Culturally-responsive supervision in Australia, and professional competencies for psychologists: learnings from cross-cultural supervision in a humanitarian context

This paper explores culturally responsive supervision considering the proposed updated Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA) competency standards. Learnings will be applied from a cross-cultural supervision program with a focus on strategies for culturally safe supervision when supervisors and supervisees are from differing cultural backgrounds. The study utilised a qualitative design, involving semi-structured interviews with 24 participants: Syrian practitioners, and Syrian and Australian co-supervisors, who participated in an online supervision program. Data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis with a focus on cultural safety and cross-cultural dynamics. Findings highlight the importance of supervisor self-reflection particularly around hesitance to challenge supervisees, trauma-informed supervision training needs, the importance of cultural humility, the critical role of the Syrian supervisors as cultural mediators and the value of open discussions to understand cultural differences in supervisory expectations. These findings align with existing cultural safety strategies recommended by the PsyBA and highlight additional strategies of cultural humility and the need to understand and negotiate expectations. Addressing cultural expectations and pedagogical differences in supervision can prevent misunderstandings and support a safer learning environment. The findings provide additional cultural safety strategies and practical insights for implementing the proposed PsyBA competencies and code of conduct, an important groundwork for advancing culturally safe supervision practices in Australia with diverse groups. What is already known about this topic: Cultural safety in clinical care is critical for positive patient outcomes.New PsyBA competencies and a code of conduct for implementation in 2025 emphasise cultural responsiveness when working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and diverse cultural groups.Clinical supervision is beneficial for discussing cultural safety strategies with supervisees who are working with diverse client groups. Cultural safety in clinical care is critical for positive patient outcomes. New PsyBA competencies and a code of conduct for implementation in 2025 emphasise cultural responsiveness when working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and diverse cultural groups. Clinical supervision is beneficial for discussing cultural safety strategies with supervisees who are working with diverse client groups. What this paper adds: Ways to approach supervision processes to promote cultural safety including: a) promoting supervisor cultural humility to foster stronger supervisory alliances and mutual respect, and b) managing discomfort with epistemic power and reluctance to challenge supervisees, alongside explicit discussions of shared expectations in the orientation phase of supervision.New learnings about the integration of cultural mediators as a resource in supervision, to facilitate cultural understanding between supervisors and supervisees as an additional cultural safety strategy.A further impetus for trauma-informed supervision approaches to be considered in cross-cultural supervision training programs. Ways to approach supervision processes to promote cultural safety including: a) promoting supervisor cultural humility to foster stronger supervisory alliances and mutual respect, and b) managing discomfort with epistemic power and reluctance to challenge supervisees, alongside explicit discussions of shared expectations in the orientation phase of supervision. New learnings about the integration of cultural mediators as a resource in supervision, to facilitate cultural understanding between supervisors and supervisees as an additional cultural safety strategy. A further impetus for trauma-informed supervision approaches to be considered in cross-cultural supervision training programs.