Update from the Professional Pathways Advisory Board Meeting February 2023

A productive full-day meeting was held on Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country, as the Professional Pathways Advisory Board (PPAB) met in person for the first face-to-face meeting since May 2022.

The PPAB was focused on achieving the aim of the project, a diverse, supported and valued workforce with the skills, knowledge and ethics to deliver library and information services that anticipate and meet the needs of the community.

Significant work had been undertaken by the PPAB working groups over the summer period to advance three key areas arising from the consultation:

Framework structure and conceptual design

The question of mandatory/optional CPD

Professional recognition and categorisation

Each of the working groups presented their findings and recommendations to the PPAB. The PPAB then worked through more than 50 issues for final resolution. There was a robust discussion as the representative body considered the implication of recommendations not just across different sub-sectors, but also different roles, career stages and regions.

In arriving at their recommendations, the PPAB was mindful of the need to support ALIA-accredited educators to strengthen the existing courses and to engage with employers to encourage adoption of the Framework and to promote the value of library and information services. Further work on these points will be a key focus across 2023. 

The final recommendations will be presented to the ALIA Board at the next meeting on 23 March, along with the final report on the consultation prepared by Dr Gillian Hallam. A final public consultation period is expected in mid 2023.