Burnout Isn’t Inevitable: Workshop for Clinical Educators in health settings.

How can clinical educators stay well while supporting others?

That question brought supervisors from across a broad range of health professions together on 20th August for the Burnout Isn’t Inevitable: Wellbeing Tools for Sustainable Supervision workshop. This was the final workshop in a three-part series on student and educator wellbeing which was developed in response to placement stakeholder feedback.

Hosted by the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences (MDHS) in partnership with the Contemplative Studies Centre, the workshop recognised that clinical educator wellbeing has a close relationship with student wellbeing and overall learning culture. The session explored the difference between compassion and empathy and its connection with burnout and how clinical educators can prevent burnout and build sustainable supervision practices. It challenged the cultural norms that normalise overwork and distress, highlighting instead the power of wellbeing-centred approaches to shape healthier learning environments.

When educators are burnt out, compassion, learning and client care all suffer. The workshop equipped participants with practical strategies to spot early warning signs, protect their wellbeing, and model sustainable practices to students entering the workforce. How supervisors “show up” matters, for students, workplaces, and patients alike.

The workshop was led by:

  • Abi Brooker – Academic Director, Student Experience, MDHS
  • Danielle Clayman – Health and Wellbeing Practitioner, Melbourne Medical School
  • A/Prof Nicholas Van Dam – Director, Contemplative Studies Centre, MDHS

Feedback to the workshop was overwhelmingly positive, with participants reporting increased confidence in supporting student wellbeing on placement. The interactive format and focus on real-world strategies were especially valued. Findings from the series call for continued investment in professional development and a shift away from “baptism of fire” supervision toward trauma-informed, wellbeing-focused approaches. Supporting educator wellbeing isn’t just about preventing burnout, it’s key to sustaining quality placements and nurturing the next generation of clinicians.

This workshop marked the conclusion of a three-part wellbeing series made possible through a Department of Health grant awarded to the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences to strengthen student placement experiences in mental health and alcohol and other drug settings. To find out more about the project or receive notifications about upcoming events in 2026 email ispc-project@unimelb.edu.au.