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Free CPD resources for nurses in Australia

As professionals in a regulated environment, nurses are required to complete continuing professional development (CPD) each year.
CPD is a regulatory requirement and essential for maintaining safe and effective nursing care. The health sector is constantly changing, and regular learning helps nurses stay professionally up to date as technologies and approaches to care evolve.

What are the CPD requirements for Australian nurses?

The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) requires all practising nurses to complete at least 20 hours of CPD each year. For some specialist areas of practice, you may need to complete some extra hours of CPD. 

When you renew your registration, you must declare your completed CPD hours.

What CPD records should you keep?

You may be audited at any time. If audited, you’ll need to provide evidence such as your learning plan, certificates and reflections. 

To be ready for an audit, keep records of your CPD activities for 5 years.

Can free and informal learning contribute to CPD?

When you think about CPD, you might think it means only paid and formal options such as courses, workshops and online modules of eLearning with certificates.

The good news is that free and informal learning also counts, such as reading clinical articles, listening to professional podcasts, participating in case discussions or attending workplace training. 

Free CPD can be high-quality if it’s provided by or endorsed by reputable organisations such as unions, universities or professional associations. 

As long as the learning is relevant to your practice, it can contribute to your CPD hours.

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Free CPD resources you can use right now

We’ve compiled this list of free online CPD modules and courses to help you meet your CPD requirements without breaking the bank. In this list, you’ll find resources that are ‘free’ for members. That is, they are included in membership, for example if you are a paid-up member of a nurses and midwives union, you have access to free resources. 

Free online modules and courses for nurses in Australia

The Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association (APNA) website lists and links to free CPD endorsed online courses offered by a range of providers. Not all courses listed are free but there are plenty of free resources to choose from. Ausmed offers a free CPD course for nurses and midwives, covering CPD planning, reflection, and audit readiness. Includes a certificate of completion. You’ll need to create an account so you can access these free resources. Healthed for Nurses provides free access to accredited CPD modules on clinical updates, patient safety, and mental health topics.NPS MedicineWise delivers free, evidence-based CPD activities that cover medication management, infection control and aged care. You’ll need to create an account so you can access these free resources. Australian College of Nursing (ACN) offers a range of free modules for registered members. You’ll need to log in to access them.

Did you know?

At Nursing Australia we offer free CPD points to our employees through our external education provider. As a member of the Nursing Australia team, you’ll have access to free courses to complete annually, and you can track and print out your records so you’re audit-ready. Talk to us about your next role with Nursing Australia.

Free webinars and podcasts to earn CPD hours

Practice Nurse Central offers free CPD teleseminars and webinars for Australian nurses. Certificates are available after completion. You’ll need to create an account to access these free resources.

Australian College of Nursing (ACN) hosts regular free webinars that can count toward CPD hours, from leadership to clinical practice. If you’re not already a member you’ll need to sign up to access these resources. Associate membership is $22.

The Nurse Break features free podcasts and articles that can be used as informal CPD when reflected upon and documented.

Free tools for documentation: CPD tracker, portal, templates

Please note, these free resources are available if you are a member of the relevant union. 

NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) offers members a free online CPD tracker and access to self-paced learning modules.

Queensland Nurses and Midwives’ Union (QNMU) provides a free CPD portal for members. The portal offers online modules, tracking tools and printable certificates.

ANMF Victoria Branch offers free access for ANMF members, to hundreds of CPD modules across a wide range of topics. To access these free resources, you’ll need to be a member of the ANMF. 

Free CPD resources by speciality: aged care, mental health, leadership

Aged Care Nursing: Try NPS MedicineWise and Ausmed’s free modules on aged care safety and medication management.

Mental Health Nursing: The Nurse Break’s articles and podcasts are perfect for reflection-based CPD.

Leadership & Management: ACN webinars and Ausmed’s leadership modules are great for nurses moving into senior roles. To access ACN’s free resources, you need to be a member of ACN

How to keep your CPD points up to date – a step-by-step guide

Keeping CPD on track is easier when you have a simple, repeatable process.

Identify learning needs and set a CPD plan

Begin each year with a brief self-assessment to identify knowledge, skill gaps, and areas of interest. Write a CPD plan that outlines your goals and the types of learning you want to complete. It doesn’t have to be complicated. Keep your plan simple and achievable. This plan also forms part of your audit evidence.

Track your CPD using trackers or templates

Whether you prefer an online CPD tracker tool or a simple spreadsheet, it’s important to keep a record of the CPD hours you’ve completed. 

Reflect and record your learning to be audit-ready

Meet NMBA audit requirements with a combination of evidence and reflection. Reflection can be a short note about what you learned and how it applies to your role. Evidence could include certificates, screenshots or completion emails. 

Common Mistakes to Avoid with Free CPD

Free CPD is useful but watch out for these pitfalls that can reduce the value of your free CPD activities during an audit.

Not getting a certificate or proof of completion

Always collect evidence for every CPD activity, including free modules. Certificates, confirmation emails or screenshots all count. Without proof, the activity may not be accepted.

Failing to document the reflection portion

Reflection is required for CPD to meet NMBA standards. A brief summary of what you learned and how it affects your practice is enough. Nurses often complete the activity but forget the reflection, leaving their CPD incomplete.

Using irrelevant CPD that doesn’t align with your practice

CPD must relate to your professional role. Completing courses that are unrelated to your context of practice may not count. Choose learning that supports your current work or your planned scope of practice.

 

Frequently asked questions

CPD stands for Continuing Professional Development. It’s the process of maintaining and improving your knowledge and skills throughout your nursing career. In Australia, CPD is a regulatory requirement set by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) to ensure nurses provide safe and up-to-date care.

The NMBA requires all practising nurses to complete at least 20 hours of CPD each registration year. Some specialist roles may require additional hours depending on your area of practice.

Yes. Free CPD courses, webinars and online modules count towards your annual CPD requirement if they’re relevant to your scope of practice and align with NMBA standards. Always keep proof of completion and reflection notes for each activity.

You can access high-quality free CPD through reputable organisations such as Ausmed, Healthed for Nurses, NPS MedicineWise and Practice Nurse Central. Many unions, including the NSWNMA, QNMU and ANMF Vic Branch, also offer free CPD for members.

Yes. Informal learning such as reading clinical articles, listening to podcasts like The Nurse Break, or participating in case discussions can count as CPD when it’s relevant to your practice and properly documented.

Keep your learning plan, certificates, and reflection notes for at least five years in case of an audit. You can use online CPD tracker tools, union portals, or a spreadsheet to stay organised.

If you’re selected for audit, you’ll need to show evidence of your completed CPD hours, your learning plan, and your reflection statements. Having certificates and a clear record of your activities will make the process straightforward.

Absolutely. Membership with organisations such as the NSWNMA, QNMU, or ANMF Vic Branch gives you access to free CPD portals, modules, and trackers — helping you meet your annual CPD hours with ease.

A reflection could be a short note explaining what you learned and how you’ll apply it in your role. For example: “After completing a medication safety module, I’ve updated my process for double-checking dosages during administration.” Reflection shows how your learning improves your practice.

The most common mistakes include not downloading certificates, forgetting to record reflections, and completing CPD that doesn’t relate to your area of practice. Always keep evidence and ensure your learning is relevant to your current or desired role.

Start each year by identifying your learning needs and setting a simple CPD plan. Include goals, topics of interest and potential resources such as Ausmed, ACN webinars, or NPS MedicineWise modules. This plan also forms part of your audit evidence.

Nursing Australia connects nurses, midwives and care staff with flexible roles across the country. You can view current nursing jobs and find placements that support your professional growth while keeping your CPD hours up to date.