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Justin McDermott

About me

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

I’m someone who believes deeply in the power of connection, compassion, and shared experience. My journey through mental health has been both personal and professional, and it’s given me a strong belief in the possibility of growth and recovery—even in the face of deep struggle. For me, peer work isn’t just a job—it’s a way of walking alongside others with honesty, presence, and care.

I value spaces where people feel safe enough to be real, where power is shared, and where we can sit with uncertainty together. I believe that supervision, at its best, is a co-created space for reflection, growth, and grounding in our values. It’s about being seen, heard, and supported—not just as workers, but as whole people.

Creativity is a big part of who I am. Outside of work, you’ll often find me with my family, lost in music, painting, writing, or out in nature. Those things help me stay connected to myself and keep perspective. They remind me of what matters most.

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

A key part of my current role involves supervising Level 2 Peer Support Workers. I provide regular reflective practice sessions, debriefing, and guidance to support their professional growth. I see supervision as a collaborative and values-led space—one that supports peer workers to feel safe, seen, and confident in their unique contributions. I strive to support workers to stay grounded in lived experience principles while navigating the complexities of the mental health system.

My experience also includes advocating within multidisciplinary clinical teams and attending care review meetings to ensure the consumer voice is central. I have supported individuals through challenging processes, including Mental Health Tribunal hearings, with successful outcomes including revoked CTOs. I bring a rights-based, recovery-focused lens to these spaces, using empathy, strategic thinking, and persistence to promote consumer choice and autonomy.

Prior to peer work, I worked in leadership and coordination roles across small business, hospitality, and operations management. These earlier roles shaped my approach to communication, service coordination, and leading with integrity—skills I continue to bring into my supervision and peer work today.

My experience is grounded in authentic connection, deep listening, and a strong belief in the capacity for recovery. I bring that same energy into supervision—offering a space that holds both the emotional weight of the work and the incredible strength it takes to do it.

My current role/work

I’ve been working in the mental health space since 2019, and currently hold a Senior Peer Support Worker role at Alfred Health. In this position, I provide one-on-one and group-based peer support to individuals navigating their own mental health journeys, drawing on my own lived experience to foster connection, hope, and empowerment.

My training

Through my peer work, I’ve facilitated numerous recovery-focused groups and co-designed programs that centre lived experience, mutuality, and emotional safety. I have also completed training in Intentional Peer Support and the Hearing Voices Approach, and have completed Consumer Perspective Supervision Training.

My approach to supervision

My approach to supervision is flexible, responsive, and grounded in mutual respect. Whether you're looking to deepen your reflective practice, reconnect with your purpose, or simply have a space to breathe and be supported—I'm here to meet you there.

Session and cost

Typical session length: 60

Rate for typical session: 150

Supervision format

Individual

Group

Mode of delivery

In person

Phone

Online

Availability

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Frequency

Weekly

Fortnightly

Monthly

Geographical areas

Berwick, Oakleigh St Kilda, anywhere in South East Melbourne

Specialty areas

Peer support