Supervised practice framework

National Boards and Ahpra have developed the Supervised practice framework (the framework) to create a responsive and risk-based approach to supervised practice across the National Scheme.

Supervised practice reassures the community, National Boards and Ahpra that a registered health practitioner whose practice is being supervised (the supervisee) is safe and competent to practise and is not putting the public at risk.

The framework has been developed to:

• give guidance 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.

The framework outlines the principles which 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.

Read the framework.

Supervision guidelines

Some registration standards used by National Boards refer to supervision guidelines. New Supervision guidelines (the guidelines) have been developed to:

• replace any previously approved supervision guidelines or framework from National Boards, and
• adopt the framework.

Changes to relevant registration standards to explicitly refer to the framework rather than supervision guidelines will be made at a later date.

Read the guidelines.

What you need to do

The framework and the guidelines came into effect on 1 February 2022. Transition arrangements are in place for supervisees and supervisors already carrying out supervised practice or who have sent documents to Ahpra or the National Board before 1 February 2022.

Resources to help you

This following information has been developed to help you understand and apply the framework.

• FAQ: Supervised practice framework
• Fact sheet: Supervised practice framework - transition arrangements
• Key steps – a summary when using the Supervised practice framework

Transition arrangements for Section G of the Supervised practice framework

Optometry Australia’s revised Entry-level competency standards for optometry 2022 was published in February 2023, and Section G of the supervised practice plan has been updated.

From 1 June 2023, all new applicants for supervised practice will be required to use the supervised practice plan with the revised Section G.

Prior to 1 June 2023, if you have an existing supervised practice plan you do not need to do anything. You can continue to use your existing Section G, however if you do request a change to a supervised practice arrangement, you will need to use the revised section G.

Entry-level Competency standards

Change in circumstances

Proposed changes to an approved supervised practice arrangement should be submitted to the Board for approval in writing and may require completion of a new Supervised practice plan. If a new supervised practice plan is required, the new plan should use the form Section G: Supervised practice goals and activities – effective 1 June 2023.

If you are completing supervised practice following a complaint (notification) and are seeking a change to the approved supervised practice arrangement you may be required to make an application for a review of the conditions or undertakings. More information is available on the Ahpra website.

Retired versions