What open forums offer
Open forums are interactive webinars featuring guest speakers from the ATO and the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB).
By joining our webinars, you can:
- hear the latest updates and upcoming changes to the tax, super and registry systems
- engage directly with subject matter experts to get your questions answered.
Attendance certificates
We have heard your feedback about the importance of attendance certificates, especially for meeting your continuing professional education (CPE) requirements. In response, we now issue attendance certificates to participants who attend open forums for the full session. Registration alone will not be considered evidence of attendance for CPE purposes.
These certificates support you in providing evidence of your CPE. They reflect our ongoing commitment to working with the profession and improving how we design and deliver our engagement activities based on your feedback.
Webinar resources
Access open forum resources, including webinar recordings and key insights from tax practitioner questions, through the Open forums resource hub. The hub includes content from recent sessions.
Watching recordings may contribute to your CPE and help you access key messages at a time that suits you. Attendance certificates are not issued for viewing webinar recordings.
Continuing professional education (CPE)
To claim CPE with the TPB, the activity must be relevant to the tax or BAS agent services you provide. Eligible activities may include topics that:
- improve your technical knowledge
- provide guidance on practice management, cyber security and ethics
- support health and wellbeing activities that help you deliver competent services to your clients.
For more details, refer to the TPB’s CPE guidanceExternal Link.
Upcoming open forums
We've moved to Microsoft Teams
Open forums are now delivered through Microsoft Teams Webinar, making it easier to join from your desktop or web browser. Simply register for a session using the 'Register for this session' link in the following table and we'll email your access details.
Remember to check your junk, spam or deleted mail folder if you don't receive your registration confirmation email.
|
Open forum sessions |
Session topics |
|---|---|
|
Wednesday 14 October 2026 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm AEDT |
Navigating cyber risks and protecting your practice in the age of AI Concerned about cyber threats, scams or the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI)? This Cyber Security Month, join experts from the ATO and the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) to explore emerging risks affecting the tax profession, practical steps to protect your practice and clients, and key considerations when using AI tools. You'll gain insights into the evolving threat landscape, learn how to strengthen your cyber resilience, and better understand your obligations and responsibilities when using AI in a professional environment. Topics include:
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|
Wednesday 28 October 2026 1 pm – 2 pm AEDT |
R&D tax incentive Working with clients who claim the Research and Development Tax Incentive (R&DTI)? Whether you're new to the R&DTI or regularly support clients with R&D claims, this session will help you stay up to date with current developments, understand key expectations, and hear directly from our experts. You'll gain valuable insights into the R&DTI program, hear about recent updates and emerging issues, and explore the important role tax practitioners play in supporting the integrity of the program. Most importantly, you'll have the opportunity to ask questions and participate in a live Q&A discussion with ATO representatives. Topics include:
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Feedback
Your feedback plays an important role in shaping our open forums and the way we engage with the profession.
We use your input to inform future topics, improve how sessions are delivered and enhance the overall experience.
If you would like to provide feedback or suggest a topic for an upcoming open forum, email us at ATOOpenForums@ato.gov.au