Professional Supervision

Occupational Therapy Australia recommends that practitioners engage in a range of professional development strategies to foster learning throughout their career. Professional supervision offers a tailored approach to learning and support for occupational therapists and is recommended across all career stages.

Professional supervision is a formal process, fostering the development of knowledge, competence, and a sense of responsibility for one's practice and ensuring public protection and safety (Occupational Therapy Board of Australia, 2014, p.2). Grounded in principles including reflective practice, self-directed learning, and critical feedback, professional supervision empowers supervisees to take control of their own learning and development, and provides a platform for self-directed growth, skill development, problem solving and wellbeing. Quality supervision is vital for upholding service excellence, client safety, and ethical care.

Embedded in the OTA Scope of Practice Framework (2017) is the responsibility for all occupational therapists, regardless of career stage and experience, to “ensure currency of practice, registration, and contemporary professional knowledge by seeking appropriate professional supervision, training and professional development to maintain practice within the scope of practice” (p.6).