To maintain Board-approved supervisor status, psychologists must undergo refresher training every five years by completing a Board-approved master class. ORS’ competency-based workshop entails at least six hours of direct/live training.
As a Board-approved training provider, ORS is thrilled to be able to provide this essential training. We have current places in our exclusive master class courses. Our comprehensive training aligns with the regulatory requirements for Board-approved supervisors. Experienced supervisors lead classes, and these sessions will equip supervisors with essential skills and knowledge to enhance their professional practice.
We sat down with ORS’ Learning and Development Manager for Psychology Dr Joyce Man, one of our Board-approved supervisors conducting our training, to reflect on the role as a supervisor and discuss the upcoming masterclasses on offer at ORS.
What motivated you to become a supervisor?
I think back to my early days of training as a psychologist and how crucial my supervisors were to my professional learning. Good (and bad) supervision experiences can leave lasting marks on you when you are just starting out in your craft. I was blessed with a few brilliant supervisors who have been instrumental in building my professional competence and confidence as a psychologist who I continue to have lasting relationships with. I hope I can do the same for the next generation of psychologists. It’s so rewarding to see your supervisees grow and it’s such a privilege to be part of their professional journey.
Why evidenced-based supervision?
We emphasise so much in our formal training the need to be scientist-practitioners. We often talk about this in relation to the delivery of psychological assessments and interventions, but what about how supervision is provided? Supervision models have shifted to a competency-based model which lends itself to more standardised and consistent ways to build and assess for competency in our supervisees. As supervisors, we should also be examining and reflecting on our competencies and how we can continue to improve.
Why supervise psychologists in the disability sector?
I feel that those who have been in the disability sector prior to NDIS have an obligation to pass on their skills and knowledge to the next generation of psychologists working in NDIS. This field is growing rapidly yet the number of clinicians from the ‘olden days’ continues to dwindle. Working in disability can be tough but also extremely rewarding. I love to inspire psychologists to work in this field as my experience is they gain some extremely well-rounded skills in assessment, working with systems, complex case formulation, and exposure to a wide range of clinical presentations and co-occurring conditions you would not necessarily see in other settings.
What is different about supervising psychologists working in high-risk populations?
Let’s face it. The best of us have experienced professional burnout at some point in our psychology careers. When you add working with high-risk groups into the mix, this creates additional hurdles and stress, particularly for inexperienced psychologists. Supervisors not only have an important role in safeguarding the wellbeing of the community with the clients being serviced by their supervisees, but they are also instrumental in preventing burnout and undue distress to their supervisees. Accessing risk can be tricky business and comes with it huge responsibility. Supervisors can do a lot to support their supervisees in this process.
If your Board-approved supervisor status is nearing expiration, we highly recommend you join us to complete the refresher training, so book your spot here today as spaces will fill up quickly.
