Applying for Professional Development Program

Applications for the professional development program are considered by the Professional Development Program (Professional Staff) Committee which meets at least three times a year.

• Steps to apply
• Hints
• Committee process

 

Important dates for 2012

• Applications close Friday, 17 February for 5 March meeting.
• Applications close Thursday, 26 April for 7 - 11 May meeting.
• Applications close Thursday, 26 July for 6 - 10 August meeting.
• Applications close Thursday, 1 November for 12 - 16 November meeting.

Steps to apply

1. Talk to your supervisor and PDP Committee member about your proposed program. This will assist your representative to understand your proposal well and to clarify aspects of your application at the Committee meeting if necessary.
2. Before completing your application:
1. Obtain quotes for all travel/accommodation/conference costs etc. Quotes must be from a reliable source, but copies of web pages are acceptable.
2. Calculate the amount the PDP (Professional Staff) Committee may award, according to standard principles (see What support will I get?)
3. Obtain letters/emails confirming your visits to organisations, if applicable.
4. Complete the financial statement detailing:
   1. The full amount of any external income you may receive in support of your program.
   2. The actual or anticipated cost of all travel associated with your program.
   3. The actual or anticipated cost of accommodation, meals and incidentals.
   4. Details of any other significant costs associated with your program.
   5. The financial contribution committed by non-PDP Committee sources.
   6. The amount of financial assistance sought from professional development program funds.
3. Complete the Professional Development Program for Professional Staff application form, including the Checklist on the first page.
4. Obtain your supervisor's and executive dean of faculty/head of division/institute director's signature. Ensure that they have included comments on:
   1. the relevance to the department/school or independent section of the proposed program; and
   2. arrangements to be made to cover the applicant's commitments during the proposed period of leave.
5. Scan and email your signed application to hrprojectofficer@qut.edu.au; and send the original hard copy of your application, with all necessary signatures, to HR Project Officer, HR Department, Level 1, 88 Musk Avenue, Kelvin Grove.    

Hints

• Try to think ahead – that way you can plan your program more thoroughly and your work area will be prepared for your absence
• Discuss your program with your supervisor: their support is essential if your program is going to be approved – and they may have some great ideas/contacts
• Discuss your program with your Division/Faculty PDP Committee member: if they are familiar with your program and its benefits they will be able to support your application to the other committee members.
• Are you traveling outside Australia? Have you considered everything? For example:
  • Is your passport current?
  • Local currency
  • Can you use local ATMs to access Australian funds?
  • Have you obtained an advance on your funds, if necessary?
  • Have you left copies of your passport, credit cards and any other relevant documents with someone in Australia? Do you have copies to take with you (to be kept separately from the originals)?

Committee process

Applications are considered by the Professional Development Program (Professional Staff) Committee with reference to:

• the relevance of the proposed program to the department/school/section
• any written statements from the supervisor/executive dean/head of division/institute director
• in the case of an applicant seeking leave in excess of the normal allowable maximum, the applicant's reasons for such a request; and
• prior University support for professional development leave or conference leave.

If there is more than one application from a school/department or independent section:

• preference may be given to those applicants who have not participated in the PDP scheme before; and
• preference may be given to applications from work areas which have not, or only in a limited way, participated in the PDP scheme before.

Related Pages

• Contacts and Committee Members