Personal Insolvency Professionals Accreditation Program

The Personal Insolvency Professionals Accreditation Program has been designed to fit seamlessly into your busy schedule. It is made up of 8 self-paced online modules that can be completed at your own pace via our high-quality learner platform. 

Module 1 - Introduction to Personal Insolvency in Australia
You will learn about the legal context of personal insolvency practice, the Australian legal system and how it operates, gain an introduction to the Bankruptcy Act, and learn about the concept of insolvency.

Module 2 - Personal Insolvency Context and Practice
You will learn about the context and practice of personal insolvency in Australia, the causes of insolvency and the types of debtors likely to experience insolvency. You will also learn the skills required to competently interview and advise debtors, the regulatory role played by AFSA, and the role played by financial counsellors.

Module 3 - Bankruptcy
You will learn about bankruptcy in Australia, gain an overview of the bankruptcy process, the consequences of bankruptcy for the debtor and for the creditors, and the alternatives to bankruptcy set out in Part IX and Part X of the Bankruptcy Act.

Module 4 - Part IX Debt Agreements – Part 1
You will learn about the initial stages of the Part IX process. You will gain an understanding of the eligibility requirements, the process of lodging a Debt Agreement Proposal, and how the Proposal is voted on and either accepted or rejected by the creditors.

Module 5 - Part IX Debt Agreements – Part 2
You will learn about the responsibilities of Debt Agreement Administrators. You will gain an understanding of the eligibility requirements for Administrators, the obligations of Administrators in managing the administration accounts, and what Administrators must do to meet the Inspector-General’s expectations as set out in Practice Direction 15.

Module 6 - Part IX Debt Agreements - Part 3
You will learn about the final stages of the Part IX process. The process by which a Debt Agreement can be varied if required, how a Debt Agreement comes to an end, and the consequences for debtors and creditors of using a Debt Agreement.

Module 7 - Part X Personal Insolvency Agreements
You will learn about the other major alternative to bankruptcy, Part X Personal Insolvency Agreements. Although many personal insolvency professionals do not act as trustees of Part X Agreements, it is important that all personal insolvency professionals understand both of the major alternatives to bankruptcy. Understanding Part X arrangements will enable a personal insolvency professional to fully explain the options available to an insolvent debtor.

Module 8 - Ethics and Professionalism
You will learn about ethical decision making, including what it means to make ethical decisions, the meaning of the term ‘ethics’, the sources of ethical rules, and ethical decision making. You will also learn about professional conduct, including what it means to be a ‘good’ personal insolvency professional, the PIPA Code of Professional Conduct, and the role played by AFSA in regulating and enforcing the conduct of personal insolvency professionals.

Modules must be completed in order. Each module concludes with an assessment task that must be completed before moving onto the next module.

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This course has been designed for any personal insolvency practitioner – whether novice or expert – looking to improve their understanding of their legal and ethical obligations.

Upon completion of this course you will be able to:

• Describe and evaluate the legal, practical and professional contexts of personal insolvency in Australia.
• Apply the legal rules and processes relating to bankruptcy, debt agreements and personal insolvency agreements.
• Demonstrate an appreciation of the ethical and professional obligations of personal insolvency practitioners.