Graduate Certificate in Supervision

Upon successful completion, students should be able to:

1. Provide a basic description and explanation of foundational knowledge and understanding relating to psychological, ethical and spiritual theories and approaches relevant to supervision;
2. Engage with these theories and approaches with foundational self-awareness to develop authentic and responsible frameworks for supervision;
3. Apply their supervision frameworks together with introductory practical skills in supervision.

Supervision is the discipline of enabling professional practitioners—including social workers, counsellors, spiritual directors, ministers, principals—to reflect on their practice, become mindful of their blind spots, gain ever-deepening insight, and become open to opportunities for personal and professional growth. The Australian Association of Supervision speaks of supervision "as a contractual, relational, collaborative process, which facilitates the ethical and professional practice of the supervisee."

Supervisors not only require practical skills, but also need to develop a framework within which to understand their practice of supervision. This framework must emerge from authentic, ongoing and critical self-reflection, engage contemporary psychological paradigms responsibly, be situated within clear and overt ethical boundaries, and take into account the meaning-making dimension of human beings—spirituality.

The Graduate Certificate in Supervision enables you to develop basic knowledge, understanding and skills suited to the ethical, self-aware and safe practice of supervision in any number of fields, including health, education and social service settings.

Recommended study pattern

Complete exactly 40 credit points from the following:

• THSP521 - Psychological Foundations for Supervision and Spiritual Direction
• THSP522 - Ethics and Professional Practice in Supervision and Spiritual Direction
• THSP523 - Individual Supervision
• THSP524 - Critically Reflective Supervision

Award requirements

To qualify for the degree of Graduate Certificate in Supervision, a student must complete 40 cp from the Schedule of Unit Offerings, consisting of 40 cp of Specified Units.

Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.

Indicative total fee $8,496

The amounts shown here are indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.

Fees may vary depending on:

• the subjects you choose
• credit from previous work experience
• your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.

To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.

Established in 1991 after amalgamating four eastern Australian Catholic tertiary institutes, Australian Catholic University now has seven campuses, from Brisbane to Melbourne and welcomes students of all beliefs. Specialising in arts, business, education, health sciences, law, theology and philosophy, ACU encourages its students to think critically and ethically and bring change to their communities and offer this online through Open Universities Australia.

Learn more about ACU.

Explore ACU courses.

QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:

35

Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:

26

To be eligible for admission to the course, an applicant must have completed a Bachelor degree in any discipline. 

An applicant must comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy. 

If your prior study or relevant work experience has provided you with knowledge, skills or experience aligned with the learning outcomes of units in your new course, you may be eligible to gain credit for study or have your prior learning recognised. This means you may be able to complete your ACU course in a shorter timeframe.