This book is a critical appraisal of continuing education for Australian professionals. Part 1 sets the scene, with an introduction in Chapter 1. Chapter 2 examines the key terms from a number of perspectives to provide an overview of the context in which all professionals practice in Australia. Chapter 3 provides a broad framework for the discussion of continuing professional education (CPE) within any profession. Discussion in this chapter and in the ones that follow is based on six sets of considerations related to CPE: contextual factors, policy and objectives, management, program content and delivery, evaluation, and finance. Part 2 contains five professional profiles (chapters 4-8), written by persons involved in their own professions and its CPE. Written during 1988, the profiles follow the framework outlined in chapter 3, thus allowing for comparisons among the five professions. The professions chosen are law, accounting, engineering, occupational therapy, and school teaching. Part 3 (chapter 9) is the conclusion. It draws a cross-professional picture of the stages of development that CPE has undergone in Australia. It raises important issues that are emerging in the field as a whole and suggests future directions for CPE in Australia. (YLB)