animal aicd assignment

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation of Small Animals

• Prevention and Preparedness |
• Basic Life Support |
• Advanced Life Support |
• Arrhythmias of Cardiac Arrest |
• Pulseless Electrical Activity (PEA) |
• Sinus Bradycardia |
• Ventricular Flutter |
• Ventricular Fibrillation and Pulseless Ventricular Tachycardia |
• Open-Chest Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation |
• Monitoring |
• Postresuscitation Care |
• Key Points |
• For More Information |

The success of CPR depends on many factors, including the underlying cause of the arrest, the timeliness and effectiveness of the intervention, and the preparedness of the team administering CPR. Overall prognosis of recovery from cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA) with CPR efforts is as high as 35%–44%; however,

The American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care developed the first set of guidelines for veterinary CPR in 2012; this effort was termed the Reassessment Campaign on Veterinary Resuscitation (RECOVER). Recently, online and hands-on courses have been developed to certify veterinary staff as rescuers and instructors of Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Life Support (ALS). Further information is available at https://recoverinitiative.org/ .

CPR is divided into 5 domains:

Prevention and preparedness

Basic life support

Advanced life support

Post-cardiac arrest care

Prevention and Preparedness

Courtesy of Dr. Andrew Linklater.

In an effort to have the entire veterinary team prepared for CPR on any animal, RECOVER guidelines recommend standardization and regular audit of resuscitation equipment (a ready area and a crash cart) as well as immediate availability of cognitive aids and descriptive CPR algorithms (eg, dose charts, checklists), which are available through the RECOVER website (see above).

Cognitive skill training and didactics should be incorporated for all veterinary team members on a regular basis. Assigning a leader and having specific leadership training, including debriefing after any CPR efforts, are recommended as well. Each team member should be familiar with available medical equipment and their role during CPR and should exercise clear, closed-loop communication. CPR training should be performed at least every 6 months with staff members that may be involved in CPR.

Every patient admitted into the ICU should have a CPR code status. Closely monitoring patients under anesthesia is essential to prevent anesthesia-related CPA. Monitoring patients that are sedated or anesthetized is essential to identify trends and prevent CPA. Patients that present to the ER should have an immediate triage to identify those with life-threatening problems and thus avoid CPA.

Basic Life Support

When CPA is recognized, CPR efforts should begin immediately. Early recognition and intervention is essential. Palpation of pulses is not recommended before initiating compressions because this will delay intervention. Mouth-to-nose resuscitation should be performed until endotracheal intubation and positive-pressure ventilation with 100% oxygen can be accomplished. The compression to ventilation ratio in mouth-to-nose should be 30:2. In the hospital, intubation should occur early; however, thoracic compressions should be not discontinued to facilitate placement of an endotracheal tube.

Once the airway is established, it is imperative to confirm placement with thoracic auscultation, visualization, palpation, and ETCO 2 monitoring, as well as to secure the tube in place. Ventilations should be provided at a rate of 10 breaths/minute (1 breath every 6 seconds), with a volume of 10 mL/kg and an inspiratory time of 1 second. Ideally, these breaths are provided with a portable bag-valve-mask apparatus.

Simultaneous with ventilation, circulation should be promoted in small animals by compressing the chest externally. The following are key points in regard to performing chest compressions :

The animal is in lateral recumbency (or dorsal recumbency for barrel-chested animals, such as Bulldogs).

Elbows should be locked, with one hand on top of the other and with shoulders directly above the hands. Core muscles (compressing with movement from the waist) rather than biceps/triceps should be engaged; a step-stool should be used if needed.

Compressions should be performed over the widest part of the thorax using the "thoracic pump" technique in animals with a thoracic conformation that is equally wide and tall.

Compressions may be performed directly over the heart (at the fourth and fifth intercostal space) using the "cardiac pump" technique in animals with a thoracic confirmation that is taller than it is wide.

The compression rate should be 100–120 compressions/minute regardless of the size of the animal.

Each compression should be delivered quickly, compressing 1/3 to 1/2 of the width of the thoracic wall and allowing full recoil between compressions.

Thoracic compressions should be done for a total of 2 minutes without interruption because it takes ~1 minute of continuous thoracic compressions before myocardial perfusion pressure reaches its maximum.

When the cardiac pump technique is used, direct compression of the ventricles of the heart contribute to forward blood flow; in the thoracic pump technique , changes in thoracic pressure are the important mechanism to generate forward blood flow. Simultaneous ventilations and compressions should be done in 2-minute cycles; individuals performing the ventilation and compressions should change roles every 2 minutes to prevent fatigue and less-effective compressions. Interruptions to chest compressions to assess ECG, palpate for pulses, or auscult the heart should be minimal and only done between 2-minute cycles. Interposed abdominal compressions may be added for animals without abdominal disease if adequately trained staff are available. This is performed by placing both hands on the abdomen and compressing quickly, timing the compression to be done between chest compressions.

The goal is to improve venous return to the heart during the diastolic phase of the compression cycle. Monitoring CPR ( see below) may necessitate a change in CPR technique.

Advanced Life Support

Several steps must occur to institute ALS :

an ECG is obtained to characterize arrhythmias

end-tidal CO 2 is measured to monitor quality of CPR efforts (see below)

IV access is obtained (intraosseous [IO] or intratracheal [IT] routes may be used as alternatives)

drugs or defibrillation are administered, based on the identified rhythm

The purpose is to reestablish electrical and mechanical activity of the heart. The ECG is evaluated and pulses palpated only at the 2-minute cycle intervals, when changing compressors. The major arresting rhythms in veterinary medicine include sinus bradycardia, asystole, pulseless electrical activity (PEA, previously termed electromechanical dissociation), pulseless ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation or flutter.

Drugs or defibrillation are selected based on the arrhythmia or known/suspected underlying disease ( see Table: Drugs and Defibrillation Used in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ). Drugs are administered through the following route priority: central IV, peripheral IV, IO, then IT. Drugs that can be administered via the IT route include naloxone, atropine, vasopressin, epinephrine, and lidocaine (best remembered by the acronym NAVEL). The dosage for all drugs is usually doubled when administration is IT. Intracardiac administration of drugs is no longer recommended because this may result in arrhythmias, myocardial hemorrhage, or myocardial vessel laceration. Poster algorithms are available through the RECOVER initiative (see above).

Drugs and Defibrillation Used in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

If the patient received medications that have a reversal agent, it should be administered: naloxone for opioids, atipamezole for dexmedetomidine, flumazenil for benzodiazepines, and yohimbine for xylazine. Inhalant anesthetics (such as isoflurane) should be discontinued and the anesthetic circuit flushed with oxygen.

If the animal is known or suspected to be hypovolemic, isotonic balanced crystalloid solutions should be rapidly infused to restore volume and promote perfusion. Overzealous fluid administration can result in fulminant pulmonary edema due to poor myocardial contractility and arrhythmias. Fluids should not be administered to euvolemic animals; the increase in central venous pressure may reduce myocardial and cerebral blood flow. Metabolic alterations such as hyperkalemia , hypocalcemia , and severe acidosis should be treated when evident.

In cardiac arrests known or suspected to be associated with hyperkalemia, calcium gluconate should be administered. Regular insulin at 0.2 U/kg, followed by glucose at 1–2 g/U of insulin, diluted to 25%, temporarily reduces serum levels of potassium and should be considered.

Arrhythmias of Cardiac Arrest

Asystole in cardiac arrest of animals.

Asystole appears as a flat line on the ECG and suggests complete absence of electrical activity. Epinephrine or vasopressin is administered every second cycle of CPR. Atropine may be considered every second cycle as well. Fine ventricular fibrillation may look like asystole, and for this reason, open-chest heart massage and direct observation of myocardial activity are warranted early with this arrhythmia; if fibrillation is visualized, defibrillation is indicated.

Pulseless Electrical Activity (PEA) in Cardiac Arrest of Animals

The ECG tracing can be normal or show an arrhythmia (commonly a bradyarrhythmia of ventricular or supraventricular origin), but the heart has no mechanical activity associated with the electrical activity: no contractions, no cardiac output, and subsequently, no pulses. In this arrhythmia, it is vital that thoracic auscultation be performed in tandem with central pulse (femoral arterial) palpation and ECG evaluation between BLS cycles. Heart sounds and pulses are absent. Severe hypovolemia, pericardial effusion, an obese patient, and significant accumulation of fluid or air in the pleural cavity can prevent detection of normal heart sounds; the ECG associated with these conditions typically demonstrates tachyarrhythmias, in contrast to the usually normal or slow rate of PEA. Epinephrine or vasopressin are the drugs of choice with this arrhythmia and are administered every second cycle; atropine may be considered, alternating with epinephrine.

Sinus Bradycardia in Cardiac Arrest in Animals

Sinus bradycardia has P, QRS, and T waves that appear normal, except they occur at a much slower rate. This arresting rhythm may be caused by many disease processes, such as high vagal tone due to GI, urinary, ocular, or thoracic disease, and hyperkalemia due to urinary obstruction or rupture and prolonged CPA with CPR efforts. Treatment of known or suspected hyperkalemia with calcium gluconate, insulin, and dextrose with or without sodium bicarbonate may be necessary. Atropine is indicated in this arrhythmia.

If the CPA is believed to be associated with drug administration, a reversal agent should be administered in addition to treating arrhythmias in ALS.

Ventricular Flutter in Cardiac Arrest in Animals

This rhythm is more chaotic than ventricular tachycardia and is prefibrillatory. Lidocaine is the drug of choice to block the excited focus. If lidocaine is ineffective after two boluses and perfusion is absent, defibrillation may be required.

Ventricular Fibrillation and Pulseless Ventricular Tachycardia in Cardiac Arrest of Animals

Ventricular fibrillation implies that multiple foci within the ventricles are firing rapidly and independently, resulting in no coordinated mechanical activity. There are no ventricular contractions and no cardiac output. With pulseless ventricular tachycardia, the QRS is wide, the rate is fast (usually >180 bpm), and there is no or limited coordinated cardiac output.

The goal is to abruptly stop the abnormal electrical activity and allow a normal, coordinated electrical rhythm to take over. Electrical defibrillation is more successful when there are few, strong foci (coarse fibrillation) than when there are multiple, weak foci (fine fibrillation). Electrical defibrillation is most successful shortly after fibrillation starts ( 4 minutes to allow blood flow and oxygen delivery to myocardial cells. This also allows determination of dose, preparation, and charge of the defibrillator.

After defibrillation, a BLS cycle is immediately started, and the ECG and patient are evaluated after this two-minute cycle. If defibrillation was unsuccessful, another shock may be administered; increasing the dose by up to 50% may be considered. If a defibrillator is not available, a precordial thump may be delivered. If defibrillation is unsuccessful, amiodarone, lidocaine, or epinephrine may be administered.

Open-Chest Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

If closed-chest BLS is unsuccessful (as determined by lack of spontaneous respiration or inability to generate detectable forward blood flow) after 5–10 minutes, open-chest CPR (see below) is indicated. Instances when open-chest CPR is indicated during initial BLS include:

unwitnessed arrest

recent abdominal or thoracic surgery

suspected pleural or pericardial disease

trauma or pathology of the chest or abdominal wall with blood loss

diaphragmatic hernia

larger dogs in which external compressions are unlikely to generate an adequate forward blood flow

If possible, a quick clip of the hair along the intended incision site is helpful. There is no time for an aseptic preparation of the area. A scalpel blade or Mayo scissors are used to incise the skin, subcutaneous tissues, and muscle layers along the cranial border of the fourth or fifth rib from the spine to sternum. Guarded by the thumb and forefinger to prevent injury to the heart and lungs, closed Mayo scissors or Carmalt forceps are used to bluntly enter the pleural space while ventilations are temporarily discontinued. After the pleura is entered, Mayo scissors are used to incise the intercostal muscles along the entire length of the intercostal space on the cranial aspect of the rib. Care should be taken to avoid incising the internal thoracic vessels running parallel and lateral to the sternum. To improve visualization, Finochietto retractors may be used; suction or temporarily placing the patient in sternal recumbency may be necessary to rapidly remove blood.

After the thoracic cavity is opened, manual ventilations should resume. The pericardiodiaphragmatic ligament should be elevated with a finger or instrument and incised with scissors, extending the incision dorsally, taking care to avoid causing injury to the phrenic nerve. The heart is then lifted out of the pericardial sac and observed for any coordinated spontaneous contractions. If no cardiac contractions are noted, the heart is grasped with one or both hands and compressed progressively from the apex to the base. The compression is then released to allow the cardiac chambers to fill with blood. If fine or coarse fibrillation of the heart muscle is noted, internal defibrillation should be performed. Any active bleeding can be clamped at this time.

The descending aorta is located on the dorsal midline and can be isolated and temporarily cross-clamped to direct blood flow to the brain. Aortic cross-clamping can be performed with atraumatic vascular clamps or by using a modified Rommel tourniquet, passing a rubber tube, latex tube, or umbilical tape around the aorta with the assistance of curved hemostats and then clamping on the tube to occlude aortic flow. Aortic cross-clamping can be performed for 10 minutes without serious complications (from lack of blood flow to the spinal cord) and then should be released for 2 minutes.

The ECG is evaluated and drugs given as indicated during ALS procedures. Return of spontaneous circulation allows lavage of the thorax with large quantities of sterile, warm, isotonic saline; placement of a thoracostomy tube; and surgical closure of the thorax. Cardiovascular support is frequently required to maintain circulation while the underlying cause of the arrest is treated.

End-tidal CO 2 (ETCO 2 ) should be measured in intubated patients, particularly those at risk of having CPA and is a necessary monitoring tool during CPR efforts. Using an ETCO 2 reading along with visualization, palpation, and auscultation can help confirm endotracheal intubation. ETCO 2 may also be an early indicator of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and effectiveness of CPR efforts (when minute ventilation is consistent). An ETCO 2 of 2 remains low, efforts should be made to improve CPR technique (confirm placement of tube, CPR technique such as hand placement, compression depth, etc). An ETCO 2 reading of 12–18 mm Hg indicates adequate CPR efforts. A sharp increase of ETCO 2 of 20 mm Hg or a reading of > 45 mm Hg usually indicates ROSC as CO 2 delivery to the lungs increases; the patient should be monitored closely for hypoventilation.

Routine monitoring of ECG is essential during CPR to allow identification and specific therapy of arrhythmias. The ECG should only be evaluated at the end of a 2-minute BLS cycle. Palpation of pulses either to detect CPA or to monitor effectiveness of CPR efforts is not recommended because of the insensitive nature of this test, but it may be used to monitor for ROSC between cycles. Use of Doppler monitoring (on eyes or peripheral arteries) to detect CPA or monitor efforts of CPR is not recommended.

Use of blood samples may help guide therapy in some instances during CPR. Centrally collected samples are ideal; however, many patients do not have a central catheter. Peripheral blood samples do not necessarily reflect the central circulation but may help guide therapy in some instances (such as hyperkalemia or severe acidosis). It is not recommended to monitor with arterial gas samples or pulse oximetry; these require pulsatile arterial flow, which is inadequate during CPR.

Postresuscitation Care

Close monitoring of an animal after CPA and ROSC is essential because significant abnormalities of acid-base and electrolytes (especially hyperkalemia and acidosis) are common and may require additional treatment. Rearrest is common, and the underlying etiology that led to CPA must be identified and corrected. Parameters such as ECG, blood pressure, neurologic status, pulse oximetry, ETCO 2 , and venous blood gases should be monitored closely. Blood pressure support with dopamine, norepinephrine, positive inotropes such as dobutamine, or other pressor agents may be indicated to maintain cardiac output. Body temperature, glucose, PCV/total solids, and lactate provide additional information.

With anaerobic metabolism that occurs during shock and cardiopulmonary arrest, blood lactate levels rise dramatically (normal levels are

Routine use of large volumes of fluids is not recommended and should be avoided in animals with congestive heart failure. It is important to use resuscitation endpoints during post-CPA care to normalize venous oxygen content, lactate, blood pressure, central venous pressure, PCV, and oxygen saturation ( see Fluid Therapy in Animals ). Medications to help reduce cerebral edema, such as mannitol and furosemide are often recommended to help decrease cerebral edema. Routine mechanical ventilation is not routinely recommended but reasonable in animals that are hypercapneic or hypoxemic. Animals with open-chest CPR will require control of hemorrhage, pleural lavage, placement of a thoracostomy tube, perioperative antibiotics, and closure of the thoracic cavity. Analgesics may be used cautiously as the patient becomes more stable. A large percentage of animals that sustain a CPA will have another episode of CPA.

Investigation into and treatment of the underlying condition that led to the CPA is essential to help prevent recurrence.

Initiation of CPR should occur without delay when cardiopulmonary arrest occurs.

Medications that may have contributed to cardiopulmonary arrest should be reversed.

ECG placement is essential for advanced life support.

There are several indications for open-chest CPR efforts.

Assessing and monitoring a patient with return of spontaneous circulation should be done as per any critically ill animal, because re-arrest is common, and the underlying cause must be addressed.

For More Information

Also see pet health content regarding emergency care for dogs and cats and emergency care for horses .

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Who Needs the AICD Company Directors Course?

By Anna Daly 17th March 2023

Who needs the AICD Company Directors Course?

There is little doubt that the AICD Company Directors Course (CDC) is highly regarded by Boards, employers and participants alike but given the significant cost and time commitment, is it actually worth it? The answer is: it depends. Frustratingly equivocal as this answer is, it’s also the only decent one since the qualifications and experience of those of us considering enrolment can vary wildly. To provide a more satisfying response, we have taken that variety into account and sketched out three common career scenarios.

Advertisements for Board roles and some C-Suite roles often mention that an intention to enrol in the CDC is desirable at the very least, creating the impression that a GAICD is essential for a successful application. Since Boards are also often seeking to address skills gaps, however, candidates with tertiary qualifications and extensive experience in areas such as finance, IT, communications and business transformation are well placed for these roles, even without graduating from the CDC.

The CDC may still be worth it for those with highly sought-after skillsets. In Acuity magazine, Fiona Smith notes that one of the great benefits of directors’ courses is that they help accountants get Board ready by providing the much needed ‘soft skills’ that complement technical competencies. They may also be ‘great refreshers’ of existing qualifications such as an MBA, as Penny Diamantakiou, a former CFO at Yahoo 7 found.

Extensive experience but few formal qualifications

While there are no set qualifications for Board membership in Australia, the understanding of governance embedded in tertiary qualifications is considered essential. It is for this reason that candidates with few or no formal qualifications but a strong career history may benefit most from completing the CDC. In addition to providing graduates with formal recognition of competencies in key areas, the CDC is widely praised for creating knowledge sharing as well as networking opportunities.

Strong formal qualifications but little experience

Generally speaking, Boards value expertise and experience over qualifications which is why Penny Diamantakiou believes that the CDC is more valuable for experienced professionals in their 40s and 50s than for those just starting out in their careers. At the same time, completing the CDC can, in itself, count as experience. At the age of 22, Duku Forè, the founder of HnH Wholesalers and Rich Dreams, was the youngest to pass the course – and he rates it highly.

Its reputation alone may be reason enough to enrol, but there is some criticism of the CDC. Justin Davies at Emergination feels that graduates should receive a mark for the exam and assignment. ‘A very small per centage of the national graduates are awarded a distinction, however, there is no feedback at all,’ he observes. Concerns have also been raised about the course content. The Australian Financial Review ’s Joanne Gray notes that when she took the course in 2017, a number of participants queried the focus on risk management in an environment that demanded innovation and growth. That sentiment is echoed in ‘Three Contradictions in Australian Director Education’, where the lawyer and theorist Peter Tunjic writes that Australian director education ‘should be grounded in leadership and value creation’ rather than in a ‘neo classical model of corporate governance that values managerialism and value protection above all else.’

Overwhelmingly, though, responses to the AICD CDC are positive with even critics such as Davies describing themselves as ‘walking advertisements’ for the course. By providing formal recognition as well as professional development and opportunities for networking, the CDC is probably most beneficial to those lacking tertiary qualifications but it clearly delivers palpable value for highly qualified and inexperienced participants too.

To make the most of what you have to offer any role, Board or otherwise, call Executive Agents today for a free consultation!

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Sources Consulted

Justin Davies, ‘AICD Company Directors Course’, Emergination , 12/05/2021, https://emergination.com.au/aicd-company-directors-course/

Duku Forè, ‘AICD Company Directors Course Review: My Experience’, LinkedIn Pulse , April 20th, 2020, https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/aicd-company-directors-course-review-my-experience-duku-forè-gaicd/

Joanne Gray, ‘What it’s really like at the Australian Institute of Directors’ director school’, Australian Financial Review , 21/02/2017, https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/management/directors-focus-on-risk-but-learn-they-have-to-make-time-for-strategy-20170221-guhj9n

Fiona Smith, ‘Director Courses Help Accountants Get Board Ready’, Acuity , 26/04/2019, https://www.acuitymag.com/business/director-courses-help-accountants-get-board-ready

Peter Tunjic, ‘Three Contradictions in Australian Company Director Education’, On Directorship , March 5th, 2019, https://ondirectorship.com/ondirectorship/2019-5

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AICD Company Directors Course

I completed the Australian Company Directors Course in 2008. For many years I ran the risk of sounding like a paid advertisement… “if you have contemplated doing this course, don’t hesitate, just do it”.

The quality of presenters and the work that has gone into preparing the course material is utterly first rate. I must say I have also learned a great deal from the participants who are all business leaders in a wide range of fields, and it is the interaction with the other participants as well as the lecturer that is the most valuable.

As in any learning, you only get out what you put in. There is a lot of reading material and preparation for every week. The case study material is really strong and gives you a very good grounding for all facets of directorship.

Since completing the course, I was invited twice by AICD to speak to potential participants about the course and what they should expect. I completed the 10 week course which was available and popular at the time. I particularly liked the opportunity to read and reflect on both the content and the learning before diving into the next topic. The 5 day intensive is considered by AICD to be the best option to take – however, it is the most expensive.

Make no mistake, there is a lot of reading. You receive two comprehensive manuals. I read the manuals in full twice prior to starting the course, then read each chapter and undertook the prep work before each weekly session, then read it twice at the end to ensure I prepared well for the assignment and exam. As I paid for the course myself, I wanted to make sure I really knew the material. When you are in a boardroom situation, you must come prepared and you should treat this no differently.

I recently had a look at the more current version of the manuals: the content is of the same high quality and updated.

I liked the weekly sessions as it enabled some contemplation and digestion time for the content, and I would recommend that approach. That said, many others have said to me that the 5 days or the weekend intensive are a really good ways to complete it as well (particularly if you travel frequently). There are now self paced and online versions available.

The main issue I had with the course was the complete lack of a mark from the exam and assignment. A very small percentage of the national graduates are awarded a distinction, however there is no feedback at all. I had hoped AICD would do something about this however I am not aware of a change.

In summary, an outstanding course and I highly recommend it to anyone that is either a director already or contemplating becoming one. I have found it very useful in my role as a business coach, advisor and director.

Interestingly around one third of the participants in the course decided never to become a director due to the current liabilities that exist in those roles. This is an area that needs significant attention in our legal frameworks.

If you prefer to listen instead, please listen to Justin Davies being interviewed by Tom Murrell on Darwinism: Survival of the Fittest in Business . 

If you are running a small to medium business and think you might benefit from a business coach, please read Do I Need a Business Coach?

Justin Davies

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Case study adds shine to the CDC

Wednesday, 01 August 2012

A new integrated case study is among the highlights of the recently updated Company Directors Course.

N ow in its 37th year, the  Company Directors Course , our flagship program, has been updated for 2012-13.

The course is a comprehensive and highly regarded learning program for directors, reviewed annually to ensure it retains currency and reflects leading practice for directors.

Participants in the course learn what it takes to contribute to organisational governance and gain a thorough knowledge of the role and duties of being a director.

A particular highlight this year is a new integrated case study,  Vector International Limited . In the case study scenario, Vector has its initial roots in two bulk material transport family businesses originating in Western Australia, and was listed on the Australian Securities Exchange in 2001.

The Vector case study is integrated throughout the course content. It builds to a crescendo in module 10,  Learning into Practice , when participants tackle its issues as part of a simulated boardroom experience.

Core facilitator Mark Coleman FAICD says in his experience, the case reflects what can happen in boardrooms in high-pressure situations.

"We are looking to highlight that poor practice does exist — including poor director behaviours, such as not dealing with pressing issues as they arise," he says.

"The case study does provide participants with the opportunity to recognise inappropriate practices and move themselves and their boards in a collegiate manner to raise the standards of director practice and performance."

For the simulated board meeting in module 10, participants have to deal with issues and complexities as if they were directors on the Vector board under the same circumstances.

To do this, they must draw on their own knowledge and experience, and the learnings of the previous nine modules.

"We are ultimately asking participants to engage on the basis of what good practice would look like in these circumstances," says Coleman.

Carmen Izurieta AAICD, senior education product manager in our Director and Board Development team, project-managed the update of the course for 2012-13.

"The use of an integrated case study to support learning is particularly powerful," she says.

"It provides continuity by developing threads through the various modules and across the breadth of the course, canvassing director duties and responsibilities, risk, strategy, finance, decision-making, board effectiveness and, finally, bringing the program to a close with an opportunity for participants to practically apply their learning."

Other highlights for the 2012-13 update include:

• Further profiling of our publication,  Guide for Directors and Boards — delivering good corporate governance .
• Updated case law examples to illustrate latest judgments.
• Coverage of the Centro judgment, with a focus on reviewing and understanding financial statements.
• Commentary on the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC).
• Deepening utilisation of the Company Directors Corporate Governance Framework.

To find out more about the  Company Directors Course , please visit our website.

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