activities in terms of its design, delivery, trainer/presenter/educator competence etc., so

  2. those activities, OPD providers, OPD trainers that do not meet celebrants’ needs will not be supported by celebrants over time and thus there is an inbuilt feedback mechanism to the providers (whether approved OPD providers or professional Associations) to ensure that OPD activities are being targeted to meet celebrants’ needs.
The CoCA acknowledges that its 2015 National Celebrants Survey 23 showed 65% of respondents supported being able to access the range of educational activities available via Universities, CAE’s, TAFE, continuing education centres, etc.

Whilst there are many educational and training programs relevant to the celebrant’s knowledge and skills, having these delivered in the context of celebrancy work is still important to ensure that such programs also address the specific needs of this developing profession.

CoCA is also concerned that such a broad approach to professional development will be open to further non-compliance and in turn require further adjustments, with the Departmental and Associations’ time and costs impacting when problems with that system arise.

It is true that in other professions there is a broad range of activities available for OPD compliance, those activities are determined and monitored by their professional bodies, then selected and reported by the individual practitioner. Self-reporting is audited on a random or profession wide basis to ensure compliance.

CoCA’s 2016 National Celebrant Survey results also support this and previous CoCA recommendations in celebrants looking to broaden their OPD experiences.

Recommendation 4:
That units of the Certificate IV of Celebrancy “ be approved professional development activities for those celebrants wanting to upgrade or extend their qualifications.

As is the case in other professions, the option to upgrade or extend qualifications is part of the professional development mix.

Given that the nominal hours for the majority of units is greater than forty hours, successful completion of one unit from the Certificate IV in Celebrancy should satisfy the requirements for five hours of elective OPD in a given OPD year.

Recommendation 5:

That professional celebrant Associations be delegated the responsibility of

a.     providing professional development activities, in conjunction with AGD approved   OPD providers or with appropriate educationalists, in the form of seminars, workshops, conferences and online activities, and

b.     supplying the Department with the compliance records of those celebrants who completed their annual professional development requirements

in addition to the current system of four approved OPD providers for the short term until the review of celebrancy qualifications in 2020.

CoCA notes that “The department does not propose to return to a system where activities from a broad range of providers would be approved by the department” 24 for a number of reasons, which include the expense of the Department micro-managing professional development activities that in other professions are the responsibility of the professional bodies.

Since 2003, the professional celebrant Associations, almost all incorporated non-profit Associations, have grown in their understanding of the profession, the needs of their members and their association management efficiency. Some of these professional celebrant Associations want to be able to, and are capable of, offering a range of OPD activities - conferences, workshops, seminars and online activities - choosing their own educators, without reference to an approved OPD provider as selected by the AGD.

Some other professional celebrant Associations would prefer to negotiate with the professional development providers approved by the AGD, as they currently do, to deliver their five hours of professional development, so this option should continue to be available.

The 2015 CoCA National Celebrant Survey25, supports both approved OPD providers and more involvement of professional Associations. Approx. 50% of celebrants said the current system with approved OPD providers was good to excellent and 70% said Celebrants’ Associations could be more involved in OPD.

All CoCA Associations are concerned to ensure that professional development activities continue to improve in quality in line with the 2012 “Government’s objective … to effectively regulate the Program, thereby improving the compliance and professionalism”. 26

In 2012, COCA 27 recommended that the number of OPD providers be expanded to six (6) and that the Department move towards more flexibility in professional development options.

At the same time CoCA acknowledged the need to address gaps in the basic training of celebrants overall, given the authorisation for training between 2003 and mid-2010 was the Certificate of Attainment of one VET unit. The Department acknowledged this deficit in the 2012 Regulation Impact Statement.

“While steps have been taken to improve the quality of pre-registration training and professional development for marriage celebrants, those who were registered before the increased qualification was introduced in 2010 received either no, or inadequate, training. The majority of marriage celebrants were registered before the increased qualification was introduced in February 2010. As a result many marriage celebrants do not understand or properly fulfil their legal responsibilities”.28

Delivering face-to-face OPD, which is preferred by many celebrants, and important for networking and support, is expensive in a country the size and population density of Australia.

Therefore, CoCA considers that the current system of four (4) providers is the optimum number that can be supported in the short-term of three years until the review of celebrancy qualifications in 2020.

Recommendation 6:
That, in regard to professional development, the AGD role be to

a)            determine the OPD providers and professional Associations to be approved to deliver OPD activities, and approve any other activities (e.g. Cert IV units)

b)            establish and review the guidelines for the scope, delivery and evaluation of OPD activities in consultation with the profession, leaving the responsibility of how that material is to be covered  to the providers who have the expertise to design and deliver educational sessions

c)             establish reporting mechanisms for use by all OPD providers and from individual celebrants reporting their OPD compliance via the portal

d)            provide advice about any Compulsory Activities required in a specific OPD year, along with resourcing the OPD providers with the learning objectives and the relevant supporting legal information and resources

e)            provide advice via individual email to Celebrants and Associations on any new legislation, or areas of specific legal concern in the form of fact sheets or explanatory materials or additional sections to the Guidelines.


CoCA’s recommendation 5 would reduce the overall workload of the Department to establishing approved providers and Associations, setting the guidelines and reporting mechanisms for any Compulsory activities, and resourcing the legal aspects of OPD and either:

  1. still requiring data-entry of OPD compliance by having the records of attendance submitted to the Department, or alternatively

  2. the Department could add to the annual compliance questionnaire, via the portal, the list of OPD activities delivered by the approved providers (RTOs and Associations) for the celebrant to tick the ones completed and upload the relevant certificate of completion.
A set of Professional Development Guidelines may be as follows:
  1. Professional development activities provided by the approved OPD providers and approved professional Associations will be acknowledged by the Department for OPD compliance purposes.

  2. Enrolment in any unit of the Certificate IV of Celebrancy be counted as equivalent to 5 hours of elective professional development activities.

  3. Any topic covered in or related to the Certificate IV of Celebrancy and the professional role of celebrants is suitable for professional development activities.

  4. Approved OPD providers and approved professional Associations are required to state the number of OPD hours a specific activity is designated and its Unique OPD Code.

  5. Where Compulsory Activities are required, the Department will provide the learning objectives and the relevant supporting legal information and resources (fact sheets, references in the Act and Guidelines, Activity handbook, A/V resources etc.) to enable this activity to be delivered with consistency across the sector. Such resources need to be developed in conjunction with the approved OPD providers and approved professional Associations.

  6. Elective OPD activities need to address Adult Learning Principles, and be delivered by competent educators or Cert IV trainers or leading professionals in celebrancy or related fields in the context of a well-designed professional development framework. Each activity will be required prior to its commencement to be registered with the Department’s Registration of Professional Development Activity Form. See Appendix 1 provided here.

Recommendation 7:
That the number of hours of OPD be 5 hours.

As noted under CoCA recommendations 1 and 2, professional development is broader than just the need to ensure valid marriage, and the needs of independent civil celebrants, especially those authorised by the Department to perform valid marriage, are complex and diverse.

As agreed in the 2013 OPD workshop with the Department29, OPD providers and association representatives, there is still considerable work to be done to increase the professionalism of celebrants and improve their viability to the point where most can receive adequate financial remuneration for their celebrancy work (such as other ceremonies and celebrations, not related wedding business work which is limited under the current Marriage Act) in terms of hours, not just covering their expenses in delivering marriage services.

CoCA is concerned that a reduction in hours to only Compulsory activities will make the national delivery of face-to-face professional development not viable for the four approved RTO-OPD providers.

Recommendation 8:
That Marriage Celebrants be required to do a one-hour compulsory legal refresher activity until a review in 2020, even when there are no significant changes to the relevant legislation or guidelines.

In 2012 CoCA 30 recommended the Compulsory activity be increased to two hours to enable the Marriage Celebrants to self-assess their knowledge against legal information and then have the opportunity to discuss shortcomings in their knowledge and discuss how that aspect of the law could be addressed in day-to-day practice.

This aim was not achieved with the Department writing a 2-hour elective, because the two hours was expanded into further areas of basic knowledge that all celebrants should have from their initial training, prior to authorisation, and one reason for the increase in celebrants reporting the repetitive nature of OPD.

Given that the profession has had increased entry qualifications and Department resources (e.g. The Explanatory Materials, Marriage Guidelines, fact sheets, compulsory activities) for over a decade now, there should be very few celebrants being authorised now who are unable to read the Marriage Act and Guidelines and apply that knowledge to a range of situations.

CoCA’s previous recommendations about basic training at diploma level, mandated assessments, and even further assessments by the Department prior to appointment, are the measures that will ensure that only those with high standards of knowledge, skill and competence to deliver professional valid marriage services are authorised by the Department.

CoCA sees a role for a 1-hour compulsory activity as a refresher for the short term of three years until the revised the Cert. IV in Celebrancy is reviewed in 2019 31 given the extent of problems in the VET System in delivering consistency in training standards and the huge changes currently happening in the VET System to address these problems.

This three year period will enable the Department to focus more on upgrading its guidelines and develop relevant fact sheets and other resources so that when the 2019 training review is completed the Department and the Associations will be in a more informed position as to whether this one hour compulsory needs to apply to all celebrants, or incorporate these legal refreshers and previous compulsory activities as elective units, and only require compulsory units when new legislation is introduced.

Recommendation 9:
That the best ways to ensure that Marriage Celebrants are advised of changes to legislation are:

  • Publications on the Attorney-General’s Department website
  • Fact sheets, emails, newsletters circulated directly to celebrants
  • Marriage Celebrants’ self-service portal
  • eLearning module (or similar online based training)

CoCA Associations are in agreement that the above are the best ways for Marriage Celebrants to be advised of changes to legislation.

This does not negate the need for face-to-face activities being part of the mix of elective activities or the need for a Compulsory activity post 2020, if there are major legislative changes.

Recommendation 10:
That the OPD year remains a calendar year.

The Department notes 32

“In addition to these issues, the department experiences problems each year with late applications for an exemption from OPD. The department typically closes down for the Christmas/New Year period and with the last date for exemption applications falling on 31 December, the department is not available to advise celebrants who may be seeking last minute assistance. Although celebrants should be applying for these exemptions well ahead of this period so that they have an opportunity to undertake OPD in the event an application is not granted, this is often not what occurs.

If the OPD year was aligned to the registration year, it is proposed to have a six month transition.”

Whilst CoCA appreciates that there will be celebrants who prefer the financial year, the Coalition of Celebrant Associations does not consider some of the arguments given to justify a change relevant.

  1. Authorised celebrants’ forgetting their obligations is not a valid reason for changing the OPD year. Marriage Celebrants with a professional attitude will complete their OPD early enough to ensure there is not an end of year rush, whether that is a Calendar Year or Financial Year.

    Organisational and time management skills are part of the set of skills competent celebrants are required to have to adequately perform marriage ceremonies in line with the time frames required in the Marriage Act.

  2. Another change will lead to more confusion, and give non-compliant celebrants another reason for their failure to comply and as a result they will have a further six months grace.

  3. The Calendar Year enables the OPD providers several months before the end of the registration year for reporting of OPD attendance and for the Department to follow-up non-compliance with extra professional development, suspension or even de-registration.

    OPD Non-compliance warnings may influence the Marriage Celebrant’s decision to continue registration, rather than the reverse argument that somehow paying the fee will affect whether they do OPD or not.

  4. Marriage Celebrants already had considerable lack of regulation around OPD before 2014.

  5. There are other possibilities that the Department has not considered such as providing connectivity through access portals for OPD providers to report celebrant compliance electronically and allowing OPD providers and professional Associations to manage non-compliance that would have a far greater effect than simply changing the OPD year.

CoCA’s recommendations for the delegation of the planning and delivery of OPD would also ensure that the extra work normally done by the Department for the publication of the OPD approved activities in the lead up to the end of the Calendar Year should be reduced to a minimum.

This should mean that the full Calendar Year would be available to celebrants to do OPD from 1st January each year.

Executive Summary

Summary of Recommendations

COI and B2B: Recommendations
 
Appendix 1

References:

10.   Role of Professional Development - CoCA
Ref: http://www.coalitionofcelebrantAssociations.org.au/issues/48-continuing-professional-development-cpd-or-opd/502-the-role-of-professional-development

11.   AGD – Regulation Impact Statement 2012
Ref: http://www.coalitionofcelebrantAssociations.org.au/issues/47-cost-recovery-of-agd-marriage-by-commonwealth-celebrants/506-marriage-celebrant-regulation-impact-statement

12.   AGD Discussion Paper on OPD, COI and B2B
OPD Reference: http://www.coalitionofcelebrantAssociations.org.au/for-celebrants/120-ag-discussion-paper-on-opd-and-conflict-of-interest/489-discussion-paper-opd-2016

COI and B2B Reference: http://www.coalitionofcelebrantAssociations.org.au/for-celebrants/120-ag-discussion-paper-on-opd-and-conflict-of-interest/500-agd-surveymonkey-on-coi-and-opd

13.   Constructivist learning – Oregon Technology in Education Council USA
Ref: http://otec.uoregon.edu/learning_theory.htm

14.   What are “transferable skills?” Trinity College Dublin
Ref: http://www.tcd.ie/Careers/downloads/Transferable_Skiills_flyer.pdf

15.   Celebrant Job Description for VET Celebrant Training Review 2012
Ref: https://www.coalitionofcelebrantAssociations.org.au/issues/51-job-descriptions-for-civil-celebrant/105-draft-detailed-job-description-civil-celebrant-celebrant

16.   AGD OPD Report June 2013 paper prepared by Peter Arnaudo, Assistant Secretary of Marriage and Intercountry Adoption Branch, Access to Justice Division, Attorney-General’s Department.
Ref: http://www.coalitionofcelebrantAssociations.org.au/issues/48-continuing-professional-development-cpd-or-opd/204-agd-opd-paper-1-june-2013

17.   As per item 16 above

18.   As per item 12 above

19.   As per item 16 above

20.   3310.0 - Marriages and Divorces, Australia, 2015 Latest ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 30/11/2016 Ref: http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/3310.0

21.   Marriage Programme Statistics March 2016 - Average 25 complaints for 2015
Ref:  http://www.coalitionofcelebrantAssociations.org.au/for-celebrants/113-commonwealth-celebrants-progam-statistics/451-coca-agd-meeting-160416-statistics

22.   CoCA National Celebrant Survey 2016
Ref: http://www.coalitionofcelebrantAssociations.org.au/for-celebrants/content/105-raw-data

23.   As per item 22 above

24.   As per item 12 above

25.   As per item 22 above

26.   As per item 11 above

27.   2012 CoCA Submission on Cost Recovery and Increasing Professionalism Re: OPD
Ref: http://www.coalitionofcelebrantAssociations.org.au/issues/70-2012-coca-submission-on-cost-recovery-and-increasing-professionalism/169-7-0-review-approaches-to-ongoing-professional-development-opd

28.   As per item 11 above

29.   As per item 16 above

30.   As per item 27 above  

31.   V.E.T. Training Report - October 2016
Ref: http://www.coalitionofcelebrantAssociations.org.au/for-celebrants/118-reports/480-vet-training-report-october-2016

32.   As per item 12 above

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