Smiling Hearts And Minds · For Professionals
Group Clinical
Supervision.
Shared perspectives, thoughtful dialogue
and meaningful professional learning.
Group clinical supervision brings
practitioners together in a facilitated
professional environment to reflect
on clinical work, ethical challenges
and ongoing development.
SHM offers scheduled supervision groups
for eligible counsellors, psychotherapists
and school counselling professionals.
01 / Understanding Group Supervision
A shared space
for reflection.
Group clinical supervision is a
structured process in which
practitioners reflect on their work
with the guidance of an
appropriately qualified supervisor.
Through collaborative discussion,
participants explore clinical experiences,
ethical responsibilities, therapeutic
approaches, practitioner wellbeing
and professional decision-making.
The group creates opportunities
to hear different perspectives,
consider alternative approaches
and reflect on shared
professional challenges.
Group supervision is not personal therapy.
It does not replace individual supervision
where required by a professional
association, education provider
or employer.
02 / Professional Learning
Learn from different
professional perspectives.
Thoughtfully facilitated groups offer
benefits beyond simply meeting
supervision hour requirements.
01
Reflective dialogue
Discuss professional experiences,
clinical challenges and different
perspectives in a respectful environment.
02
Shared clinical learning
Learn from peers’ professional questions
and practice contexts while reflecting
on your own clinical work.
03
Ethical awareness
Consider boundaries, confidentiality,
informed consent, professional scope
and complex clinical decisions.
04
Professional connection
Develop reflective capacity through
collaborative learning, mutual respect
and shared accountability.
03 / What to Expect
Guided dialogue.
Shared reflection.
The facilitator helps maintain
a purposeful, respectful and
professionally appropriate
learning environment.
Preparation
Participants may bring
de-identified cases, ethical
questions or practice concerns
for discussion.
Facilitated reflection
The supervisor guides discussion,
exploration of alternatives
and professional reflection.
Shared perspectives
Participants may ask questions
and contribute relevant experiences
in a constructive, respectful way.
Integration & documentation
Each participant identifies useful
insights and retains appropriate
supervision records where required.
04 / Fees & Group Booking
Group supervision
fees & appointments.
SHM group supervision sessions
are scheduled for 120 minutes,
with a fee charged per participant.
Available dates are shown
in the SHM Client Portal.
| Group | Duration | Fee (AUD) | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|
|
PACFA-Aligned Group Supervision Small-group format |
120 min |
$90 per person |
Book & Pay |
|
ACA-Aligned Group Supervision Scheduled professional group |
120 min |
$90 per person |
Book & Pay |
|
School Counsellors Group Supervision Scheduled group · Eligibility may vary |
120 min |
$90 per person |
Book & Pay |
All fees are in Australian dollars.
Group supervision is subject to
sufficient enrolment and available places.
Professional recognition of hours
depends on the applicable association
or training requirements.
Payment:
The full $90 per-person fee is required
at booking. SHM does not accept
deposits or partial payments.
05 / Group Agreements
Confidentiality
and participation.
Respectful group learning depends
on clear professional expectations
and shared responsibility.
Protect client information
Remove identifying details from
case presentations. Follow legal,
ethical and workplace requirements.
Respect group confidentiality
Do not disclose another
participant’s clinical material
or personal professional experiences
outside the agreed supervision setting.
Participate respectfully
Listen actively, contribute thoughtfully
and recognise differences in
professional roles and perspectives.
Maintain supervision records
Retain appropriate evidence
of attendance, date, duration,
supervisor details and
learning activities where required.
06 / Booking & Cancellation Policy
Clear fees.
Clear arrangements.
Group supervision has a longer
cancellation notice period
than individual appointments.
Full payment required
The full $90 fee per participant
must be paid when booking.
Deposits and part payments
are not accepted.
At least four business days’ notice
Cancelling or rescheduling
at least four business days
before group supervision
does not incur a cancellation fee.
Shorter-notice cancellations
Requests made with fewer than
four business days’ notice
follow the applicable SHM
cancellation policy and
Australian Consumer Law.
Group participation
Sessions depend on availability,
group participation requirements
and suitable scheduling.
Please confirm details
before paying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions about
group supervision?
Information about participation,
ACA/PACFA requirements,
supervision hours and booking.
Understand your
professional requirements.
Not every group format is accepted
for every registration pathway.
Check your association’s current
standards before booking.
What happens during a group supervision session?
Sessions involve facilitated
professional reflection and
discussion of de-identified
clinical material, ethical questions
and practice experiences.
How many participants are permitted
in ACA and PACFA group supervision?
PACFA:
Small-group supervision generally
involves 2–6 supervisees.
ACA:
Eligible group arrangements
may include up to 10 supervisees
per appropriately qualified supervisor.
A 10-person ACA group should not
automatically be considered
compliant with PACFA requirements.
Other eligibility and format
requirements also apply.
What are the minimum annual supervision
hours for ACA and PACFA members?
The following table summarises
common annual minimums.
| Membership | Annual minimum |
|---|---|
| ACA Level 1 | 10 hours |
| ACA Level 2 | 10 hours |
| ACA Level 3 | 10 hours |
| ACA Level 4 | 10 hours |
| PACFA Certified Practising | 10–15 hours |
| PACFA Registered Clinical | 10–15 hours |
| PACFA Certified Supervisor | 15 hours |
| Student / Placement | Course-specific |
ACA practising Levels 1–4 generally
require 10 supervision hours
per membership year.
PACFA’s annual requirement
for Certified Practising and
Registered Clinical members
generally ranges from 10 to
15 hours, depending on
client-contact hours.
Additional restrictions may apply
to recognised group supervision
hours and registration upgrades.
Check your association’s
current requirements.
Does a 120-minute group session
always count as two supervision hours?
Not automatically.
Recognition depends on the
association’s rules concerning
group format, participant numbers,
supervisor eligibility,
session duration and documentation.
Please confirm whether the particular
SHM group session meets your requirements
before booking.
Can group supervision replace
individual supervision?
Not in every situation.
Some registration pathways require
a minimum individual
supervision component.
For example, the PACFA Registered
Clinical pathway includes at least
75 post-qualification supervision
hours, with at least 50%
of the required hours undertaken
as individual supervision.
What if the group has
insufficient participants?
Group sessions generally require
at least two participants.
If the minimum is not met,
SHM will communicate changes
and appropriate alternative
arrangements or refunds.
When can I cancel without a fee?
Group supervision requires
at least four business days’
notice for cancellation or
rescheduling without a
cancellation fee.
Shorter-notice requests follow
SHM’s applicable policy,
subject to Australian Consumer Law.
Is full payment required?
Yes. The full $90 per-person
session fee is required
when booking. No deposits
or partial payments.
Where can I confirm the latest
ACA and PACFA requirements?
Please refer to the official
ACA website
and
PACFA website
.
Only the relevant association
or training provider can confirm
whether particular supervision
hours are recognised.
Smiling Hearts And Minds
Think together.
Practise with care.
Join a scheduled SHM clinical
supervision group, or enquire
about the group format,
availability and requirements
before booking your place.