About
This evidence-informed course supports educators across education and care settings to strengthen and elevate their supervision practice. Blending theory with practical, real-world strategies, the program breaks down what effective supervision truly involves, how to plan for supervision in dynamic environments, and how legal requirements are applied in everyday practice.
Educators build a clear understanding of supervision responsibilities within Australian legislation and approved frameworks, and explore how thoughtful, responsive supervision supports children and young people’s safety, wellbeing and participation. Through interactive discussion and workshopping, participants develop confidence to create safe, engaging environments where children and young people can explore, take appropriate risks and thrive.
The workshop deepens educators’ understanding of how proactive supervision supports individual health and safety, while also addressing common challenges, misconceptions and myths. Simple, accessible approaches are shared to support both experienced professionals looking to refine practice and those newer to supervision who are building strong foundations for their role.
We will
- Explore different styles and approaches to supervision, building capacity to move from passive or reactive supervision toward engaged, proactive and intentional practice.
- Strengthen professional judgement by examining real-world scenarios, risk–benefit considerations and environmental factors, including busy transitions, outdoor play, and rest periods.
- Examine supervision-related requirements within the National Quality Framework, National Law and Regulations to support clarity, confidence and compliance in everyday practice.
- Engage in shared reflection and collaborative problem-solving to co-construct practical, context-specific supervision strategies that enhance children and young people’s safety, wellbeing and participation.
Participant Outcomes
By the end of this workshop, you will have:
- A clear understanding of different supervision approaches and strategies, and how to apply them effectively across a range of environments, routines and contexts.
- The confidence to implement engaged, proactive supervision practices that support children and young people’s safety, autonomy and participation.
- A deeper understanding of trauma-informed and reflective supervision principles that strengthen emotional safety, relationships and professional judgement.
- Increased confidence in interpreting and applying supervision-related legislative requirements within the National Quality Framework, National Law and Regulations, including during more complex moments such as rest, sleep and busy transitions.
- Practical, personalised action steps to strengthen supervision practices across everyday routines, transitions and higher-risk moments.
Theoretical Underpinnings
Six Steps of Active Supervision
ACECQA
Highlights the six components of effective supervision (set up environment, position staff, scan and count, listen, engage, anticipate). This framework underpins proactive, engaged supervision practices.
Reflective Supervision
Loomis, Coffey, Mitchell & Musson Rose
Provides a relationship-focused model emphasising attunement, emotional regulation, professional wellness, and perspective-taking as essential elements for responsive, effective supervision.
Preparedness and Response (CPR)
Centre for Disease Control
Guides educators to supervise through the lenses of safety, trust, collaboration, empowerment, and cultural responsiveness. This ensures supervision practices support emotional regulation and resilience.
Risk–Benefit Assessment
Contemporary Play and Risk Theory
Supports educators to differentiate between acceptable risk and unacceptable hazard, enabling children to safely test theories, explore, and develop agency while being protected from harm.
National Alignments
Quality area 2 - Children’s Health and Safety (Elements 2.1.2, 2.2.1): strengthens educators’ ability to maintain adequate supervision, minimise harm, and ensure safe environments.
Quality area 3 - Physical Environment (Elements 3.1.1, 3.2.1): supports intentional design of spaces that enhance visibility, accessibility, safety, and effective supervision.
Quality area 5 – Relationships with Children (Elements 5.1.1, 5.2.1): reinforces attuned, responsive interactions that promote security, connection, and emotionally safe supervision.
Standard 1.2 – Know learners and how they learn: deepens understanding of children’s developmental stages as they relate to safe, responsive supervision.
Standard 4.4 – Maintain student safety: strengthens educators’ capacity to identify hazards, manage risk, and implement high-quality supervision practices.
Standard 6.2 – Engage in professional learning: encourages reflective practice and improves ongoing professional judgement in complex supervision contexts.
Principle 1: Child safety and wellbeing are embedded in organisational leadership, governance and culture: promotes supervision practices grounded in children’s rights, safety, and dignity.
Principle 4: Equity is upheld and diverse needs are respected: supervision adapts to individual needs, developmental stages, cultural contexts, and trauma histories.
Principle 5: People working with children are suitable and supported: includes reflective supervision, professional learning, and legislative clarity for staff.
Principle 8: Physical and online environments minimise the opportunity for harm: focuses on safe environments, visibility, planning, and proactive risk management.
Culturally Safe, Inclusive & Responsive Programs
- Equity & Access for All: Supervision strategies respond to individual developmental needs, ensuring all children can participate safely and confidently.
Social & Emotional Learning
- Supports understanding of trauma-informed care and its impact on supervision decisions.
Physicality
- Promotes active supervision strategies that support safe exploration, movement, and risk-aware play.
- Uses environmental planning to enable children to safely test physical skills and develop their sensory exploration with proprioceptive and vestibular input.
Access & Inclusion
- Ensures supervision strategies consider diverse needs, abilities, routines, and cultural expectations.
- Supports equitable participation by adapting supervision to individual children and contexts.
Wellbeing (Social & Emotional)
- Embeds trauma-informed and reflective supervision practices that promote safety, regulation, and emotional wellbeing.
- Strengthens children’s capacity for social competence, confidence, and secure relationships.
Online Course Option
Prefer to engage in this training from the comfort of your own home? We get it!
That's why we created the self-paced online course, with video content and downloadable workbooks.
