Services and support
Clinical supervision program
Safe spaces for workers to chat, reflect and stay strong.
The Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory (AMSANT) clinical supervision program for social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB) supports the SEWB and alcohol and other drugs (AOD) workforce across Aboriginal community controlled health services (ACCHSs) in the Northern Territory.
The program helps workers access culturally safe, structured supervision, so they have a regular space to talk about their work, reflect on tough situations, celebrate strengths and look after their own wellbeing while supporting community.
What we do
We help connect workers with supervisors who understand SEWB, AOD and Aboriginal community-controlled health, and we support services to build supervision into everyday practice—not just when something goes wrong. This can include one-to-one supervision, group supervision and reflective practice sessions, depending on what works best for the team.
Why this program matters
SEWB and AOD workers often hear stories of grief, loss, trauma, violence, addiction and worry for family and community. Without the right support, this can lead to burnout, compassion fatigue and people leaving roles they are very skilled in.
Clinical supervision provides a regular, confidential space to slow down, think through complex situations and get support. It helps workers feel safer and more confident in their decisions, and supports better care for the people and communities they work with. For services, good supervision is a key part of looking after staff and keeping SEWB roles strong and sustainable.
Our focus areas
The program focuses on growing access to safe, consistent and culturally responsive supervision options for SEWB and AOD workers. This includes supporting clear agreements and expectations for supervision, promoting models that are strengths-based and trauma-informed, and encouraging services to see supervision as a core part of SEWB practice, not an extra.
We also support links between supervision, worker wellbeing, professional development and quality of care, so that supervision sessions are useful for both the worker and the service, while still protecting the safe space workers need.
How we support member services
We work with member services to understand how supervision is currently working, who receives it, how often it happens, and what the barriers are. Together, we look at what a good supervision model could look like for that service, taking into account local context, community needs and available supervisors.
Support can include helping services identify suitable supervisors, thinking through funding and logistics, and sharing tools such as supervision agreements, session templates and reflective practice prompts. We encourage services to build supervision into job expectations and regular work planning, so SEWB and AOD workers know they are supported to take this time.
Who we work with
The clinical supervision program works with SEWB and AOD workers in ACCHSs who are providing SEWB support, counselling, AOD work and related care. We also work closely with SEWB team leaders, managers and senior staff who are responsible for supporting SEWB and AOD workers, and with supervisors who provide clinical and reflective supervision to this workforce.
In addition, we connect with human resources and workforce teams that are planning SEWB and AOD roles, and with partner organisations and training providers who have experience in clinical supervision, trauma-informed practice and Aboriginal community-controlled health.
Our impact
Through the clinical supervision program, AMSANT is helping services to:
- increase access to regular, high-quality supervision for SEWB and AOD workers
- strengthen worker confidence, safety and reflective practice in complex SEWB work
- reduce isolation and burnout by providing a safe space to talk about challenging situations
- embed supervision as a core part of SEWB practice, workforce development and quality care.
Over time, this supports more stable SEWB teams, safer service environments and better care for Aboriginal people, families and communities across the Northern Territory.
Current projects & initiatives
One-to-one and group supervision support
supporting services to organise and sustain individual and group clinical supervision for SEWB and AOD workers.
Supervision models and tools
sharing examples of supervision agreements, session structures and reflective practice tools that services can adapt to their context.
Manager and supervisor support
providing guidance and resources for SEWB managers and supervisors on how to hold safe, useful supervision spaces.
Linking supervision with training and workforce development
aligning supervision with SEWB training, communities of practice and broader workforce development work so that staff support is consistent and connected.
Resources & downloads
Click here for example supervision agreements and templates, reflective practice tools and self-care resources, and details on how supervision connects with broader SEWB workforce development and training.
Get in touch
To find out more about the SEWB clinical supervision program, or to talk about supervision options for SEWB and AOD workers in your service, please contact: