Good supervision keeps practitioners reflective, ethical and well supported. Mediation Institute connects Mi Members who are looking for supervision with experienced mediators, Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners and Family Group Conference facilitators who offer it.

Find a supervisorFor Mi Members Offer supervisionFor experienced practitioners

How it works

If you are a Mi Member looking for supervision

Tell us what you are looking for, your area of practice, how you would like to meet and what you could pay per hour.
We match you with a supervisor who works in your area and email you both an introduction.
You arrange the first session directly and agree the fee and a supervision agreement before you start.

Not the right fit? Let us know and we will look for another match.

If you would like to offer supervision

Tell us about your practice, your approach, your hourly fee bands and any pro bono sessions you can offer.
We review each application and will contact you if we need more information.
Once approved, we may match you with a Member and email you both an introduction.

Supervision by area of practice

Mediators (AMDRAS)

Supervision gives accredited mediators a confidential space to reflect on their practice. Sessions may include:

reflection on complex or high-conflict matters
ethical dilemmas and decision-making
debriefing after difficult sessions
professional development goals.

Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners

FDR supervision supports practitioners at different stages of their professional journey. There are three types.

Professional supervision

Ongoing reflective supervision for qualified FDRPs to maintain ethical, competent and reflective practice. It is especially useful for sole practitioners, new FDRPs and those working in high-conflict or emotionally complex areas. Sessions may include case consultation, ethical reflection, discussion of challenges and professional development goals. Monthly or quarterly sessions are recommended, with on-demand sessions when challenging cases arise. Sessions can be one-to-one or in a small group, online or face to face.

Internship supervision (work placement)

Mediation Institute students in the CHC81115 Graduate Diploma of Family Dispute Resolution complete a 50-hour work placement with at least 5 families. Students are assessed as competent in parenting and property pre-mediation and mediation before they start, unless otherwise agreed.

To supervise a Mi student you must be a registered FDRP with at least 12 months post-registration experience (or significant FDR experience with a reference) and hold current professional indemnity insurance. Supervisors oversee the student’s client contact and co-mediations, give feedback, hold regular pre- and post-session supervision, and sign off the student’s logs and evidence forms. Mediation Institute provides the Student Placement Agreement, covers interns with a signed agreement under its Professional Indemnity and Public Liability Insurance, and handles formal assessment.

Post-complaint supervision

Structured, supportive supervision for FDRPs who have been the subject of a substantiated complaint or formal concern. The focus is learning, insight and restoring practice, not punishment. It may include reviewing de-identified files (with consent), focused supervision on themes such as neutrality or boundaries, and a tailored supervision plan. Referrals may come from the practitioner, Mediation Institute, other FDR complaint handling services, employers or regulators. Consent is needed before any information is shared.

Family Group Conference Facilitators

Supervision helps FGC facilitators reflect on conference practice, including preparing families, balancing family voice with professional input, safety planning, and debriefing after complex conferences.

Other ways to work together (any area of practice)

These options suit mediators, FDR Practitioners and FGC facilitators alike. Add them to your supervision agreement if you use them.

Business development coaching

Coaching to build and sustain a practice, alongside reflective supervision or in separate sessions. Topics may include setting up and running a practice, services and pricing, marketing and referral networks, business planning, and managing workload. Supervisors share their own experience; they do not give legal, financial, tax or insurance advice.

Co-mediation

Co-mediation can be an excellent way for newer mediators to market their services with confidence, knowing a more experienced mediator will support them on their first matters or when a more complex matter is referred to them. It can also be offered where the supervising co-mediator has specialist expertise in a particular niche or client group that the supervisee wants to develop.

The supervisor and supervisee mediate a matter together, followed by a debrief. Before starting, agree who leads, who holds the client agreement and file, how fees are charged and shared, and how insurance is covered. The parties must be told about the co-mediation arrangement and agree to it.

Group supervision

One supervisor works with two or more supervisees together. The group agrees that what members share stays in the group, cases are always de-identified, members attend regularly, and time is shared fairly. Fees may be set per person per session, or negotiated per hour with the supervisor and the cost shared between the supervisees.

Who can offer supervision

We welcome experienced mediators, FDR Practitioners and FGC facilitators who offer supervision. You need to:

be practising in your area (accredited mediator, registered FDRP or qualified FGC facilitator)
hold current professional indemnity insurance
commit to ethical, supportive and learner-focused supervision.

Supervision training is encouraged. It helps ensure the best experience for both supervisor and supervisee by providing structure and a theoretical foundation for the work. Because training has had limited availability in the past, some experienced and competent supervisors have no formal supervision training or credentials.

We encourage supervisors and supervisees to talk about approaches and expectations while co-creating your supervision agreement. Supervision is a private arrangement between the supervisor and supervisee: Mediation Institute makes the introduction, and you agree the terms between you.

Fees and supervision agreements

Supervisors set their own fee. Pro bono or free sessions are welcome but not expected.
We encourage anyone entering into supervision to have a written supervision agreement. Download our example supervision agreement (Word), which includes optional sections for business development coaching, co-mediation and group supervision.
Our matching service is free for both Members and supervisors. Supervision fees are paid directly to the supervisor, not through Mediation Institute.

Why offer supervision?

Shape the next generation: support practitioners as they build confidence and competence.
Grow your profile: be recognised for your expertise in reflective and ethical practice.
Work towards Leading Mediator status: supervising others is part of your journey to Leading Mediator status, which requires demonstrated leadership in the sector.
Strengthen practice standards: help peers through reflective review, including after a complaint.
Flexible involvement: choose the type of supervision, your fee and how often you are available.
Connect and keep learning: join a national network of supervisors with access to Mi professional development.