FAQ’s

Rev’d Geoff Broughton – Australian Anglican Priest and supervision academic – said:

“Professional/pastoral supervision is the brave, safe space where clergy and other ministry workers reflect on their ministry practice in a regular, planned supervision session.”

The Australasian Association of Supervision (AAOS) describes supervision as a structured, relational process that supports ethical and professional practice for the person being supervised.

In practice, it's a safe non-judgemental environment where you are welcome to say out loud the conversations you usually only have in your head. 

Together, we'll create a space for thinking and reflecting — sparking ideas, gaining clarity and perspective, and growing as a leader. All of which benefits you, and the people you lead and serve.

Every session is shaped around you — your preferred way of reflecting, and what you want to get out of it. You might arrive with something specific in mind you want to work through, or simply come ready to see what surfaces — both are a great place to start.

Together, we might explore questions like:

·       What's going on in me?

·       What do I see happening?

·       What does this really mean, underneath the surface?

·       Where am I in this — what part am I playing?

·       Is there a better way to think about this?

·       What do I hope to see happening in the future?

Exploring you and your ministry from these different angles helps you build a fuller, richer picture — so you're leading from clarity, not just responding to whatever's loudest. And because faith shapes how you lead, there's always room for theological reflection too.

Coaching, spiritual direction, pastoral care, counselling, and mentoring all offer real value for people in ministry, but they serve a different purpose to Professional Supervision.

Aspects of these helping disciplines may arise in supervision, but they are not the focus. What makes supervision distinct is that it isn't just about you — it also holds in mind the people you lead and serve, sometimes called the "absent other." Your growth and their wellbeing are both part of the picture.

Christian supervision author Michael Paterson — Between a Rock and a Hard Place — explains:

"Supervision is a facilitated, intentional and sustained conversation between a person's Soul, Role and Context in which attention is paid to the worker, the work and those impacted by the work."

I often think about what would have been different if I'd had supervision when I started out in ministry — the accountability, the space to think clearly, someone in my corner who wasn't also depending on me. Looking back now, the benefits are hard to overstate:

·       Accountability and healthy challenge

·       A lower risk of burnout

·       Practical, ongoing support

·       Greater strength and resilience in ministry

·       Space to explore how your personal and spiritual life intersect with your work

·       Reduced stress and anxiety

·       Learning from experience to shape how you lead going forward

·       Reflecting well on the culture and structures of the workplace you lead in

Beyond the personal benefits, supervision is also increasingly expected as part of responsible ministry practice. Following the 2017 Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, it's now recommended that everyone in religious or pastoral ministry — including leaders — have regular access to supervision from a trained supervisor who holds a healthy degree of independence from their institution.

We'll figure out the right rhythm together during your initial consultation, based on your goals and what works for you.

As a general guide, I recommend committing to a session every 6 – 8 weeks over a 12-month period. That said, more or less frequent sessions are available if that suits you better.