Andrew Tomlinson

About me

This supervisor has been approved to provide supervision under the ACCESS TO SUPERVISION PROJECT -


As someone with ongoing living experience in the family/carer space I work on a contracting basis to bring the perspective into projects and developments within the MHWB system.

My previous role was a designated living/lived experience role, which allowed me to fully bring my whole self to work. As the Deputy CEO at Tandem I led a team of people with lived/living experience in Tandem. I have been a member of Tandem for a number of years and have spoken publicly on behalf of Tandem at a number of forums, these presentations have all been from my living experience perspective.

Within my role at Tandem I was involved in numerous meetings and committees within at all levels of government relating to the mental health reform agenda. I advocated strongly for real partnership with families/carers at all levels to become the norm. I led the development of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Connects (previously known as the Family/Carer Led Centres) from the Tandem perspective, the LLEW development projects, Workforce Capability Framework development and am currently involved in workforce expansion related developments. I have been a member of several committees within the Office of the Chief Psychiatrist and worked successfully to increase the family/carer workforce voice within the space. I have presented from the family/carer perspective in numerous events including the CLEW meetings and annual forum, conferences, DoH staff forums, and clinical forums.

Prior to this I have worked as a mental health clinician in Australia, the UK and New Zealand in various roles within Mental Health and Addictions services in private, public and not-for-profit arenas since 1991. During this time I have led a number of initiatives which have been born from my own lived/living experience and designed to shift services from a medicalised individualistic model of care. This has involved; 1) management positions ranging from team leader through to senior management roles in public mental health 2) I have both led and been involved in setting up new services, developing new teams, including those with LLE team members working alongside clinical staff, policy and process writing, working to budgets, service innovation, contract managing, clinical management, public speaking, fundraising. 3) clinical supervision, education and coaching 4) hands on clinical work in a variety of settings including acute mental health wards, assertive community outreach, drug and alcohol counselling, community mental health nursing.

This supervisor has been approved to provide supervision under the ACCESS TO SUPERVISION PROJECT. If you are a supervisee who has received an approval email/letter from the CMHL you may contact this supervisor for supervision for this project, then follow the stated processes for supervision payment.

My experience

My current role is a designated living/lived experience role, and has allowed me to fully bring my whole self to work, . I am the Deputy CEO at Tandem and lead a team of people with lived/living experience in Tandem. I have been a member of Tandem for a number of years and have spoken publicly on behalf of Tandem at a number of forums, these presentations have all been from my living experience perspective.
Previously I have worked as a mental health clinician in Australia, the UK and New Zealand in various roles within Mental Health and Addictions services in private, public and not-for-profit arenas since 1991. During this time I have led a number of initiatives which have been born from my own lived/living experience and designed to shift services from a medicalised individualistic model of care.
This has involved;
1) management positions ranging from team leader through to senior management roles in public mental health
2) I have both led and been involved in setting up new services, developing new teams, including those with LLE team members working alongside clinical staff, policy and process writing, working to budgets, service innovation, contract managing, clinical management, public speaking, fundraising.
3) clinical supervision, education and coaching
4) hands on clinical work in a variety of settings including acute mental health wards, assertive community outreach, drug and alcohol counselling, community mental health nursing

My current role/work

Currently I am developing my own business which is based on my living experience, and my previous experiences as outlined above. However, my living experience is the driver and guide of the work I do and how I do it.

Within the business I will be working as a family/carer lived/living experience adviser on particular projects and developments within the mental health system. In addition delivering training and providing coaching services.

My training

I have completed a significant amount of training over the years, though the ‘training’ I have received from families/carers and consumers over time has definitely shaped my ways of working, as has the invaluable expertise acquired/acquiring though my own living experience. Some formal training relevant to the supervision situation is Solution Focused therapy, Motivational Interviewing, CBT, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and training in delivering supervision.

My approach to supervision

Supervision has great potential in shaping, developing and maintaining practice. The job the people in the LLE workforce undertake in the Mental Health system is tough, but also rewarding. Sustaining oneself in this environment is sometimes hard, celebrating the wins and understanding your own value is vital. As a supervisor my intent is to be led by the issues presented by the supervisee, and together reflect, ask questions, examine experience and move forward. I take a solution focused approach, drawing out the strengths of the supervisee, and potentially planning together how to make the most of those strengths, and add to them.

Compassion is my primary value, compassion for the families/carer and consumers journeying with mental health and/or AOD challenges, and compassion for people in the family/carer lived/living experience workforce who give much of themselves in the process of assisting another on their journey.