Supervised practice framework

01 Mar, 2022

A new framework on supervised practice by the National Boards and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency came into effect last month. Here’s what you need to know.

Each year a relatively small number of registered health practitioners are required to undertake supervised practice to reassure the community and the regulator that they are safe and competent to practise in their profession.

Marking a significant achievement, 12 National Boards, including the Physiotherapy Board of Australia, and Ahpra developed a new supervised practice framework.

An advance copy was published last November to allow time for supervisees, supervisors, employers and others to familiarise themselves with the revised framework.

What is the supervised practice framework?

The framework outlines the National Boards’ expectations and supports supervisees, supervisors and employers to understand what is necessary to effectively carry out supervised practice.

The framework has been developed to:

give guidance as to when supervised practice is required to meet registration requirements, conditions or undertakings

set out core components that support high-quality, safe and effective supervised practice

support consistent processes and decision-making within Ahpra

help supervisees and supervisors better understand what is expected of them

be clearer, relevant and user-friendly.

Physiotherapy Board of Australia Chair Kim Gibson said that the framework is important because it supports consistency in processes and decision-making.

‘The framework outlines the principles that underpin supervised practice, the levels of supervised practice and the National Boards’ expectations of supervisees, supervisors and employers.

'It also explains Ahpra and the Boards’ compliance processes and gives guidance on how to effectively comply with supervised practice requirements.

‘Supervised practice is an important part of the National Scheme, particularly in relation to building trust and confidence.

'It reassures the community, as well as the National Boards and Ahpra, that a registered health practitioner whose practice is being supervised is safe and competent to practise and is not putting the public at risk.’

Why has the change occurred?

The newly developed framework and the replacement supervision guidelines are the result of a joint review between the National Boards and Ahpra.

They replace the existing supervision guidelines and came into effect on 1 February 2022.

The framework has been developed to reflect a responsive and risk-based approach to supervised practice across the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme.

What are the main changes?

Clearer and more consistent descriptions of the four levels of supervised practice have been provided, while the requirements to be a supervisor now reflect a risk-based approach in order to adequately manage the level of risk.

New supporting templates have also been developed, including a supervised practice plan and report.

Transition

Transition arrangements will be in place for supervisees and supervisors who are already carrying out supervised practice or who have sent documents to Ahpra or the National Boards before 1 February 2022.