How to Find a Clinical Supervisor in Australia

Supervision
Written By Liana Busoli

So you've decided you need a supervisor. Now you have to find one who understands your work, has room in their diary and meets your professional requirements. Oh, and also one that doesn’t make admitting uncertainty feel like a performance management meeting ... A Google search gives you plenty of names, but it can take some proper sleuthing to work out who is available, what they actually offer (beyond the website slogans) and if they'll actually be a good match for you.

For Australian counsellors, psychotherapists and social workers, a manageable search starts with your professional association’s directory, expands through relevant professional networks and ends with a direct conversation. You can also approach supervision providers, including The Counselling Supervision Centre, and ask which supervisor might suit your work.

Here is how to move from searching to an arrangement you can actually use.

Get clear about what you are looking for

Before opening another browser tab, write a short description of your practice and what you need. Include your profession, association membership or registration, career stage, client population and the kind of support you are seeking.

For example: “I am an early career ACA counsellor working with adults in a community service. I need monthly online supervision, with support around trauma work, boundaries and case formulation.”

That description gives you useful search terms and makes your first enquiry easier. You can add practical limits, such as evening availability or a particular budget. If your employer will fund supervision, find out whether they require approval, a particular agreement or invoices addressed to the organisation.

Search using clinical and professional supervision

Australian associations use different terms. The Australian Counselling Association (ACA) uses professional supervision, with clinical supervision forming one component of that broader process. PACFA, the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia, uses clinical supervision. The Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) also uses professional supervision (ACA, 2024; PACFA, 2025; AASW, 2023).

Try a few relevant searches rather than relying on one phrase:

Adapt these to your needs. If you want in-person supervision, add your location. If you are open to online sessions, search nationally as well.

A high position in search results tells you that you have found a visible website. You still need to check the supervisor’s credentials, relevant experience and availability.

Start with ACA, PACFA or AASW directories

Finding a supervisor for ACA counsellors

The ACA Find a Supervisor directory lists members of the ACA College of Supervisors. You can search by name or location and refine the results by areas of interest.

Read individual profiles, then contact people whose experience appears relevant. Ask whether they are accepting supervisees and whether the listed interests reflect the work they currently supervise.

ACA’s policy also recognises supervisors who meet its criteria without belonging to the College, as well as particular workplace-nominated arrangements. If someone is not in the directory, ask which pathway applies and confirm any uncertainty with ACA (ACA, 2024).

Finding a supervisor for PACFA registrants

PACFA directs practitioners to its searchable directory to find supervisors. Its College of Supervision provides the Certified Supervisor credential.

PACFA also publishes a low-cost group supervision directory. Check the current arrangements, availability and conditions directly with the listed supervisor.

Your supervisor does not necessarily have to be a PACFA registrant. However, they must meet the criteria in PACFA’s Clinical Supervision Standard, including relevant supervision competencies, practice experience and professional membership conditions (PACFA, 2025). Ask how they meet those criteria before committing.

Finding a supervisor for AASW members

Social workers can use the AASW Find a Social Worker directory to search for people offering supervision. AASW’s CPD policy explains how to locate supervision services through the directory’s practice listings (AASW, 2025).

AASW expects supervision from a qualified, experienced social worker. Its guidance also accommodates another professional where appropriate. In that situation, the supervisor needs to understand AASW’s Code of Ethics and Practice Standards and support your development as a social worker (AASW, 2023, 2025).

Explain any credential you hold or are working towards, including Accredited Mental Health Social Worker status, so you can check the proposed arrangement against your specific requirements.

Ask colleagues for useful recommendations

Professional recommendations can help you find someone whose website would otherwise be easy to miss. Ask colleagues, educators, professional development facilitators or people in relevant practice networks.

Make the question specific: “Do you know a supervisor who understands sexual assault work and offers online supervision?” is easier to answer than “Does anyone know a good supervisor?”

If someone recommends their own supervisor, ask what they find helpful. Do they receive clear feedback? Can they make warm and respectful space for fear and uncertainty? Does the supervisor understand the constraints of their workplace? What have they learned in supervision?

Research on the supervisory alliance emphasises the working relationship and agreement about goals and tasks (Watkins, 2014). A recommendation is more informative when it tells you how someone works, rather than simply describing them as lovely.

Their experience may differ from yours. Treat a recommendation as a reason to enquire, then make your own assessment.

Make a small shortlist and contact people directly

Choose a few plausible optionshr (three is a reasonable place to start, although that is a practical suggestion, not a scientifically established number of supervisors to email).

You can compare replies more easily if you provide the same basic information. Your enquiry might say:

Hello [name], I am a [profession and career stage], registered with/a member of [association], working in [setting] with [client population]. I am looking for [individual or group] supervision, preferably [online/in person], with support around [main needs]. Are you accepting new supervisees? Could you let me know your fees, availability and how your supervision meets the requirements relevant to my membership or credential? I would also appreciate knowing whether you offer an introductory conversation.

You do not need to write a professional autobiography or explain why you deserve supervision. The supervisor needs enough information to assess whether they can offer suitable support.

Use the introductory conversation to clarify the arrangement

If an introductory conversation is available, use it to explore how the supervision would work. Check whether it is free or paid before booking.

Ask about experience relevant to your caseload, the usual structure of sessions and the availability of ongoing appointments. Discuss fees, cancellation terms, record keeping and confidentiality. If your employer is involved, clarify what information they would receive.

Then pay attention to the conversation itself. Can you ask a question without feeling hurried or brushed aside? Does the supervisor acknowledge areas outside their expertise? Do they seem interested in understanding your work?

A synthesis of qualitative supervision research found that relationships, power differences and context influenced what supervisees felt able to disclose (Apostol et al., 2025). Research with North American trainees also linked perceptions of the supervisory alliance with withholding information about supervision (Gibson et al., 2019).

These studies are not a test for predicting your ideal supervisor but they do support taking your ability to speak openly seriously. You may feel nervous initially, but you should be able to ask straightforward questions about the service.

If you cannot find someone suitable, adjust the search

If local options are limited, consider online supervision. ACA permits supervision through web technology, and AASW’s CPD policy recognises online, telephone and video formats (ACA, 2024; AASW, 2025). Check the requirements relevant to your association and proposed arrangement.

If a specialist has no availability, ask whether they can recommend someone else. You might also explore occasional specialist consultation alongside regular supervision, with clear agreements about each person’s role.

For group supervision, ask about places, group size, facilitation and how hours count. Check that the format meets your professional requirements.

Where cost is the obstacle, ask about group options, employer contributions or reduced-fee places if offered. Consider the full cost of attending, including travel and time away from work.

Confirm the agreement and review it

Before starting, confirm the arrangement in writing, including your goals, frequency, fees, confidentiality, records and any reporting responsibilities. ACA, PACFA and AASW guidance all address formal supervision arrangements (ACA, 2024; PACFA, 2025; AASW, 2023).

Agree on when you will review the fit. The first few sessions give you information that a profile and introductory call cannot.

Looking for clinical or professional supervision in Australia? Explore our supervisors at The Counselling Supervision Centre, or get in touch with a brief description of your work and what you are looking for. We can discuss which supervisor may be a suitable fit and clarify the proposed arrangement.

Directories and association guidance checked on 9 October 2026. This is an independent CSC guide. Confirm current requirements with your professional association.

References

Apostol, A. E., Turner, K., Hoshi, R., & Pudduck, A. (2025). Contributory factors to self-disclosure in clinical supervision: A meta-ethnography. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 32(2), e70068. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.70068

Australian Association of Social Workers. (2023). AASW practice standards supplement: Expectations as to how Practice Standard 8 works in practice. https://aasw-media.s3.ap-southeast-4.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/AASW-Practice-Standards-Supplement.pdf

Australian Association of Social Workers. (2025). Continuing professional development (CPD) policy (Version 4.2). https://aasw-prod.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/aasw-cpd-policy.pdf

Australian Counselling Association. (2024). Supervision policy (Version 12). https://higherlogicdownload.s3.amazonaws.com/THEACA/c31306ce-4b69-414d-9382-f8caf50bf923/UploadedImages/Documents/ACA-Supervision-Policy.pdf

Gibson, A. S., Ellis, M. V., & Friedlander, M. L. (2019). Toward a nuanced understanding of nondisclosure in psychotherapy supervision. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 66(1), 114–121. https://doi.org/10.1037/cou0000295

Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia. (2025). Clinical supervision standard (Associated Registration Standard 6, Version B). https://pacfa.org.au/common/Uploaded%20files/Membership%20Standards%202023/ARS%206%20Clinical%20Supervision%20Standard%20PACFA.pdf

Watkins, C. E., Jr. (2014). The supervisory alliance: A half century of theory, practice, and research in critical perspective. American Journal of Psychotherapy, 68(1), 19–55. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.psychotherapy.2014.68.1.19

Liana Busoli
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