Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Supervision

This postgraduate certificate provides the theoretical foundations to enable you to prepare for advanced supervision skill application confidently and to learn to guide others in competent and accountable practice.

With a strong focus on reflective practice, this programme will benefit working practitioners in health, social work, human resource and educational roles.

"Supervision is an inquiry into practice. It is a compassionate, appreciative inquiry….. In supervision, we re-write the stories of our own practice….supervision interrupts practice. It wakes us up to what we are doing. When we are alive to what we are doing, we wake up to what is, instead of falling asleep in the comfort stories of our clinical routines." 

Supervision for Mental Health Care. A book by Paul Cassedy and Maureen Anderson, 2019.

Academic requirements

Applicants must have:

A Bachelor’s Degree or a Graduate Certificate or Diploma in a similar subject or relevant skills and knowledge acquired through appropriate work or professional experience.

Alternative Requirements

Applicants who are unable to evidence that they meet Academic entry requirements but who can demonstrate acquired skills for tertiary study gained through study, work and/or life experience in a similar area may be approved for alternative entry by the Curriculum Manager (or delegate).

English Language Requirements

If English is not the applicant’s first language, applicants will need to provide evidence from: 

An International English Language Testing System (IELTS) overall academic score of at least 7.0 (with at least 7.0 in each band) from a single test issued within the last two years

OR

A test or qualification on the acceptable alternatives English Proficiency Outcomes Table(external link)

OR

Achieved NCEA Level 3 University Entrance requirements

Other Requirements

Applicants are required to:

• Provide evidence of a minimum of two years post-qualifying experience in their professional field of practice (or the equivalent as approved by the Curriculum Manager).
• Supply the names and contact details of two professional referees.

Selection

Applications meeting the Entry Requirements will be accepted in the order they receive until the number of places on the Programme is filled.

Over one year of part-time study each semester, you will be required to attend three, two-day block courses on the Nelson Campus in addition to your self-directed learning, which will be supported online via Skype or Zoom or drop-in sessions.

Upcoming 2024 block courses

Each set of block courses runs from 9 am to 4 pm on a Thursday and Friday. Perfect if you are located elsewhere in Aotearoa New Zealand and wish to spend a long weekend in sunny Nelson.

Online learning

All modules include an online component to assist in delivery, contact with the teaching team, and support to inspire students through feedback on discussion boards, lecture and tutorial notes, and postings and hyperlinks.

We use an open-sourced learning platform called Moodle, a user-friendly and effective learning tool. It contains online learning and teaching tools, including lecture notes, research material and practice tests designed to allow learners to study from anywhere in New Zealand at any time.

Face-to-face delivery

Is conducted on the Nelson Campus or through online methods such as Skype or Zoom.

Lectures

Lectures introduce students to the theory and provide perspective and context to assist understanding and inquiry. Lectures are used to develop skills and motivate students to generate enthusiasm for interdependent study.

Small group sessions

Small group sessions encourage close interaction with other learners. These sessions provide opportunities to clarify and highlight issues, review, critically examine and further develop topics. They promote reflective learning and allow learners to share ideas and experiences.

Guest lecturers

External participants may be invited to contribute to the workshops and lectures, including visiting scholars, allied professionals and other experts. 

The aim of this programme is to provide you with the capacity to advance your career as a professional supervisor, private practitioner, either in your current field or within other specialised fields of practice.

Become skilled in a new field, set up your own supervision provision or further advance your current specialisation.

Upon successfully graduating this programme, you will have the credibility to become a professional supervisor.