The Next Evolution of STAP: Rebuilding Australia’s Gold Standard in Psychology Supervision
Sep 17
/
Dr Aaron Frost
When the Supervisor Training and Approval Program (STAP) was first conceived over two decades ago by Professor Analise O’Donovan, A/Prof. Roger Dooley, and Prof. David Kavanagh, it fundamentally transformed how Australian senior clinicians mentor the next generation.
They took supervision from a master-apprentice model to a rigorous and empirically supported model, backed by the Psychology Board of Queensland, and built into the regulatory framework.
When I took over as Lead Trainer in 2011, we carried that vision nationwide. I spent years traveling to every corner of Australia, training over 3000 supervisors as national registration took shape, and supervisor training became mandatory across Australia.
They took supervision from a master-apprentice model to a rigorous and empirically supported model, backed by the Psychology Board of Queensland, and built into the regulatory framework.
When I took over as Lead Trainer in 2011, we carried that vision nationwide. I spent years traveling to every corner of Australia, training over 3000 supervisors as national registration took shape, and supervisor training became mandatory across Australia.
STAP earned its reputation as the benchmark for psychological supervision because it was built by Australian clinicians, for Australian clinicians. But maintaining that legacy of excellence means never standing still. When PsyBA published their final version of the new Code of Conduct, and Professional Competencies, a starter gun was fired for us to ensure STAP was fully compliant with the new standards, as well as updating ourselves with contemporary evidence.
Why We Spent Two Years Rebuilding the Core
With the Psychology Board of Australia introducing updated competencies and a revised Code of Conduct, the landscape of Australian practice shifted. Supervision is recognised as a critical piece of safety infrastructure requiring explicit focus on risk management, ethics, reflexive practice, and measurable skill growth.
We knew a surface-level update wouldn't do justice to the STAP name.
We knew a surface-level update wouldn't do justice to the STAP name.
For the past two years, our team has been immersed in rewriting the core knowledge foundation of the program. This wasn't just an update; it was a complete pedagogical overhaul:
Systematic Literature Reviews. Scouring international best practice to ensure our framework reflects the latest clinical evidence.
Deliberate Practice & Reflexivity. Collaborating with leading experts to move supervision past passive discussion toward active, deliberate skill acquisition and deep self-reflection.
Cultural Responsiveness. Working with representatives from the Australian Indigenous Psychologists Association to assure that STAP does not repeat colonial patterns of “experts” talking about issues of culture.
Instructional Design Excellence. Partnering with instructional design specialists to build interactive, highly engaging modules that respect clinicians' time while maximizing learning retention. It has been a massive effort, but honoring the 20 plus year legacy of STAP meant building a program fit for the next decade of Australian practice.
Our Brand New Website is Live
This month, we officially launched the brand-new STAP website; marking the beginning of this new chapter.
As we open this door, I want to address two groups of people:
As we open this door, I want to address two groups of people:
1. To New & Aspiring Supervisors.
If you have been considering stepping into leadership, there has never been a better time. Becoming a Board-Approved Supervisor isn't just a regulatory milestone; it is the most direct way you can shape the quality, ethics, and sustainability of our workforce. I invite you to explore the new platform, check out our upcoming cohorts, and join us in setting the standard for clinical supervision.
2. To Our 5000+ STAP Alumni (Our Gift to You).
If you completed your initial training with us in years past, you are the foundation of this legacy. You shouldn't have to pay to stay up to date with the latest evidence base, nor should you be left navigating the new PsyBA standards alone.
We want to offer every STAP graduate free access to the entirely rewritten "Part 1" Knowledge module.
This isn't a marketing promotion or a sales funnel; it’s simply a commitment to keeping our community at the cutting edge. We care deeply about the quality of supervision taking place in consulting rooms across Australia. If we have trained you in the past, I want to ensure you have the best, most current tools available today.
How to claim your access:
Simply send an email to Dr Aaron Frost with your approximate year/location of training, and my team will set you up with complimentary access to the new Part 1 module.
Join Us in Shaping the Future of Supervision
This isn't a marketing promotion or a sales funnel; it’s simply a commitment to keeping our community at the cutting edge. We care deeply about the quality of supervision taking place in consulting rooms across Australia. If we have trained you in the past, I want to ensure you have the best, most current tools available today.
How to claim your access:
Simply send an email to Dr Aaron Frost with your approximate year/location of training, and my team will set you up with complimentary access to the new Part 1 module.
Join Us in Shaping the Future of Supervision
Whether you are starting your supervisor journey today or refreshing a framework you learned a decade ago, thank you for your commitment to clinical excellence.
Head over to the new website to explore the updated program, or drop me an email to claim your alumni access. Let's keep elevating Australian psychology together.
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land where we work and live, the Turrbal, Yaggera, and Yugambeh people, and pay our respects to Elders past and present. We celebrate the stories, culture and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Elders of all communities who also work and live on this land.
Copyright © 2023