
Individual and Group Supervision
Supervision is an essential requirement for anyone involved in pastoral ministry. Heart of Life endeavours to uphold the integrity of this ministry by offering Individual or Group Supervision, where pastoral journeys are shared, and skills and sensitivity increased through professional guidance.
Cost: $110 per session.
To arrange individual or group supervision with one of our Supervisors (a selection of which are listed below), email us or call (03) 9890 1101.
Heart for Life (H4L) Group Supervision Lunchtime Program
Monthly sessions – 1pm-2pm on 1st Wednesday of month until December 2023 (Cost: pro-rated from $200 for 9 sessions)
Anyone in individual ministry who is interested in receiving group supervision can still join this H4L group, which meets on a monthly basis. The cost is pro-rated based on the join date.
This group is supported by a Heart of Life Supervisor to provide professional group supervision as well as professional development. Topics are tailored to meet the needs and interests of the group, with guest speakers engaged as required.
Register your interest in being part of the group by contacting us on (+61 3) 9890 1101 or email info@heartoflife.melbourne.
Heart of Life Supervisors and Recognised Supervisors
Below is a list of Supervisors & Recognised Supervisors available at Heart of Life. They are available for individual or group supervision.

William (Bill) Brennan
Recognised Supervisor
Bill balances this contemplative heart space ministry with a long history as a community nurse working mostly with people experiencing homelessness. He acknowledges the central role of supervision for himself over the years as being the reason he was able to grow and experience much satisfaction in both ministries.
He feels called to support others in their own journey as a supervisor himself.

Teresa Fanning
Recognised Supervisor
She was born and raised in Ireland and moved to Australia in 1978. She is married with four adult children and seven grandchildren. She lives in Melbourne.
Teresa has a background in nursing and midwifery, and since taking out her MASD, has been involved in teaching and supervising students in formation to be spiritual directors and Givers of The Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius of Loyola. Teresa finds this work most life-giving and it has become very much a part of her own spiritual journey.

Trudy Keur
Recognised Supervisor
Supervisor Member of the Australasian Association of Supervision (AAOS), General Member of the Association for Supervised & Clinical Pastoral Education in Victoria Inc. (ASACPEV) & Certified Advanced Member of Spiritual Care Australia.
Trudy comes to professional supervision with a background in education and chaplaincy/pastoral ministry in the Northern Territory, South Australia & Victoria. Throughout most of her ministry, she has worked cross-culturally in varying roles as teacher, leader, educator & chaplain.
Her passion as a Supervisor is in engaging with people for life-long learning, using reflective practice and focusing on well-being.

Dean Mason
Recognised Supervisor

Nicole Rotaru rsm
Recognised Supervisor
Nicole is a member of the Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea (ISMAPNG) formed in 2011. She was a member of the leadership team for the former Melbourne Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy, 2006-2011. She has over 45 years of experience working with adults and children in a range of settings including: education, palliative care, health, counselling/play therapy, refugee camps, development, safeguarding, spirituality and private practice.
Nicole values the place of supervision in her own professional practice. Gaining further insight into herself and exploring ethical issues have assisted her in encountering the people in her ministry. She remains committed to supervision and is passionate about offering both individual and group supervision that facilitates a deepening of insight and transformation. One of the delights of supervision has been encouraging the use of imagery, story, song and scripture as a way of deepening and expanding reflection on experience.

Clare Shearman
Director & Supervisor
Clare was appointed Director of Heart of Life from January 2022. She graduated from the Siloam Program in 2013 and has been involved in spiritual direction and managed two retreat centres since then. Clare is a professional supervisor, and in a spirit of collaboration between institutions, Clare works with students studying with the University of Divinity’s Professional Supervision Program.
Clare has held leadership roles in the corporate world as well as in large and small not-for-profit organisations. She considers herself extremely blessed to be working for the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (at Heart of Life) together with the rest of the Heart of Life team, in service of those who are seeking to nurture their personal spirituality and pastoral skills for the benefit of others.

Jo Sullivan
Supervisor
Grad Cert. Bereavement Counselling & Intervention, Grad Dip Professional Supervision, Supervisor: Australasian Association of Supervision, Member Transforming Practices Inc
Jo is a professional supervisor in private practice and part of the formation team for the Emmaus Supervision Program. As a spiritual director Jo enjoys being with and ‘listening slowly’ to others spiritual journeys. From 2011-2021, Jo was a pastoral care practitioner at St Vincent’s Hospital (Sydney). She also has qualifications in grief and bereavement counselling, in Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE).
Jo is personally aware of life’s realities and complexities, human vulnerability, change and loss, and draws on these experiences as a resource to uphold and support the human spirit – to promote life in all its fullness. Jo loves walking by the ocean and being in the countryside. Her four children and five grandchildren remind her of what is important in life.

Joan Wright Howie
Supervisor & Course Co-Ordinator
Joan is keen to foster interior freedom through her work as a Uniting Church minister and working as Head of Faith & Development at World Vision Australia. She is a spiritual director, professional supervisor and retreat leader with a passion for spiritual formation. She is an energetic, passionate contemplative who enjoys practising the presence of God in the midst of adventure. She is married to David and they share a house with their three young adult children. She has a dog called Kai who takes her for walks, a garden full of flowers and vegetables, and her happy place is swimming in the ocean.
Supervisors are also available through the following organisations:
- Chaplaincy Australia – see their Supervision page.
- Australasian Association of Supervision – see their Find-a-Supervisor page.