Training the Effective Supervisor – October 2024

Following many years of successful provision of supervision and supervision training – we are now able to offer free Supervisor Foundation training for registered psychologists until 2026.

This funding is provided by the Australian Federal Government, Department of Health and Aged Care in-line with meeting the aims to support and increase the capacity of the psychology workforce.  

Priority places will be given to psychologists supporting First Nations people, children and youth, those from CALD communities, and practitioners working in community mental health settings or regional, rural, and remote areas (located in MMM3-7). Further, supervisors from these priority groups may receive an incentive payment to assist with attending the training. 

About The Training

The Cairnmillar Institute is a Psychology Board of Australia-approved supervisor training provider. We deliver all three components of the training required for eligible psychologists to apply for Board Approved Supervisor (BAS) status. The 32 hours of training is presented in three distinct and stipulated component parts:

• Knowledge Assessment (Component One)
• Skills Training (Component Two)
• Assessment and Evaluation (Component Three)

The course is suitable for psychologists who are seeking BAS status. BAS status is required for all supervisors who provide primary, secondary, or field placement supervision for:

• provisionally registered psychologists (e.g., via 4+2, 5+1 or higher degree pathways); and/or  
• registrars (undertaking registrar program for area of practice endorsement).   

Learning Outcomes

Participants will gain the knowledge and skills to provide competency-based supervision to provisional psychologists and/or registrars undertaking:

• A 4+2 internship program
• A 5+1 internship program
• An accredited higher degree program
• A Registrar program, leading to area-of-practice endorsement.

Participant learning outcomes include developing: 

• Greater knowledge and skills in the competency-based model of supervision 
• Effective supervision practices and recognising how to set supervision up for success 
• Knowledge and skills in establishing and managing the supervisory relationship, including responding to ruptures, conflict, or problems  
• The ability to assess and evaluate the psychological competencies of the supervisee, including identifying any progress concerns 
• The ability to evaluate the supervisory process.

Upon completion of all components, participants are required to submit the following registration form to the Psychology Board for professional recognition.

Eligibility

Psychologists are eligible to enrol if they have:

• Held general registration with the Psychology Board of Australia for at least 2.5 years,
• Held an area of practice endorsement for at least two years (to supervise registrars and some Higher Degree field placements).

Our Trainer

Dr Renzo Vittorino

Renzo is the Course Director of the Graduate Internship Program at The Cairnmillar Institute. Renzo has extensive leadership and clinical experience spanning over 30 years. He has experience in working with individual and families, community, and organisational development. Renzo has extensive experience in the development and delivery of programs and training in trauma informed practice including the recently implemented Trauma Informed Leadership Program delivered to managers of Area Mental Health Services in Victoria in partnership with Centre for Mental Health Learning and Department of Health.

Course Structure

There are three components for this course. Component One and Component Three are online courses. Component Two is a two-day workshop, conducted either face-to-face or online.

1. Component One (Knowledge Assessment)
   This component is delivered as an online self-paced eLearn module and comprises guided reading and related quizzes. Participants must achieve a minimum overall score of 90% in the assessments to pass this component and to be eligible to register for Component Two.
   This component constitutes 10 hours of coursework and CPD.
   You may commence Component One at any time, once full payment has been received and upon confirmation of your enrolment.
   To enrol in this component only, please select the ‘Component One Only’ ticket option.
2. Component Two (Skills Training Workshop)
   The Component Two workshop is conducted over two consecutive days (Day 1: 9am-4.30pm; Day 2: 9.30am-4.30pm).
   Component One is a prerequisite for this workshop however does not need to be completed at the same provider.
   Workshops are offered either online or face-to-face onsite at The Cairnmillar Institute in Hawthorn East, Victoria.
   Component Two constitutes 12 hours of coursework and CPD.
   Please note – catering is not provided for our face-to-face courses, however, there are kitchen facilities available for participant’s use.
3. Component Three (Assessment and Evaluation)
   This is the final assessment component of the BAS training. It involves submission of a 50-minute recording of a supervision session, together with a 1,000-word self-assessment essay.  Guidelines for the submission requirements will be provided and align with the Component Two training.
   Components One and Two are prerequisites for this course. This course constitutes 8-10 hours of coursework and 10 hours of CPD.
   As per AHPRA requirements, the Component Three assessment must be submitted within four months of completing Component Two.