General Mediation FAQs

Mediation is a voluntary and confidential process in which a neutral third party assists the persons with a dispute to talk to one another to clarify the cause/s of the dispute, their feelings about how the dispute affects them and their hopes for the future. The individuals then work together to try to find solutions to the dispute which each of them can live with.

The mediator is someone independent from your problem who assists you and the other person/s involved to try to find your own mutually agreed solution and allow you to put the issue behind you.

A professional mediator is not an advice-giver or decision-maker. They are experts in conflict management who set and explain the ground rules for the mediation (confidentiality, respect, openness of communication, listening to each other’s perspective); help each of you examine the real issues, large or small, underlying the problem.

Often, when everyone understands how the other person feels and why they have said or done what they did, both can work together, with the assistance of the mediator, to create and agree upon an outcome that meets their needs and addresses their concerns.

If required, the mediator can help them put their agreement into writing, so that they have a record for future reference.

Even when they have professional qualifications in areas which may be relevant to the dispute, Mediators do not provide the participants with Therapy, Counselling, Legal or Financial advice.

From time to time, we all come into conflict with someone else. It may be something relatively minor (whether the toilet seat should be left up or down; or whose turn it is to cook dinner) or more serious (access to children being refused; feeling harassed or bullied at work).

Unfortunately, the less serious the problem is does not mean that it is easier to resolve. It is not uncommon for communication between the individuals involved in the problem not to be open because of their differing personality and communication styles. In other words, it can become difficult to separate the problem from the person.

We may stress about speaking with the other person about the problem because of our fears of how they may react and how that reaction may affect the relationship we have with them and others we both have relationships with (our workmates, family etc).

Sometimes the problem is a cypher for something else (payback for a breakdown in a relationship, jealousy over a friendship with someone else or offence taken over someone’s manner), in which case, without clear communication, it can be very difficult for the individuals involved to sort the underlying problem out.

Other times, the problem is caught up in a Court proceeding and both you and your lawyer are having trouble understanding why the other side is disputing your claim.

It’s at those times when you can’t sort out the problem with the other person (or organisation) that a mediator may be able to help.

A professional mediator should be registered under the Australian, National Mediator Assessment Scheme (NMAS) and be a member of a Recognised Mediator Accreditation Body such as the Resolution Institute which not only provide assurance about the training of the mediator, but ensures the standards the Mediator will abide by and also has a mechanism for dealing with any complaints you might have.

Depending on the type of problem you have, a number of mediation services are offered by Government or Not-For- Profit organisations such as Relationships Australia, Community Justice Centres and Fair Work.

While these services are often low cost or free, there are sometimes lengthy delays (months) in accessing their services and their mediators may have only very limited time to deal with your issue.

You can be assured that the mediator you choose is appropriately and professionally qualified by checking that they are registered with the NMAS and Resolution Institute above.

Compared with many community / publicly funded services, private mediators:

• Are quick – we can usually fit you in for pre-mediation meetings and the mediation itself within two weeks, rather than waiting months to be seen;

• We are not means tested – you pay us directly;

• We are not as limited in the time we can spend with you, both one-on-one and during the mediation itself, to help you each understand what you need to do during the process to obtain your best result.

Contact us to discuss how the mediation process can be commenced by one party. It is possible for our service to extend an invitation to the other party to participate in mediation.

The cost of mediation is either shared by the parties or met by one party by agreement.