About Rod

Professional Supervision and Workshop Facilitation

Ko Kaukau te maunga te rū nei taku ngākau

Ko Korimako te awa e haumanu tōku wairua

Ahakoa nō whenua kē ōku tūpuna, e mihi ana ki ngā tohu o nehe, o Te Whanganui-a-Tara e noho nei au.

Ko Ngati Koroatia me te Ngati Pākehā nga iwi

Ko Te Whare Manaaki o Ngaio te hau kāinga

Ko Rod Baxter tōku ingoa

Supervision is one of the things that has sustained my two decades in youth work. I’ve worked in local youth centres, for national organisations, government agencies and global movements. Supervision has been the reflective rhythm keeping my heart for this mahi beating. I feel grateful and responsible to offer this to other practitioners, especially youth workers, as well as other people who work with people.

I’m an Accredited Member of Korowai Tupu, and current Chairperson of the rōpū. I like balancing theory and practice and have qualifications that reflect my vocational explorations: a  Bachelor of Arts majoring in Theatre and Education (Victoria University of Wellington), a Post Graduate Diploma in Social Service Supervision with Distinction (Massey University) and a Diploma in Youth Work (Otago Polytechnic).

Whilst exploring the supervision literature, I realised there is very little written about supervision within the practice of youth work, compared to other professions such as social work and counselling. I teamed up with Trissel Eriksen from Palmerston North’s Youth One Stop Shop (YOSS) to translate some of the literature into frameworks that make sense for youth workers. This resource is called the ‘Supervision Scrapbook‘, first launched in 2008 with an expanded edition in 2018. This book is available via Ara Taiohi.

I love developing workshops and facilitating courses for supervisors and supervisees alike. I stay actively connected to the ever-emerging supervision literature and attend professional development for supervisors. I’ve presented workshops at the annual Australian Clinical Supervision Conferences.

To unwind I enjoy X-Men comics, walk through nearby bush, go to the gym, cook vegetarian feasts and spend time with whānau.