Sue Nunn

About me

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

I have extensive experience in the area of mental health, in terms of my own lived experience and have worked in identified and non-identified roles within the Mental Health system. Meeting people where they are at without preconception and judgement. The qualities I bring to supervision are honesty, transparency and respect, delivered in a sensitive and calm manner. Being self-aware and recognising my responsibility in what I bring to the session. As a practitioner it is important to me that I am ethical and part of that is I hold myself accountable for the work that I do.

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 earliest experiences as a consumer in mental health services was extremely negative and caused addition trauma. My recognition of the gaps the services provide led me to working as an advocate, providing psycho education within community and clinical mental health services. I work with individuals, groups and have facilitated peer led mental health recovery groups and co-reflection.

Prior to moving to Australia, I worked as an Ambulance Paramedic for 10 years responding to people in significant distress and trauma. I found that by relating to the person as a human being rather than a symptom, lowered their anxiety. I gave people very clear instructions about how I would be treating their physical wounds and what would happen to them once they arrived at hospital. If I attended a home of a deceased person, I would take time to sit and speak with the persons loved ones. I am very aware of vicarious trauma as I was constantly working with crisis situations and dealing with attempted suicide and death.

I provided support in a foster carer role working with children and their parents.
I have held numerous roles working with young people in CALD, disability, voice hearing and multiplicity.

I worked as a tutor at Deakin University supporting CALD students with preparation and structure when writing their essays. This role followed on from working in an Aboriginal Access Centre with young people disengaged from learning and the education system.

My current role/work

I recently resigned as a mental health advocate due to the impact of the system on my own mental health. I feel my skills, ability and acquired knowledge will be better utilized providing support in lived experienced and peer support roles.

I have been working independently providing mentoring and co-reflection for the CPS supervision training.
I provided lived experienced supervision for a clinical service and as an independent practitioner for the past 4 years.
For the last 8 years I have facilitated a community peer support group for people who experience multiplicity and dissociation.

My training

I have formal qualifications as an Ambulance Paramedic and NNEB [Nursery Nurse Education Board] which covered early childhood development 0-7years.

Hearing Voices group facilitation, voice dialogue and profiling.

IPS [Intentional Peer Support] core training and Advanced Intentional Peer Support Training (USA) Melbourne, Train the trainer.

Alternatives to Suicide Group Facilitation Training (USA) Melbourne

Emotional CPR Dr Daniel Fisher

Exploring Narrative Approaches to Supervision

My approach to supervision

I bring perspectives from social and humanistic approaches, their principles and ethics which offer alternative views to mental health.

I consider supervision a space where people can explore their own internal lived experiences and how it relates to the situations they encounter whilst working in the system.

My own experiences as a consumer and working within the existing medical model has led me to develop alternative approaches.

Recognising that trauma impacts on a person’s ability to comprehend, remember and articulate, I hold the space for people to discover their own narrative and meaning.

Speciality areas:
Supporting people in crisis.
Hearing voices.
Multiplicity.
Dignity of risk.
Facilitating groups.
Co-reflection.