Introduction / Rationale: Occupational Therapy Professional Supervision is defined by Occupational Therapy Australia as a collaborative relationship-focused process that fosters professional learning, support, and accountability, enabling occupational therapists to reach their fullest potential. Australia’s revised Occupational Therapy Professional Supervision Framework includes a reflective practice process to support growth, professional development, and professional wellbeing, also promoting safety and quality.
Objectives: To describe the revised Occupational Therapy Professional Supervision Framework, highlighting its role in guiding best practice for occupational therapists.
Methods / Approach: The framework revision was guided by the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research & Evaluation–Health Services (AGREE-HS) and informed by a series of expert consultations and a workshop with diverse representation from occupational therapy, supervision and lived experience experts.
Results / Practice Implications: Launched in 2025, the framework has four competency domains (Preparing, Learning, Evaluating, Striving for Quality and Safety), a competency assessment tool and templates. It outlines recommendations for the frequency, duration, location, inclusions, documentation, evaluation and professional supervisor development. The guiding principles are: 1) co-created, reflective relationships supporting learning, growth, and professional development, 2) a strengths and values-focused, nurturing experience supporting wellbeing, 3) occupation-centred, 4) accessible, inclusive and prioritised, 5) environment, culture and context explored using occupation, justice, equity and rights-based lenses, and 6) high quality, evidence informed, governance, improving outcomes for occupational therapists, the occupational therapy profession and individuals and collectives.
Conclusion / Contribution to the occupational therapy profession: The revised Australian Occupational Therapy Professional Supervision Framework strengthens workforce capacity, advances professional development, and inspires positive change and growth in occupational therapy practice.