Supervision Training for Supervisors of Psychology Assistants

⁠⁠⁠Overview

Health New Zealand (Te Whatu Ora) is implementing the Psychology Assistant role to increase access to psychological support and strengthen stepped, team-based care. The first Psychology Assistants are expected to enter the workforce from July 2027. Health New Zealand expects to seek a provider, or provider partnership, with relevant psychology supervision expertise, understanding of PA implementation and digital learning capability.

This is a Forward Procurement Opportunity (FPO) notice. An FPO is an alert to providers of a potential upcoming procurement activity and does not represent a commitment by Health New Zealand to procure.

Purpose

Successful implementation of the Psychology Assistant role will require appropriately qualified psychologists to be prepared to supervise, delegate to and support Psychology Assistants. The New Zealand Psychologists Board requires Psychology Assistants to be supervised by appropriately qualified psychologists, with supervisors completing supervision training that includes PA-specific content.

Scope

The anticipated procurement will include three core components:

1. PA-specific supervisor training

• Development of a short online certification module for registered psychologists who have completed foundational supervision training and require additional PA-specific content
• Anticipated content includes PA scope and role limits, delegation, risk and complexity, competence development, regulatory expectations, employer responsibilities, service models, cultural and lived experience considerations, clinical governance and professional accountability

2. Learning platform, hosting and reporting

• Provision of appropriate online learning functionality, including learner access, assessment, certificate generation, learner tracking and reporting
• Ongoing hosting, maintenance and learner support

3. National PA Supervisor Support Network

• Establishment and facilitation of a national network for trained supervisors, including online hui, peer networking, shared learning and discussion of emerging implementation issues
• Maintenance of a register of supervisors who complete the training and opt to be available for supervision

Contractor Requirements

• Relevant psychology supervision expertise
• Understanding of Psychology Assistant implementation
• Digital learning capability

Instructions to Tenderers

Health New Zealand currently anticipates the following timeline for this potential procurement:

• Open procurement anticipated to commence during 2026
• Preferred provider anticipated to be confirmed by the end of 2026
• Development, testing and approval of the programme expected to occur from January to April 2027
• Training available to initial supervisor cohorts during May to June 2027
• Psychology Assistants expected to enter the workforce from July 2027

Enquiries

• Contact: Shirley Lammas
• Email: shirley.lammas@tewhatuora.govt.nz